I spent much of Thursday waiting for my beloved Michael Fassbender to materialize, like a shining Irish Dong, glittering in all his glory in the stark winter light. Yes, My Fasslove has taken a poetic turn. Anyway, I was waiting for the first trailer for X-Men: First Class to appear, and finally it has. There’s lots of good Fassbender action, and enough James McAvoy (doing a weird accent… English with Scottish lilts?) to appease the McAvoy-loonies. Here you go:

There are some new promotional images to along with this, but I just screencapped the junk, so hopefully the studio won’t wet themselves and yell at me (fingers crossed). The roll-out from the studio has been tortured, to say the least, what with those craptastic first images that looked extremely budget. After that, both James and Michael were sent out to soothe the fanboys and the accent-fetishist ladies. This trailer helps, I think. The quality looks solid, and I’m actually getting a bit excited to see this.

Also, you should read Bedhead’s take on it. I think she’s talking about me! “ORGASM!!!! Can’t wait. Michael Fassbender can do NO WRONG!”

Screencaps.

James McAvoy does voice work for the soon-to-be-released animated film, Gnomeo & Juliet, which is an animated gnome version of Romeo and Juliet. Emily Blunt does the voice for Juliet, by the way. I keep seeing ads for the film (am I watching programming for children?), and I have to admit, it looks kind of adorable. Like, it might be a great way to introduce kids to Shakespeare. Anyway, James has a wonderful little interview with PopEater where he discusses the “harsh” death of a gnome, going commando under his kilt (sweet Jesus) and how Angelina Jolie might still have his balls.

When you first heard ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’ was based on ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ did you think that the gnomes would kill themselves at the end?
Yeah, kind of. I thought, “But it’s a tragedy,” so how can you make it not a tragedy? Although Tybalt does die, which is kind of really harsh. I know he comes back at the end, so he can get super-glued back together, but for all intents and purposes at the beginning of the film he dies. I was very shocked. In a kid’s film one of the characters dies!

Did you grow up with garden gnomes?
I did actually. I think we had three in our garden. We had one little frog, and we had two others that were slightly naughty, kinky-looking gnomes.

What do you mean? Did they have their trousers down?
One of them did have his trousers down.

Was he showing any naughty bits?
No, just his bum and the other one looked very abashed.

Did you notice your character has rather thick eyebrows?
I didn’t notice that. I hope it doesn’t take away from the performance.

You’re the father of a baby boy. It must be exciting to think he will be able to hear your voice in a Disney cartoon movie.
Yeah, it’s pretty cool. I think that’s one of the things, in general, actors like to do. Something to show their family and their kids. I think it’s a big attraction for a lot of people to do these films. You want to tell stories that people appreciate, and if you can capture children, there’s something fantastic about that.

You worked with Angelina Jolie.
Aye.

She’s so tough. Did you feel emasculated?
Well, she did spend half the film kicking the s**t out of me, so yeah, it was kind of hard to not feel emasculated. But that was kind of part of it really, and it was fun. If you’re going to have the s**t kicked out of you by someone, then it might as well be Angelina Jolie. She’s very good at it, and she does get a kick out of it, I think, doing those fight scenes.

Ever wear a kilt?
When I’m at home [in Scotland], I never wear a kilt. I’d probably get mugged; I’d probably get absolutely torn to pieces. Every now and then, if Scotland’s football team is playing an international match, I’ll put my kilt on. I have worn my kilt once walking around my home in London, and I went through a period of about two days where I went, “Yeah, I’m Scottish, I can wear my kilt wherever I like.” I asked a friend of mine, “What do you think?” and he said, “Well you look like a dick.” So I stopped wearing my kilt.

Did you wear it properly, commando-style?
At all times.

[From PopEater]

Jesus, I love this boy. I just love his wording – “we had two others that were slightly naughty, kinky-looking gnomes” got me. As did “which is kind of really harsh”. I want to marry him. I want to marry him while he wears a kilt and nothing else. What is it about these Scottish bastards?

Oh, and I’ve been waiting all day to see James and Michael Fassbender in the X-Men: First Class trailer, but no one is releasing it in any kind of embed-able form. No Fassdong today!! Boo.

