Ewan McGregor

This winsome, stage-trained Scotsman rose to prominence after roles in two movies directed by Danny Boyle: the 1994 comic thriller Shallow Grave and the 1996 heroin-addiction tale Trainspotting. In both films, McGregor captivated with his portrayals of two very flawed yet undeniably charming characters. His career flourished after he won widespread attention as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the much-ballyhooed reboot of the Star Wars trilogy. The blockbuster franchise continued to keep him busy between 1999 and 2005. As his fame quickly grew, he found time to appear in a number of more offbeat projects. He portrayed legendary Irish author James Joyce in Nora (2000), flexed his vocal chords opposite Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge (2001), spun seductive Southern tales in Big Fish (2003), and explored adultery in Young Adam (2003). In 2007, he embarked on a motorcycle trip through Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi for a documentary called Long Way Down. His travels helped raise awareness of the humanitarian efforts of UNICEF. After his charitable journey ended, he returned to his stage roots, impressing London theatergoers in West End's revival of Guys and Dolls and a Donmar Warehouse's production of Othello. Soon back to work on the silver screen, he resumed choosing films that fell across a wide range of genres. Off-screen, the heartthrob eschews the typical Hollywood party lifestyle and leads a private life with his wife, production designer Eve Mavrakis, and their children. ~ Rovi