Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ewan McGregor
How Ewan McGregor built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Ewan McGregor is a Scottish actor recognized with a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013 for his contributions to drama and charitable work. McGregor's career spans a variety of roles, establishing him as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
1993: Leading role in Lipstick on Your Collar
In 1993, Ewan McGregor began his career with a leading role in the British series Lipstick on Your Collar while studying drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
1993: Leading role in Lipstick on Your Collar and Scarlet and Black
In 1993, prior to his graduation, Ewan McGregor began a leading role in Lipstick on Your Collar and starred in Scarlet and Black.
1994: Film debut in Being Human and Empire Award for Shallow Grave
In 1994, Ewan McGregor made his film debut in Being Human and won an Empire Award for his role in the thriller Shallow Grave.
1996: Starring as Mark Renton in Trainspotting
In 1996, Ewan McGregor gained international recognition for starring as drug addict Mark Renton in Trainspotting.
1996: Role in Brassed Off and Trainspotting breakthrough
In 1996, Ewan McGregor had a major role in Brassed Off and his international breakthrough followed with Trainspotting.
1997: Ranked in Empire Magazine's Top 100 Movie Stars
In 1997, Ewan McGregor was ranked number 36 on Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
November 1998: Starring in Little Malcolm and His Struggles Against the Eunuchs
From November 1998, McGregor starred as Malcolm Scrawdyke in Little Malcolm and His Struggles Against the Eunuchs.
1998: Male lead in Little Voice
In 1998, Ewan McGregor played the male romantic lead role in the British film Little Voice.
1999: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
In 1999, Ewan McGregor starred as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
1999: Cast as young Obi-Wan Kenobi
In 1999, Ewan McGregor was cast as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
November 2001: Cameo appearance in The Play What I Wrote
In November 2001, McGregor made a cameo appearance in The Play What I Wrote.
2001: Starring in Moulin Rouge! and Black Hawk Down
In 2001, Ewan McGregor starred in Moulin Rouge! and Black Hawk Down, receiving praise for his performance in Moulin Rouge!.
2003: Starring in Down with Love and Big Fish
In 2003, Ewan McGregor starred alongside Renée Zellweger in Down with Love and portrayed the younger Edward Bloom in Big Fish.
2003: Starring role in Big Fish
In 2003, Ewan McGregor starred in the fantasy film Big Fish.
2004: UNICEF UK Involvement and Long Way Round Journey
In 2004, Ewan McGregor began his involvement with UNICEF UK. During the Long Way Round journey in 2004, McGregor observed UNICEF's work in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.
2004: Named Influential Person in British Culture
In 2004, Ewan McGregor was named the fourth most influential person in British culture in a BBC poll.
2004: Motorcycle trip from London to New York
In 2004, McGregor undertook a motorcycle trip from London to New York with Charley Boorman, which became the basis for Long Way Round.
2004: UNICEF UK Ambassador
Since 2004, Ewan McGregor has served as an ambassador for UNICEF UK, involved in charity work.
June 2005: Starring in Guys and Dolls
From June 2005, McGregor starred in the Donmar Warehouse revival of Guys and Dolls.
2005: Release of Star Wars prequel trilogy
Between 1999 and 2005, Ewan McGregor starred as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, which concluded in 2005.
2005: Guys and Dolls theatre production
From June 2005, McGregor starred in theatre productions of Guys and Dolls.
2005: Voice roles in Robots and Valiant
In 2005, Ewan McGregor voiced Rodney Copperbottom in Robots and the lead character in Valiant.
2006: Narrating Astronaut and JetSet
In 2006, Ewan McGregor narrated the Fulldome production Astronaut and the STV show JetSet.
April 2007: Nomination for Laurence Olivier Award
From June 2005 to April 2007, McGregor starred in Guys and Dolls. McGregor was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2007.
December 2007: Starring in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse
From December 2007, McGregor starred as Iago in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse.
2007: Starring in Cassandra's Dream
In 2007, Ewan McGregor starred opposite Colin Farrell in the Woody Allen film Cassandra's Dream.
