History of Ewan McGregor in Timeline
Ewan McGregor is a highly acclaimed Scottish actor known for his impressive career in drama. His remarkable performances have earned him prestigious awards, including a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award. In recognition of his significant contributions to the entertainment industry and his commendable charitable work, he was honored with the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013.
1969: Birth of Ewan McGregor's Brother
Ewan McGregor's older brother, Colin, was born in 1969.
March 1971: Birth and Family Background
Ewan McGregor was born in March 1971 in Perth, Scotland, to parents Carol Diane and James Charles Stewart "Jim" McGregor.
March 1971: Birth of Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor was born in Perth, Scotland in March 1971.
1993: Early Career and Television Debut
Ewan McGregor began his acting career with a leading role in the British series "Lipstick on Your Collar" in 1993 while studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
1993: Early Roles and Television Work
Six months before graduating from Guildhall, Ewan McGregor landed a leading role in the Channel 4 series "Lipstick on Your Collar" in 1993 and later appeared in the BBC adaptation of "Scarlet and Black".
1994: Film Debut and Collaboration with Danny Boyle
Ewan McGregor made his film debut in "Being Human" and won an Empire Award for his role in the thriller "Shallow Grave" in 1994, marking his first collaboration with director Danny Boyle.
1995: Marriage to Eve Mavrakis
Ewan McGregor married Eve Mavrakis in 1995.
1996: Appearance in "Brassed Off"
Ewan McGregor had a significant role in the comedy-drama film "Brassed Off", directed by Mark Herman, in 1996.
1996: Breakthrough Role in "Trainspotting"
Ewan McGregor rose to prominence in 1996 for his portrayal of Mark Renton, a drug addict, in the film "Trainspotting".
1997: McGregor Ranked Among Top Movie Stars
Empire magazine placed Ewan McGregor at number 36 on their "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list in 1997.
November 1998: "Little Malcolm and His Struggles Against the Eunuchs" Stage Revival
Ewan McGregor starred as Malcolm Scrawdyke in a revival of the play "Little Malcolm and His Struggles Against the Eunuchs" from November 1998.
1998: Romantic Lead in "Little Voice"
Ewan McGregor took on the male romantic lead in the British film "Little Voice" in 1998.
March 1999: End of Run for "Little Malcolm and His Struggles Against the Eunuchs"
Ewan McGregor's run in the stage revival of "Little Malcolm and His Struggles Against the Eunuchs" ended in March 1999.
1999: Cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ewan McGregor took on the role of the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy starting in 1999.
1999: Joining the "Star Wars" Universe
Ewan McGregor was cast as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, which began its release in 1999.
November 2001: Cameo Appearance in "The Play What I Wrote"
McGregor made a cameo appearance in the play "The Play What I Wrote" in November 2001.
2001: Critically Acclaimed Performances in "Moulin Rouge!" and "Black Hawk Down"
Ewan McGregor garnered widespread praise for his role in the musical "Moulin Rouge!" in 2001, earning a Golden Globe nomination, and starred in Ridley Scott's war film "Black Hawk Down".
2001: Acclaim for "Moulin Rouge!" and "Black Hawk Down"
Ewan McGregor starred in the musical "Moulin Rouge!" and the war film "Black Hawk Down" in 2001, earning critical acclaim for both performances.
2003: Starring Roles in "Down with Love", "Big Fish", and "Young Adam"
Ewan McGregor appeared in the romantic comedy "Down with Love", Tim Burton's "Big Fish", and the drama "Young Adam" in 2003, showcasing his versatility.
2003: Starring Roles in "Big Fish" and "Young Adam"
Ewan McGregor delivered noteworthy performances in Tim Burton's "Big Fish" and the drama "Young Adam" in 2003.
2004: UNICEF UK Ambassadorship
Ewan McGregor began his role as an ambassador for UNICEF UK in 2004.
2004: McGregor Named Influential Figure in British Culture
A 2004 BBC poll recognized Ewan McGregor as the fourth most influential person in British culture.
2004: Becomes a UNICEF UK Ambassador
Ewan McGregor began his involvement with UNICEF UK as an ambassador in 2004.
2004: "Long Way Round" Motorcycle Trip
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embarked on the "Long Way Round" motorcycle journey from London to New York in 2004, documenting their experiences and supporting UNICEF programs along the way.
June 2005: "Guys and Dolls" Stage Revival
Ewan McGregor took on the lead role of Sky Masterson in the Donmar Warehouse revival of "Guys and Dolls" beginning in June 2005.
2005: Voice Acting, Science Fiction, and Thriller
Ewan McGregor lent his voice to two animated films, "Robots" and "Valiant", starred in the science fiction thriller "The Island", and headlined the psychological thriller "Stay" in 2005.
2005: Stage Performance in "Guys and Dolls"
Ewan McGregor took to the stage in a production of the musical "Guys and Dolls", which ran from 2005 to 2007.
