The 1st full length biography of the star of Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary and the new Star War Movies. Ewan McGregor is still in his 20's but is now 1 of cinema's hot properties following his success in Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, Brassed Off, Emma and a Life less ordinary. May 1999 sees the release of the 1st in the 3 Star war prequels in which McGregor will play the young Obi-Wan Kenobi. He is confirmed to play in all 3 of the new films, which will make him 1 of the biggest stars in the world. Ewan McGregor grew up in Perthshire, a local rogue rather than a tearaway, and after many adventures found his way to the Guild Hall Drama school. It is a fascinating story of how talent, hard work and luck need to combine in the right measure to achieve success. McGregor's 1st taste of acting came when at the age of 6, he played David in a church play - the minister remarked in his diary that the play was a ragged affair but wee Ewan McGregor was outstandingly good. Encouraged by his uncle the actor Denis Lawson he achieved his 1st film role as an extra in a passage to India. His 1st major break was starring in Dennis potters Lipstick on my Collar a role he secured whilst still a student. The author has the cooperation of his family and Ewan McGregor will be interviewed.
The story of local-boy-made-good is always an appealing one, and in Ewan McGregor's case the myth is made all the more attractive by stories of his dropping out from an establishment school; choosing instead to tread the boards of the local college, then shooting to international fame in
Trainspotting.
Aged only 27 at the time of writing, it is astounding to think what McGregor has already achieved, and his unshakeable work ethic is something which comes across very strongly. As with most actors, he is never comfortable "between jobs" and consequently takes on a gargantuan workload. But this is a boy who also knows how to party, and his relationship with the Margarita is, among those in the know, almost as legendary as his acting talent. As is his dedication to his family--both his parents and his wife and daughter--and it is between work, fun and home that he constantly struggles to find a balance.
Pendreigh's portrait is one of adulation and his representation of "the boy from Crieff" who showed early promise playing David in David and Goliath aged only six tends to be somewhat over-romanticised in places. But it is thorough, and the book is packed full of information on McGregor's early life. As a freelance film critic and journalist, Pendreigh has followed McGregor's career for some time, and though in the filmography he is happy to grade Ewan's films, he tends to be somewhat less objective in the narrative. His insistence on putting poorer performances and negative press coverage down to others' ineptitude (the actress Anna Friel, particularly, gets a rough ride over tabloid speculation about her "relationship" with McGregor) shows the nature of his regard for undoubtedly one of the best young actors of a generation.
For fans of McGregor this book is a gift; for other, more objective observers, it is a great source of information on a man who will probably take his place as the greatest Scottish actor since Sean Connery. --Lucie Naylor
