James McAvoy (born 21 April 1979) is a Scottish actor. He made his acting debut as a teen in The Near Room (1995). His notable television work includes the thriller State of Play , the science fiction miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune , and the drama series Shameless . McAvoy was born on 21 April 1979 in Glasgow, to bus-driver-turned-builder James McAvoy Sr. and psychiatric nurse Elizabeth (died 2018).He was brought up as a Roman Catholic. His parents separated when he was seven