2005: Conclusion of "Star Wars" Prequel Trilogy
The final film in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, featuring Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, was released in 2005.
2005: Concluding the "Star Wars" Prequel Trilogy
The final installment of the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, featuring Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, premiered in 2005.
2006: Narration Work and Television Appearances
Ewan McGregor narrated the Fulldome production "Astronaut" and the STV show "JetSet" in 2006.
April 2007: End of Run for "Guys and Dolls"
Ewan McGregor's run in the stage revival of "Guys and Dolls" concluded in April 2007.
December 2007: "Othello" at the Donmar Warehouse
Ewan McGregor starred as Iago in "Othello" at the Donmar Warehouse, alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kelly Reilly, from December 2007.
2007: Taking on Shakespeare's "Othello"
Ewan McGregor starred as the title character in a production of William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" from 2007 to 2008.
2007: McGregor Reveals Seven Years of Sobriety
In 2007, during an appearance on Parkinson, Ewan McGregor shared that he had been sober for the past seven years.
2007: Starring in Woody Allen's "Cassandra's Dream"
Ewan McGregor starred opposite Colin Farrell in Woody Allen's film "Cassandra's Dream" in 2007.
2007: "Long Way Down" Motorcycle Trip
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman reunited for another international motorcycle trip in 2007, "Long Way Down", riding from Scotland to South Africa and chronicling their adventures.
February 2008: End of Run for "Othello"
Ewan McGregor concluded his run as Iago in "Othello" at the Donmar Warehouse in February 2008.
May 2008: "Othello" Radio Play
Ewan McGregor reprised his role as Iago in a BBC Radio 3 production of "Othello" in May 2008.
2008: McGregor Undergoes Cancerous Mole Removal
Ewan McGregor had a cancerous mole removed from under his right eye in 2008.
2008: McGregor Discusses Past Alcohol Abuse and Sobriety
Ewan McGregor revealed in a 2008 interview with the Irish Independent that he would frequently arrive on set intoxicated or hungover during the late 1990s. He made the decision to stop drinking entirely to prevent his situation from worsening.
2008: Conclusion of "Othello" Run
Ewan McGregor's run in the stage production of "Othello" concluded in 2008.
2009: Hosts GO Campaign's Hollywood Gala
Ewan McGregor hosted the annual Hollywood gala for the GO Campaign in 2009.
2009: Thriller and Mystery: "Angels and Demons"
Ewan McGregor appeared in the mystery thriller "Angels and Demons", based on Dan Brown's novel, in 2009.
2009: Comedy, Romance, and Mystery
Ewan McGregor appeared in the comedy "I Love You Phillip Morris" alongside Jim Carrey and starred in the romantic drama "Amelia" in 2009.
2010: Critical Praise for "The Ghost Writer"
Ewan McGregor garnered praise for his performance in the thriller "The Ghost Writer" in 2010.
2010: The Enigmatic "Ghost" in "The Ghost Writer"
Ewan McGregor played the lead role, simply known as "the ghost", in Roman Polanski's political thriller "The Ghost Writer" in 2010.
2010: Hosts GO Campaign's Hollywood Gala Again
For a second consecutive year, Ewan McGregor hosted the GO Campaign's annual Hollywood gala in 2010.
2010: McGregor Receives French Honor
The French government bestowed upon Ewan McGregor the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Order of the Arts and Letters) in 2010.
2011: Success with "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"
Ewan McGregor starred in the British comedy "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" in 2011, earning critical acclaim.
2011: Critical Acclaim and Award Recognition
Ewan McGregor starred in the critically acclaimed British comedy "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen", earning a Golden Globe nomination, and received the SIFF Golden Space Needle Award for his acting achievements in 2011.
2012: Cannes Film Festival Jury Member and Donostia Award Recipient
In 2012, Ewan McGregor served on the jury for the Main Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. He was also honored with the Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, becoming the youngest recipient of this prestigious award.
2012: "Ewan McGregor: Cold Chain Mission" Documentary
The BBC aired a two-part documentary in 2012, "Ewan McGregor: Cold Chain Mission," showcasing McGregor's journey delivering vaccines to children in remote regions.
2013: "August: Osage County" Film Release
McGregor starred alongside Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts in the film adaptation of Tracy Letts's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "August: Osage County", in 2013.
2013: Ewan McGregor Appointed OBE
In 2013, Ewan McGregor was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to drama and charity.
2013: McGregor Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Ewan McGregor was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours, in recognition of his contributions to drama and charity.
2014: McGregor's Stance on Scottish Independence
Ewan McGregor was against Scotland's independence from the UK in the 2014 referendum.
May 2015: Filming Begins for "Beauty and the Beast"
In May 2015, filming commenced for the live-action adaptation of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast", in which McGregor played Lumière.
June 2015: Participation in "GivingTales" App for UNICEF
In June 2015, McGregor contributed to the children's fairy tales app "GivingTales" by reading "The Little Match Girl" in support of UNICEF.
