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Ewan McGregor Biography

Actor

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Ewan McGregor left school at 16 to pursue acting, and by the age of 23 was getting attention from critics and fans for his roles in the Danny Boyle films Shallow Grave (1994) and Trainspotting (1996). Quickly tagged as an up-and-comer, McGregor tackled a range of roles: he appeared in the period piece Emma (1996), the glam-rock drama Velvet Goldmine (1998), the mainstream Hollywood action feature Black Hawk Down (2001, with Josh Hartnett) and the stylish musical Moulin Rouge! (2001, with Nicole Kidman). Perhaps most famously, he played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequels of the George Lucas series Star Wars. McGregor appeared in Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999, Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. His other films include Down With Love (2003, co-starring Renee Zellweger), Tim Burton's Big Fish (2004) and The Island (2005, with Scarlett Johansson). His 2004 documentary, Long Way Round, chronicled his 20,000 mile intercontinental motorcycle trip with fellow actor Charley Boorman.

Extra credit: McGregor's uncle is actor Denis Lawson, who played Wedge Antilles ("Red Two") in the original Star Wars (1977).

Ewan McGregor joins Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson in our loop on Star Wars.