Ewan McGregor

Aged only 27 at the time of writing, it is astounding to think what McGregor has already achieved, and his unshakeable work ethic is something which comes across very strongly. As with most actors, he is never comfortable "between jobs" and consequently takes on a gargantuan workload. But this is a boy who also knows how to party, and his relationship with the Margarita is, among those in the know, almost as legendary as his acting talent. As is his dedication to his family--both his parents and his wife and daughter--and it is between work, fun and home that he constantly struggles to find a balance.

Pendreigh's portrait is one of adulation and his representation of "the boy from Crieff" who showed early promise playing David in David and Goliath aged only six tends to be somewhat over-romanticised in places. But it is thorough, and the book is packed full of information on McGregor's early life. As a freelance film critic and journalist, Pendreigh has followed McGregor's career for some time, and though in the filmography he is happy to grade Ewan's films, he tends to be somewhat less objective in the narrative. His insistence on putting poorer performances and negative press coverage down to others' ineptitude (the actress Anna Friel, particularly, gets a rough ride over tabloid speculation about her "relationship" with McGregor) shows the nature of his regard for undoubtedly one of the best young actors of a generation.