I remember that it was never that difficult for me to get a director to look up and pay attention to me. Mind you, I don't know if that's necessarily charm. But I've played roles where my character has to be charming and I've found it quite easy to do. I think some of it is in my bones, but some of it is more deliberate.

Nonetheless the actor considers himself to have had a good upbringing. When McAvoy screen-tested for the role he was initially rejected because the studio was seeking an actor with conventional Hollywood leading-man looks and physique. Also starring co-producer Reese Witherspoon it generated polarised reviews.

That film was followed with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) a commercial hit. Besides screen acting McAvoy has appeared on stage with Three Days of Rain in 2009 and in 2011 he did voice work for animated films including Gnomeo & Juliet and Arthur Christmas. Starting in 2003 McAvoy began to build his film resume with Bollywood Queen.