James McAvoy's 11 best movies – from The Last King of Scotland to Split

Period comedy drama directed by Stephen Fry and starring Stephen Campbell Moore and Emily Mortimer. In 1930s England, a group of feckless young socialites party their lives away while the storm clouds of the Second World War gather about them.

Fantasy adventure based on the much-loved children's book by CS Lewis, starring Tilda Swinton. During the Second World War, the four Pevensie children are evacuated to stay with an old professor in his country manor. The youngest, Lucy, stumbles upon an enchanted wardrobe that leads to the magical realm of Narnia, a land populated by talking animals and mythical creatures that has fallen under the malevolent spell of the icy White Witch.

True-story-inspired thriller, based on the book by Giles Foden, starring James McAvoy and Forest Whitaker. In the early 1970s, inexperienced Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan sets off to Uganda to help the poverty-stricken populace, but a bizarre encounter with the country's newly installed leader, Idi Amin, brings a dramatic change of direction.

Period romantic drama starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Romola Garai. At a magnificent country house in 1935, sisters Cecilia and Briony Tallis clash over Cecilia's affair with servant's son Robbie Turner, leading to a life-changing flashpoint that cruelly splits up the young lovers. As Turner goes to war, eventually finding himself stranded on Dunkirk beach, Cecilia must live in hope that one day they will be reunited.

Animated adventure featuring the voice of James McAvoy. Santa's job of getting presents to all the children in just one night is an operation that requires military precision. But when a glitch in the system means that a little girl is not going to get her new bike, it falls to Santa's clumsy son Arthur to make sure she isn't disappointed.

Thriller directed by Danny Boyle, and starring James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel. An auctioneer involved in a plot to steal a valuable painting forgets where the work is hidden after a blow to the head. But when a hypnotist is employed by the gang leader to delve into the man's subconscious, things only become more complicated.

Comedy drama based on the novel by Irvine Welsh, starring James McAvoy. Corrupt police officer Bruce Robertson will stop at nothing to attain the promotion he thinks is coming his way, including the moral destruction of his colleagues. But with a debilitating drink and drugs habit plus a personality disorder, Bruce has to fight a host of inner demons first.

Fantasy action adventure starring Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Hugh Jackman. With Charles Xavier and his X-Men struggling to deal with Sentinels, the robots that were created to hunt down mutants, he comes to the drastic decision to send Wolverine back in time in an attempt to change history and prevent catastrophe for both humans and mutants.

Horror thriller starring James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy. A man with dissociative identity disorder kidnaps three female students and incarcerates them in a basement where his multiple personalities vie for control.

Spy action thriller starring Charlize Theron and James McAvoy. An undercover MI6 spy is sent to Berlin during the Cold War's last gasp to recover a missing list of double agents.