This site is all about what people think of Ewan McGregor. By clicking on the quotes link in the site map box to your right you can read quotes about the man from over 200 of his peers, co-workers, family-members and friends. The reviews link will allow you to read what the press think of him and awards will outline the accolades he's won. The spotlight link will bring you to a small sample of quotes and reviews on a particular theme. Finally, if you are only interested in the most recent additions to the site, you'll find those below.

Danny Boyle (director Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary)
Ewan has an intravenous line into the audience. There's an irreverent side to him that's right in keeping with what people want. He's got that twinkle in his eye, like Sean Connery. Variety, October 28 2002

Trainspotting was more difficult than Shallow Grave. It seemed farther away from what he was. But he talked about transforming himself, and he did. I was absolutely amazed. Variety, October 28 2002

Ewan held the center in Trainspotting. There were lots of fireworks going on around him -- Ewen Bremner and Robert Carlyle played big, big characters. But those fireworks are no good unless there's an emotional center. Variety, October 28 2002

George Lucas (director Star Wars)
Ewan had the energy, grace and enthusiasm to be the young Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's a very difficult role -- perhaps the hardest of all the roles because he's the steady center of the Star Wars saga. Ewan is a brilliant actor with depths that I don't think have been tapped yet in his varied performances. Variety, October 28 2002

Baz Lurhmann (director Moulin Rouge)
Ewan brings a soul to the set and he's a bit of a prankster. He'd do something outrageous to relieve the tension. But for all his perceived wildness, he's extraordinarily professional. Variety, October 28 2002

There's a phrase he uses: he'll say, 'It's such a treat.' He had to go from Cary Grant screwball comedy in the beginning to a genuine emotional naturalist in the end -- and he had to sing and dance. Ewan can do anything he puts his mind to. Variety, October 28 2002

He's right center stage now in etching this body of work. He hasn't arrived -- he is. Variety, October 28 2002

Peyton Reed (director Down With Love)
As a guy going to see a romantic comedy, Ewan is the kind of actor that guys want to watch. He's fearless, he's got a punk rock energy -- and there's a real sense of danger about him. It was crucial to have that element in the movie. Variety, October 28 2002

Tom Rothman (co-chairman 20th Century Fox)
Another thing about Ewan is that he's a major international star. A lot of the pictures he's done, and not just Star Wars, do enormous business internationally. Variety, October 28 2002

Rick McCallum (producer Star Wars)
This will be the third Star Wars with him and it has been an incredible journey to watch him grow,. He's so focused, so on, and so giving with everyone around him. He and Sam Jackson set the standard on the set. No one misbehaves because they're so decent. Variety, October 28 2002

Army Archerd (columnist Variety)
(when asked who has star quality among the younger actors)
Tom Cruise, if you still call him young. Josh Hartnett of Black Hawk Down. Renee Zellweger and Reese Witherspoon. Halle Berry has something special. Jennifer Aniston could develop into something. Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor. USA Today, April 25 2002 (thanks Gail)

Ronan Keating (singer)
(discussing his unsuccessful audition for Moulin Rouge)
I mean, I'm happy for Nicole, she did a wonderful job and Ewan too, he was brilliant. I mean, he is Obi Wan Kenobi, you don't say 'no' to him. Skinner, ITV, October 19 2002 (thanks Sumaire)

Baz Luhrmann (director Moulin Rouge)
(on the initial reaction to Moulin Rouge at the Cannes Film Festival)
The Hollywood Reporter said something like, Fox is really in trouble with this one - it's a tough sell. Nicole and I are devastated. We got everyone into this, and now they're being humiliated. Ewan, always at his best in difficult times, was great. I was standing on a rocky outcrop doing my obligatory 50 press interviews when I saw him across the way doing the same. Then he turned toward me, smiled, and yelled out, "Oh, fuck 'em!" Vogue, November 2002 (thanks Alyse)

Danny Boyle (director Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary)
(on how replacing Ewan with DiCaprio in The Beach did not adversely affect his career)
I think Ewan was very upset by what we did. He feels we betrayed him, and I think he's right. (But) you have to get in line with everyone else to speak to him now. The Independent, October 25 2002

added a new spotlight

REVIEW

Velvet Goldmine (1998)
Although Ewan McGregor has already established himself, in Trainspotting and other movies, as a gifted young actor, I doubt that anybody will be prepared for the demented abandon of his performance as Curt Wild. He's made up to look like Iggy (with a touch of Kurt Cobain), but looks are easy; you don't expect an actor playing a singer to be able to put over a song with this kind of force. McGregor sings in his own voice and waves his own dick around like a genuine madman - but then if an Iggy impersonation isn't scary, it's nothing. Craig Seligman, ArtForum Magazine, October 1998 (thanks Karen)

