As a child, he wanted to become a missionary.

After growing up in Glasgow, he moved to London at the age of 20.

Born to James McAvoy, a builder, and his then wife Elizabeth Johnstone, a psychiatric nurse.

Enjoys science fiction.

His sister is Joy McAvoy, a singer in the Scottish girl group Streetside

Before he went into acting, he wanted to join the Navy.

Former roommate of Jesse Spencer when they were both living in London.

Shares a birthday with Luis Guzmán.

While filming The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Georgie Henley never saw McAvoy in his Mr. Tumnus costume before filming their scenes together. Henley's scared reaction upon seeing McAvoy is genuine surprise.

Fan of Glasgow Celtic Football Club.

After his parents divorced, McAvoy and his sister moved in with their maternal grandmother.

Trained at Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Was ranked #18 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actors list. (2008).

Attended St. Thomas Antiquas Secondary in Jordanhill, Glasgow.

Joe Wright considered him for a role in his Pride & Prejudice (2005). Both director and actor refused to name the part.

His parents divorced when he was seven.

After graduating from the Royal Scotish Academy of Music and Theater in 2000, he worked as a baker.

McAvoy and Jessica Brooks were the first actors to tackle the complex roles Leto II & his twin sister Ghanima Atreides, the strange prescient "Children of Dune" (2003) (mini) based on Frank Herbert's novel of the same name. Although Leto and Ghanima were only nine years old in the novel, their ages were bumped up about seven years making them about sixteen for the Sci-Fi Channel's miniseries in March 2003.