James McAvoy Reflects on Playing Mr. Tumnus
In a recent interview with British GQ, James McAvoy reminisced about his career, including playing Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). He talked about being cast, the lengthy makeup process, and memories of working with 8-year-old Georgie Henley.
Watch the video here. (Narnia talk at 0:24-3:38)
They were looking at much older actors, like 30s and 40s. And they were like “this just seems wrong, it seems really creepy.” They knew they had to get someone who was young, and was nice, seemed unthreatening, and I’m all those things clearly (laughs).
I went in and met Andrew Adamson who is a genuinely lovely man and a great director. I feel like I got the part in the room.
James McAvoy
James was 25 years old when he played Tumnus.
Related:
Georgie Henley Talks to NarniaWeb About Playing Lucy – 15 Years Later
I remember we were all really surprised when he was cast. But I think it worked out great.
Interesting that someone who played a good guy in Narnia went on to be in a story by Philip Pullman (who didn’t like Narnia and wrote his stories in some sort of deliberate response).
The first two Narnia movies were able to get such charismatic actors even in small roles.
I still remember very clearly, just the other day when I was a child and watched this movie with my grandparents during Christmas, my family and I both loved watching this movie and found their characters pitiful.