Ewan McGregor: The Actor Opens Up About His Career, His Return To Scotland & Taking A Chance With Obi-Wan: "Deciding To Do 'Star Wars' Was Hard" - Edinburgh Film Festival
Deadline
β’Sat, 15 Aug 2026 18:00:00 +0000
π° What Happened
Ewan McGregor wowed an audience at the Edinburgh Film Festival with a live re-enactment of his 1992 stage performance in Joe Orton's play What the Butler Saw. He also opened up about his long career and his return to Scotland. He admitted that deciding to play Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars was a hard choice. Now 55, he reflected on how his approach to bold roles has changed.
π The Backstory
McGregor came to fame through films like Trainspotting, Velvet Goldmine and Moulin Rouge, and became one of the most recognisable actors of his generation. Taking on Obi-Wan Kenobi tied him to one of the biggest franchises in the world for decades. He noted that if he were starting out today, in an era of intimacy coordinators and social media, he might be less bold about on-screen nudity. The frank discussion covered how film and fame have changed.
π― Why It Matters
Actors like McGregor connect larger-than-life franchises to the craft of performance. Their reflections show how the industry and expectations for stars have shifted over a generation.
Ewan McGregor wowed an audience at the Edinburgh Film Festival with a live re-enactment of his 1992 stage performance in Joe Orton's play What the Butler Saw. He also opened up about his long career and his return to Scotland. He admitted that deciding to play Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars was a hard choice. Now 55, he reflected on how his approach to bold roles has changed.
McGregor came to fame through films like Trainspotting, Velvet Goldmine and Moulin Rouge, and became one of the most recognisable actors of his generation. Taking on Obi-Wan Kenobi tied him to one of the biggest franchises in the world for decades. He noted that if he were starting out today, in an era of intimacy coordinators and social media, he might be less bold about on-screen nudity. The frank discussion covered how film and fame have changed.
Actors like McGregor connect larger-than-life franchises to the craft of performance. Their reflections show how the industry and expectations for stars have shifted over a generation.