The actor who “paved the way” for Ewan McGregor to become a star
In the central Scottish city of Perth, there’s one contemporary actor who has done his hometown proud. Ewan McGregor has become a huge star, not only in his native United Kingdom but across the seas into Hollywood and beyond, accruing a reputation as a master actor in the process.
Just looking back at McGregor’s filmography, we can see that’s he’s always possessed a deep sense of talent and versatility, the likes of which has afforded him his stunning career so far. With roles in admired films like Trainspotting, the Star Wars prequel movies, Moulin Rouge!, Black Hawk Down and The Ghost Writer, there’s no doubt that McGregor is a true Scottish acting legend.
Still, like any actor, McGregor had to start somewhere, and he once explained that he owes his career to another Scottish actor who just so happened to be one of his family members. Speaking with the BBC, McGregor was once asked when he first knew that he wanted to act and said that the moment came at an early age.
“I think because I loved old movies, I loved old black and white movies, and my uncle [Denis Lawson] was an actor, so he kind of paved the way if you like,” McGregor explained. “He came from a small town that I came from in Scotland [Crieff], so the possibility of becoming one wasn’t so unbelievable because he’d already done it. In many ways, he paved the way.”
Indeed, Denis Lawson, McGregor’s uncle, was born in Glasgow but moved to Crieff in Perthshire when he was three years old. After graduating from the RSAMD, he began to get movie and stage roles, and throughout his career, he played Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars movies and John Jarndyce in Bleak House.
So it was Lawson that showed McGregor that being from a small town and still being a notable actor in the film industry was possible, and it was that early inspiration that set him on his way to stardom. Still, McGregor needed the encouragement of his parents, and the fact that Lawson had already been successful perhaps equally showed them that they should support their son in his creative endeavours.
“I’m sure it’s not great fun for them, or for any parent, when their child says they want to be an actor, ‘cos it’s quite an uncertain business and it can be terribly hard for most actors,” McGregor explained. “But I just… I never imagined it wouldn’t work out for me. I had that absolute certainty in myself that has seen me through, I think, and my parents were absolutely behind me all the way.”
McGregor went on to suggest that many parents tell their acting-hopeful children that if they want to get involved in the craft, then they should train in something else first so if their career fails, they have something else to “fall back on”. However, the Scottish actor believes that approach wouldn’t have worked for him. He felt it was essential to fully commit to acting, without entertaining the possibility of failure.
“It doesn’t work like that, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “It certainly wouldn’t have worked out for me. It’s important, that spirit of youth, and when you’re 16 that can get you kickstarted.” And thankfully, McGregor had the figure of his uncle, Denis Lawson, to look up to for inspiration.