2015: "Mortdecai" Film Release
Ewan McGregor appeared in the action comedy "Mortdecai" in 2015, alongside Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany.
2016: McGregor Becomes US Citizen
Ewan McGregor became a naturalized US citizen after 2016, enabling him to vote in the 2020 US presidential election. He used his US passport exclusively during his travels for "Long Way Up".
2016: Directorial Debut with "American Pastoral"
Ewan McGregor made his directorial debut in 2016 with the crime film "American Pastoral", in which he also starred.
2016: Directorial Debut with "American Pastoral"
McGregor made his directorial debut with "American Pastoral" in 2016, a film he also starred in.
March 2017: "Beauty and the Beast" Film Release
The live-action adaptation of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast", featuring Ewan McGregor as Lumière, was released in March 2017.
May 2017: Relationship with Mary Elizabeth Winstead Begins
Ewan McGregor began a relationship with actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead in May 2017.
May 2017: Separation from Eve Mavrakis
Ewan McGregor and his wife, Eve Mavrakis, separated in May 2017.
2017: Golden Globe Win for "Fargo"
Ewan McGregor won a Golden Globe Award for his dual role in the third season of the anthology series "Fargo" in 2017.
January 2018: Divorce Filing from Eve Mavrakis
Ewan McGregor filed for divorce from his wife, Eve Mavrakis, in January 2018 after a period of separation.
2018: Voice Acting and Lead Role
Ewan McGregor lent his voice to the character of Lumière in the live-action "Beauty and the Beast" and played the title role in "Christopher Robin" in 2018.
2018: "Christopher Robin" Film Release
Ewan McGregor took on the role of the adult Christopher Robin in the live-action adaptation of Disney's Winnie the Pooh franchise, "Christopher Robin," in 2018.
August 2019: Announcement of Obi-Wan Kenobi Series
Lucasfilm announced that McGregor would reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in a new Star Wars television series in August 2019.
2019: "Long Way Up" Motorcycle Trip
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embarked on their third major motorcycle adventure, "Long Way Up," in 2019, traveling from Argentina to California on electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire motorcycles.
2019: "Doctor Sleep" Film Release
Ewan McGregor starred as the older Danny Torrance in the 2019 film adaptation of Stephen King's "Doctor Sleep".
2019: Portraying Dan Torrance in "Doctor Sleep"
Ewan McGregor took on the role of Dan Torrance in the horror film "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to "The Shining", in 2019.
August 2020: Divorce from Eve Mavrakis Finalized
Ewan McGregor's divorce from Eve Mavrakis was finalized in August 2020.
September 2020: McGregor Discovers Chilean Heritage
In September 2020, while filming the documentary "Long Way Up" in Chile, Ewan McGregor learned about his Chilean ancestry. His great-grandfather, John "Juan" Charles McIndoe, was born in Chile to Scottish parents. John later relocated to Glasgow, where he worked as a wine importer and diplomat.
September 2020: Discovering Chilean Ancestry
In September 2020, Ewan McGregor learned about his Chilean heritage while filming his motorcycle documentary "Long Way Up", discovering that one of his great-grandfathers was born in Chile.
2020: "Long Way Up" Series Release
The documentary series following Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's electric motorcycle journey, "Long Way Up", was released in 2020.
2020: "Birds of Prey" Film Release
In 2020, Ewan McGregor portrayed the villain Roman Sionis / Black Mask in Warner Bros.' DC Comics film "Birds of Prey", starring alongside Margot Robbie.
2020: Stepping into the DC Universe
Ewan McGregor joined the DC Extended Universe as Black Mask in the superhero film "Birds of Prey" in 2020.
2020: McGregor Voices Support for Scottish Independence
After the UK's exit from the European Union, Ewan McGregor stated in a 2020 interview that he would have voted for Scottish independence if he had been eligible to vote during the Brexit referendum. He expressed that "it's time" for Scotland's independence.
June 2021: Birth of Son, Laurie
Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead welcomed their son, Laurie, in June 2021.
2021: Emmy Award for "Halston"
Ewan McGregor's performance as fashion designer Halston in the miniseries "Halston" earned him a Primetime Emmy Award in 2021.
2021: "Halston" Miniseries Release
In 2021, Ewan McGregor starred as fashion designer Halston in the Netflix miniseries "Halston". He was also an executive producer on the project.
April 2022: Marriage to Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead were married in April 2022.
2022: Returning as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ewan McGregor reprised his iconic role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the miniseries "Obi-Wan Kenobi", released in 2022.
2022: Release of Obi-Wan Kenobi Series
The new Star Wars television series, featuring Ewan McGregor reprising his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi, was released in 2022.
October 2023: McGregor Supports Artists4Ceasefire
In October 2023, Ewan McGregor added his name to an open letter from Artists4Ceasefire during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.