Note: James is wearing the same pants in every photo. Ridiculous. Buy some new pants, James!!! Or better yet, go without.

Photos courtesy of Fame & WENN.

Below is the first image from X-Men: First Class, which is the X-Men reboot that Hollywood is trying with Michael “The Fassdong” Fassbender as Magneto and James McAvoy as Professor X. If I was in charge of the promotional campaign for this movie, I think I would just release a “promotional image” of James and Michael licking each other. If only studios would consult with me! Instead, we get this horrid too-small pic of the entire cast (?):

In case you’re wondering why the whole thing looks so dated, it’s supposed to look that way. It’s set in the 1960s. I guess that explains January Jones’ retro Playboy bunny outfit. The cast, from left to right: Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, January Jones as Emma Frost, Jason Flemyng as Azazel, Nicholas Hoult as Beast, some dude (I don’t know), Zoe Kravitz, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, and James McAvoy as Professor X.

The synopsis of the film:

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, following the classic Marvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga. Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.

[From Collider]

Yeah, this might be making the comic book nerds all squirmy and excited, but if they want women to come out for this film – nay, if they want major box office – they need to give us more Fassdong and McAvoy. Preferably shirtless. And embracing. Perhaps a little dong tug wouldn’t hurt either.

Photos courtesy of WENN. X-Men photo courtesy of Collider. Additional pic courtesy of Vogue UK.

Zac Efron is making headlines this weekend because he debuted a completely new, rather adult look at the Deauville Film Festival, where he’s promoting Charlie St. Cloud. The beard is very nice – I didn’t think Zac had enough testosterone to grow a substantial beard like that, but good for him. I’m saying “substantial” to be nice to the kid – I don’t think he’s capable of having a filled-out beard, but this little “extended goatee” is nice. And it does make him look much, much older. Tom Cruise is probably weeping right now – his pretty little motorcycle buddy is all grown up.

There have been some other sightings of hot(ter) guys this weekend too – especially at the Toronto Film festival, where it looks like it’s hot guy central. My favorite? James McAvoy, clean-shaven and baby-faced and so, so pretty… there‘s a special appearance by Robert Redford too!

Colin Firth! He’s been everywhere in Toronto, apparently.

Clive Owen has been all over Venice and Toronto the past few days, and there are so many hot photos of him. Praise the Lord. These are just a few:

And some photos from The Town boys promoting their film at TIFF. Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, and my lover (and Ben’s lover, apparently) Jon Hamm.

One of my favorite guys has now joined The Beard Club! Sort of. This is James McAvoy at the London premiere of The Last Station. Now, beards seem like the biggest trend for Hollywood men right now. The “out-of-work beard” might have replaced the Croc. Jon Hamm, Brad Pitt (sort of), Robert Pattinson, Eli Roth, George Clooney, and now James McAvoy have all been working some kind of excessive facial hair as of late. I don’t know what to make of McAvoy’s beard though. It looks a little weak, doesn’t it? Like he doesn’t have enough testosterone. Maybe he’s just one of those guys who can’t grow a full beard. I kind of believe that if you’re incapable of growing a glorious beard, you shouldn’t do this patchy stuff that makes you look like your dirt-lip just expanded.

But here’s the thing: I love facial hair on men. I love a sharp goatee, I love a full beard, I love a little scruff. But the facial hair must look, smell and actually be clean for me to like it. Like, Brad Pitt’s goatee thing is nasty, because it looks dirty and I can only imagine what it smells like. On the other hand, if a Jon Hamm’s full beard got a few crumbs in it, I think I could manage. Because, you know, our love-making would knock those crumbs right out. James’s beard doesn’t do anything for me – I’m neither disgusted nor turned on.

Other than his denial for The Beard Club, McAvoy’s having a great week. He announced yesterday that he and his wife (and costar in The Last Station) Ann-Marie Duff are expecting their first child together. They’ve known each other since 2003, and they were married in 2006. And now they not only have a baby coming, but they get to go a promotional tour together! I’m not sure what to make of The Last Station, honestly. It looks a little boring. And James’s sketchy beard is in it too. Here’s the trailer:

James McAvoy and his pregnant wife, Ann-Marie Duff at the London premiere of ‘The Last Station’ on January 25, 2010. Credit: WENN.