John Sauven (UK campaigns director Greenpeace)
(on Ewan's voice-over for a 2-minute film on the plight of gorillas)
We wanted Ewan because he has a brilliant voice. The film is powerful and emotional and really affects people when they see it. Hampstead & Highgate Express online, date? (thank you Gail)

Denis Lawson (actor, director, Ewan's uncle)
Ewan is what I'd call a precocious talent. Very similar to Albert Finney, who made it at 24, as Ewan has, then went on to do even more. He's very centred as a person and that allows him to be fearless as to how he's seen on screen. People ask if I get tired of having my name yoked to his so much and, honestly, the answer is no. We've always been very close, so it's just a natural progression. Our relationship is a very easy one, a lot of laughs. Its very nice, very gratifying. The Sunday Times, May 20 2001 (thank you Karen)

REVIEW:

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
Ewan McGregor still soldiers on as the Jedi knight to whom Anakin is apprenticed, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He has a bit more to do than in the first movie, where he seemed to spend most of his time standing slightly behind Liam Neeson's left ear, as though inspecting it for psoriasis. He's saddled with a lot of wisecracks that are intended to show how cool he is under pressure. He delivers these with a passable imitation of Sir Alec Guinness's accent, but they just make him sound like Roger Moore in the darker period of the James Bond franchise. This most boyishly mischievous of actors seems ground down by the cares of looking after an apprentice. It's a terrible waste. Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail online (thank you Dee)

Suzi Perry (presenter BBC Sport)
(on meeting Ewan while covering a World Super Bikes race at Leguna Seca)
Ewan is a really cool, down to earth guy (no show-bizzy razamataz) and when I asked him to do a link for the Brands Hatch promo, he had no problem in helping out at all. Girls - I had a lovely little kiss on the cheek from him after which I needed to focus very quickly on my next bit of chat on the grid. Mmmmm. www.suziperry.com, summer 2002

Jason Bell (photographer)
(on photographing Ewan)
Ah, bless him. He's great. We were in a hotel in London. We looked around the suite and it was all swirly carpets and rouge curtains. I said, 'This doesn't seem very you,' and he agreed: 'No, I hate it.' So I found a really rough old fire escape and he got a twinkle in his eye and said, 'Excellent.' It was more down-to-earth and suited him better. I was quite nervous, before the shoot because I hadn't worked with Ewan before. He had a great outfit on and he kept rolling round on the ground. I was worried he would ruin it, but he didn't care at all. He left covered in dirt! He's so warm and gave me a huge kiss at the end of the shoot. I love it when people are willing to go along for the ride. He was totally up for it. November, October 2002 (thanks Josie - at mad about ewan - and Antonella)

Melissa George (actor Down With Love - Elkie)
I had some good scenes with Ewan. Working with him was great. And we did a photo shoot together for Vanity Fair. We danced to some Beatles songs and Ewan wore a James Bond suit and I wore my blue pillowbox hat. Wow, October 12-18 2002 (thank you Mrs EGM)

Hayden Christensen (actor Star Wars: Attack of the Clones - Anakin)
Ewan was just a pleasure to work with. I really adore him. We were always laughing with each other. He's such a strong actor so it's inspiring to work with him. He really brings up the level of everyone else and makes it a very enjoyable experience. He's a very gifted actor and a very kind man at the same time. The Mirror, April 11 2002 (thank you MarGwan)

Ann Miller (actress, tap-dancer, singer)
(on how Moulin Rouge compared to the musicals she headlined in the 1940s and 50s)
I thought it was very interesting, but the numbers were a little frenetic, so fast and furious. But I thought (Nicole Kidman) was darling, and I loved that boy who was with her. San Francisco Examiner, July 25 2002

Lindy King (Ewan's agent)
(on Ewan's frenetic work schedule and eclectic film choices)
Ewan wants to grow as an actor. Actors don't really do repertory theater anymore - so Ewan has been using the last couple of years as his own repertory experience on-screen. Vanity Fair, December 1998

I also added the following to the awards page:
1991
won: Society of London Theatre - Laurence Olivier Bursary (scholarship)