James McAvoy's rare 'relationships' insight amid marriage to famous wife

EXCLUSIVE: James McAvoy's rare 'relationships' insight amid marriage to famous wifeMaking his directorial debut with the movie California Schemin’ Glasgow-born actor James McAvoy describes it as a modern-day Robin Hood story - and a story of friendship3amFran Bowden Head of Features (Longform) and Hannah Britt, Senior Reporter Mirror Features07:00, 06 Apr 2026View 5 ImagesJames McAvoy, 46, has starred in films from Atonement to X Men, Split, The Last King of Scotland and Atomic Blonde(Image: The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)Glasgow-born James McAvoy's California Schemin’ follows the real life tale of two Dundee lads who manage to con the music industry and land a record deal with Sony. As well as directing, James plays a Scottish music supremo, who signs the two rappers who, after having zero success breaking into the hip hop scene as themselves, ironically, pose as Americans and are immediately snapped up. Based on the true story of musicians Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, who adopt fake American identities after their accents are ridiculed - they become the successful fake Stateside rap duo Silibil N’ Brains.‌The pair met in the 1990s at Dundee college, adopting their “California” personas to officially launch their career in London in 2001. James, 46, who now lives in Crouch End, north London, says of the story: “It seems a bit over the top sometimes, really, but that’s kind of why I liked it. To me it felt like a bit of a Robin Hood story … sticking it to the man and gaming the system. If it wasn’t quite robbing the rich to give to the poor, it was robbing the rich to give it to themselves.”‌READ MORE: Ryan Gosling's rare insight into family life as he shares young daughter's adviceDespite his enviable success, starring in films from Atonement to X Men, Split, The Last King of Scotland and Atomic Blonde, James says he relates to the rappers, as he’s been “that Scottish person,” judged by his accent. Because Scottish voices aren’t...