There has been a slew of ridiculous polls coming out of England lately, mostly about women. We found out that drugstore shoppers in England think Angelina Jolie is the most iconic beauty, with Cheryl Cole coming up from behind. They also think Kate Winslet has the most desirable body, with Cole once again placing in the top five. But enough about the women! Let’s see something about the men!

Thus, a funny poll was born to determine who British voters considered to be the “sexiest short man.” I think English voters are defining “short” as “below five foot seven inches” or thereabouts. Guess who won? Everyone’s favorite wedge-shoe wearer, Tom Cruise. But… he can’t win, he’s not short!!! I’m actually going to put up the full list, because I didn’t know that some of these men were considered “short.” Like, Bono. Is he short? James McAvoy made the list too! I thought he was tall enough – like maybe 5 foot nine or something like that, but no… he’s apparently short.

HOLLYWOOD actor TOM CRUISE was yesterday voted the world’s sexiest SHORT man. Cruise, 47, spent years married to 5ft 10in NICOLE KIDMAN – who famously quipped “Now I can wear heels” after they split in 2001.

Jazz star JAMIE CULLUM – who at 5ft 4in is dating 5ft 11in model SOPHIE DAHL – was third. Formula 1 star LEWIS HAMILTON, 5ft 8in, was fourth – just ahead of 5ft 6in TAKE THAT singer MARK OWEN.

A spokesman for market research company www.OnePoll.com, which polled 2,000 women, said: “This proves you don’t have to be 6ft to be sexy. These guys are regularly seen with stunning girls, which gives everyone struggling on the height side a bit of hope.”

Top 20 sexiest short men

1. Tom Cruise
2. Richard Hammond
3. Jamie Cullum
4. Lewis Hamilton
5. Mark Owen
6. JAMES McAVOY
7.MICHAEL OWEN
8.KELLY JONES
9. DECLAN DONNELLY
10.ROBERT CARLYLE
11.ELIJAH WOOD
12. SETH GREEN
13. PRINCE
14. NOEL EDMONDS
15. BONO
16. JACK BLACK
17. JAMES BLUNT
18. BEN STILLER
19. JASON PRIESTLEY
20. LEO SAYER

[From The Sun]

Jason Priestley? For real? Does he still have an international following? And Jack Black? Is he really that short? Anyway… so, yeah, Tom Cruise. Something tells me there will be even bigger wedge shoes in his future. But no matter the size, I still don’t find him sexy, Xenu forgive me. Now, McAvoy. There’s a little pocket-rocket I could get busy with.

Tom Cruise in Spain on December 7, 2009 and December 9, 2009, with Katie. Header: Tom in Austria on November 23, 2009, wearing his black wedges. Additional photo of James McAvoy looking sexy on March 29, 2009. Credit for all: WENN.

If you were married to Scottish hottie James McAvoy, wouldn’t you try to get pregnant morning, noon and night? And by “try to get pregnant” I mean “nail that to the wall”. It seems it just occurred to McAvoy’s wife, actress Anne-Marie Duff, that she needs to get on that in a big way. Anne-Marie told a Scottish newspaper, The Daily Record, that she hopes to be a mother soon, God willing. She also says she loves sex. Uh, yeah. Look at who you’re married to, Anne-Marie! That’s like being married to Wolfgang Puck and saying “I love food.” Of course you love it – you’re getting the best stuff at home.

Scots movie star James McAvoy will soon be hearing the patter of tiny feet. That’s if his actress wife Anne-Marie Duff has her way.

She said: “I would love to have a baby.” And pointing towards heaven she added: “As soon as the big fella makes it happen, it would be brilliant.”

Anne-Marie, born in London to Irish parents, is one of Britain’s top character actresses with appearances in Elizabeth I and Shameless. She is nine years older than Wanted star James who was born in Port Glasgow.

But she insisted: “I’m not putting it off but unfortunately bodies don’t work that way.”

