The Transformation of Ewan McGregor

When I first heard way back in 1997 that Ewan McGregor was going to be portraying a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the PT, I thought to myself "Who is this Ewan McGregor? I hope he is a good actor." This reaction was similar to the majority of other Star Wars fans reactions to his casting. Upon seeing TPM, and later AOTC, I thought Ewan did a wonderful job portraying Obi-Wan and saw his skill as a great actor.

Hand in hand though, I also began to wonder and figured that perhaps Ewan McGregor would follow the same path as Mark Hamill and most other actors/actresses of Star Wars who were unfortunately doomed to be unanimous with the character for which they portrayed in the galaxy far, far away.

It has in recent time, most notably tonight, come to my attention that Ewan McGregor isn't just Obi-Wan Kenobi anymore, but a great actor who is known for a variety of roles. This epiphany came to me only minutes ago when I looked at the TPM banner and saw not Obi-Wan, but Edward Bloom and every other character Ewan has portrayed. To me, this is the apitamy of a great and ever changing actor, someone who can remind you of every character they have ever played merely by glancing at their face. Everything from his more happy go luck roles in films such as Moulin Rouge and Down With Love, to his more dramatic portrayls in Black Hawk Down and Big Fish, Ewan McGregor has transitioned into a brilliant, versatle actor who will surely never be typed casted or solely known for one role. I truly feel one day in the future, Ewan will be rewarded for his brilliance in the form of an Academy Award.

 

Ewan has really made a point of taking all different sorts of roles. Who else would be in Star Wars, Trainspotting, Moulin Rouge AND Down With Love?

I have yet to see him deliver a bad performance.




Rick McCallum loves you!

 

Ewan McGregor is an extremely talented and extremely versatile actor.

 

You should check 'A life less Ordinary' where he stars with Cameron Diaz. Brilliant movie and funny situations.

 

I think what a lot of American fans don't realise is that Ewan McGregor was a very well established actor in England when he was cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi, so when I first heard the news I thought it was absolutely inspired casting by George Lucas. Also, Ewan has gone on record as saying he doesn't want to become involved with the Hollywood machine, so that's why for every Phantom Menace he takes on, there's a Rogue Trader or Young Adam there, too.

 

Like the Princess said, Ewan wasn't an unknown in the UK before Star Wars. Infact, when I see Ewan I don't think of Obi-Wan at all, but the other roles he played in films earlier than TPM such as Shallow Grave, Trainspotting and Velvet Goldmine.

"I have yet to see him deliver a bad performance."

Heh, you've never seen Emma then. I wouldn't advise that you do though.

 

Reading the first post it may seem that the poster thing McGregor got famous because of TPM. Actually, he already
was known since Shallow Grave and then Trainspotting.
Also, Velvet Goldmine! And everything else. He is quite famous since, well 1994, right? Brassed Off was his first major movie- or was it Blue Juice?

 

Like the Princess said

"Princess"? You mean Oakessteve? Is that a new name we should start calling him?

Anyway, yeah, I'd heard of Ewan before TPM, but in the States he definitely wasn't famous - on a wide scale, that is. That changed after TPM.

 

WEll I first heard of him from the previews of his movie with Cameron Diaz back in 1997. Which, ironically, was when I first heard anthing about a prequel film being made. Eventually, I saw him in both films as well as Episode II and Moulan Rouge. He is an excellent actor and he will go far. I do not think he will be typecast as Obi Wan.

 

You should check 'A life less Ordinary' where he stars with Cameron Diaz. Brilliant movie and funny situations.

My wife and I saw that movie in a theatre and we own the DVD.

 

I think Ewan is one of the most versatile contemporary actors. He's most DEFINATELY one of the best looking!

When I first heard way back in 1997 that Ewan McGregor was going to be portraying a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the PT, I thought to myself "Who is this Ewan McGregor?"

I thought the exact same thing.

 

I think I had heard of him before SW, but I didn't know much about him. He looked like a good choice, and then I really wanted to see A Life Less Ordinary-which came out before TPM. (GREAT movie!)

He is a really kickass actor and a fascinating individual.

 

Well said.

 

See the majority of Americans had absolutely no clue who he was. However, I already knew who he was and was a fan because I had seen him on ER in Febuary of 97 before it was announced that he was going to play Obi-Wan. I had found out about the other films he had been in, but as I was only 9, had not yet seen them I've seen the majority of the things he's been in and he never ceases to amaze me.

I like a lot of actors, but I have to admit that Ewan is probably the very best at leaving none of himself in a role unless that aspect of a character is like himself. I mean, have you seen Moulin Rouge? Do you think Ewan is even the least bit shy? I think not Try watching Trainspotting, TPM, and Moulin Rouge in a row. It's literally almost impossible to believe it's the same person.

But I wouldn't say it's a transformation. I think Ewan is one of those rare actors who doesn't do any certain type of film at all. He doesn't care what the genre is or if it's a big film or an indie film- he just does what he feels like doing and is always excellent. I don't think that's really changed, but I'm glad SW has given him the opportunity to become known to a wider audience.

-sj loves kevin spacey

 

"You were right about one thing Master - the negotiations were short!"

This line (and the look on his face) captures Ewan's quick-wittedness (sp?) and sense of humor.

I knew very little about him before TPM. It's like when you buy a new car, and then you notice everyone else is driving the same kind. Since TPM, I've noticed him a lot more, to be sure.

 

I knew and respected Ewan well before he was in TPM - for Trainspotting, Brassed Off, and Shallow Grave. I agree that he is a great actor and I like his willingness to take on different roles. That's kind of why I like Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci too but that's way off topic.
I did just see the first movie with Ewan that I didn't care for though, The Pillow Book. I usually like Independent Cinema/Art flicks, but this one was beyond my capacity to appreciate. I guess if you wanted to see Ewan just standing around naked and having lots of sex (with men and women) then that would be the movie for you.

 

" "Princess"? You mean Oakessteve? Is that a new name we should start calling him?"


It most certainly isn't.

[image=http://members.aol.com/seconddoordown/no.jpg]

 

Check out Eye of the Beholder. That was his next pic after TPM. It's little known, but very good. He plays a very realistic spy.

 

I tried watching it, but got sick and had to walk out. I don't know why I got sick, I got better when I walked out. True story.


"Princess"? You mean Oakessteve? Is that a new name we should start calling him?"


It most certainly isn't.

I discussed the matter with Strilo. Not only have we decided that it should be your new nickname, we are going to change your title to reflect it

 

It most certainly isn't.


You have no power here, Oakessteve the Colorless...

 

I've got your back, Sir Steven.

 

*bans Dashes*

 

Oi, I may not be a manager anymore, but I still have friends in administration! Firstly there's Darth Stryphe and strilo and they'll show you.....oh.

 

I hated "Eye of the Beholder". To be honest, I didn't make it past the first 20 minutes before turning it off. I had an even harder time with Moulin Rouge. How can anybody stand that movie? Complete and utter crap! I turned it off after less than 10 minutes. How did it ever win any awards. </super-harsh film critic>

Let's not forget, people, that Alec Guiness was a well established actor on both sides of the pond before he got saddled with ObiWan. "Bridge over the River Kwai", "The Swan", "Kind Hearts and Coronettes" (talk about versatile--he plays an entire family in that movie!), and "Lavendar Hill Mob".

Will Ewan be stuck with the legacy of OB1? probablly not. I say this only because he's only at the beginning of his career, and working on so many other projects.