2007: Motorcycle trip from Scotland to South Africa
In 2007, McGregor and Boorman reunited for another motorcycle trip, from John o' Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa.
2007: Long Way Down and UNICEF work in Africa
In 2007, during the Long Way Down trip, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman collaborated with UNICEF in Africa. Also in 2007, McGregor mentioned in an episode of Parkinson that he had been teetotal for the last seven years.
2007: Guys and Dolls theatre production
Until April 2007, McGregor starred in theatre productions of Guys and Dolls.
February 2008: Starring in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse
Until February 2008, McGregor starred as Iago in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse.
May 2008: Reprising role in Othello on BBC Radio 3
In May 2008, McGregor reprised the role of Iago in Othello on BBC Radio 3.
2008: Starring in Othello
From December 2007 to February 2008, McGregor starred as Iago in Othello. He reprised the role on BBC Radio 3 in May 2008.
2009: Hosted GO Campaign Hollywood Gala
In 2009, Ewan McGregor hosted the annual Hollywood gala for the GO Campaign.
2009: Starring in I Love You Phillip Morris and Amelia, and Angels & Demons
In 2009, Ewan McGregor starred in I Love You Phillip Morris and Amelia, and played Camerlengo Patrick McKenna in Angels & Demons.
2009: Starring role in Angels and Demons
In 2009, Ewan McGregor starred in the thriller Angels and Demons.
2010: Praised performance in The Ghost Writer
In 2010, Ewan McGregor gained praise for his performance in the thriller The Ghost Writer.
2010: Hosted GO Campaign Hollywood Gala
In 2010, Ewan McGregor hosted the annual Hollywood gala for the GO Campaign.
2010: Starring in The Ghost Writer
In 2010, Ewan McGregor played "the ghost" in Roman Polanski's political thriller The Ghost Writer.
2010: Appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
In 2010, Ewan McGregor was appointed by the French government as a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of the Arts and Letters).
2013: Starring in August: Osage County
In 2013, Ewan McGregor starred alongside Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts in August: Osage County.
2013: Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire
In 2013, Ewan McGregor was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama and charity.
2014: Broadway debut in The Real Thing
In 2014, McGregor made his Broadway debut in The Real Thing.
June 2015: GivingTales app narration for UNICEF
In June 2015, Ewan McGregor narrated Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl" for the GivingTales children's fairy tales app in support of UNICEF, along with other notable figures.
2015: Starring in Mortdecai
In 2015, Ewan McGregor starred in the action comedy film Mortdecai.
2016: Directorial Debut with American Pastoral
In 2016, Ewan McGregor made his directorial debut with American Pastoral, in which he also starred.
March 2017: Release of Beauty and the Beast
In March 2017, the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast was released, where Ewan McGregor played Lumière.
2018: Starring role in Christopher Robin
In 2018, Ewan McGregor played the title role in Christopher Robin.
2019: Starring role in Doctor Sleep
In 2019, Ewan McGregor played Dan Torrance in Doctor Sleep.
2019: Motorcycle trip from Patagonia to California
In 2019, McGregor and Boorman undertook a motorcycle trip from Patagonia, Argentina to California, United States.
2020: Appearing in Birds of Prey
In 2020, Ewan McGregor appeared opposite Margot Robbie in Birds of Prey as the main villain Roman Sionis / Black Mask.
2020: Release of Long Way Up series
In 2020, the journey from Patagonia to California of Ewan McGregor was documented in the series Long Way Up.
2021: Playing Halston in the miniseries
In 2021, McGregor played the American fashion designer Halston in the eponymously titled miniseries for Netflix.
2022: Reprising role as Kenobi in Obi-Wan Kenobi
In 2022, Ewan McGregor reprised his role as Kenobi in the miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi.
2022: Voicing Sebastián J. Cricket in Pinocchio
In 2022, McGregor voiced Sebastián J. Cricket in Pinocchio, directed by Guillermo del Toro.