The couple, who wed three years ago and now live in London, are getting in plenty of practice as she and her Golden Globe nominated husband prepare for parenthood.

Anne-Marie laughed out loud as she admitted: “Of course, I enjoy sex. I have nerve endings. I mean, who doesn’t?”

But she added: “Well, I suppose if you have five kids you might not.”

Anne-Marie has told how she and James shun the showbiz life and superstar events on the celebrity circuit. They prefer to go camping and she continued: “I go to parties with people I know. Why stand in a room full of strangers. The idea is hellish.”

She also hates the thought of moving to Los Angeles saying: “God, no. I couldn’t live somewhere I couldn’t walk.”

The couple recently finished filming of The Last Station, the first film they have been in together which also stars Dame Helen Mirren.

[From The Daily Record]

People are always making a big deal about the age difference between Anne-Marie and James. They married in 2006, when James was 27 years old and she was 36 years old. She’s turning 40 years old this year – so perhaps they’re already trying to get pregnant. Or perhaps they’ll adopt. What’s weird about their relationship is that she’s a pretty big deal in England – she’s been nominated for four BAFTA awards, and won or been nominated for a slew of other awards. But in America, we just know her as “James McAvoy’s older wife”. It’s a shame… the girl not only has talent, she’s got the brains to hook McAvoy.

Here’s James and Anne-Marie walking around Soho last June. Images thanks to WENN.com .

Actor James McAvoy has been notoriously tight-lipped when asked about his family. The actor, 29, has garnered a lot of attention lately for his starring role alongside Keira Knightley in “Atonement,” for which he won a BAFTA. He’s also gotten a lot of press for his low-key lifestyle – he and his wife, actress Anne-Marie Duff, 38, live in an apartment they bought several years ago for 178,000 (about $346,000 USD), share a ten-year-old Nissan Micra that’s worth less than $2,000, and admit to rarely leaving their apartment. James has actually said that he purposely tries to avoid “celebrity bullshit,” and I can think of few actors who’ve stuck to an ideal so thoroughly. Even Matthew McConaughey eventually gave up his Airstream trailer – but McAvoy has adamantly stuck to his beliefs. The Daily Mail has written a surprisingly thorough article on McAvoy, in which they hypothesize that the reason he lives such a low-key existence is that he doesn’t want to draw a lot of attention to his family.

After McAvoy won his BAFTA, he thanked his mother, grandparents (who raised him), and wife, yet made no mention of his father or half-brother. It turns out that James has not spoken to his dad, James McAvoy Sr, in 21 years. His parents divorced when he was seven, and his father, who works as a roofer – claims that that eight-year-old James pulled away from him after he started seeing another woman.

“Our son took it hard,” says McAvoy Snr. “He just wasn’t the carefree little boy he’d been before.” At first, father and son continued their relationship, with James Snr taking his son swimming or to watch Celtic football team. But when a year later James Snr moved in with a new lover, Mary McKinnon, the eight-year-old McAvoy refused to have anything to do with his father.

“I think James still had hopes of me and his mum sorting things out,” claims McAvoy Snr. “He started refusing to see me because he didn’t like Mary. In the end I took a step back rather than upset him.”

The young McAvoy demonstrated his steely nature when a few years later he was larking around in the playground of the St Thomas Aquinas secondary school in Drumchapel and spotted his father working on the school roof. “James just looked away without saying a word,” recalls his father sadly.

[From the Daily Mail]

That appears to be their last encounter. James has a half-brother named Donald from his father’s relationship with the aforementioned woman. Donald was recently sent to jail after stabbing a man eight times.

To understand the extent of his transformation, perhaps we should look at McAvoy’s 18-year-old half-brother Donald, currently languishing in Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution near Falkirk. Donald – James Snr’s son from his now-ended relationship with his lover Mary – has never met James the actor.

But no one could blame the star for distancing himself from his violent, alcoholic brother. Just a fortnight ago, Donald was sent to Polmont for stabbing a man eight times and, in a separate incident, threatening a 14-year-old with a hammer.

James Snr, who lives in a dingy first-floor flat, sighs: “I am standing by one son who’s a maniac, but can’t stand by my other son, who has done so well.” According to Mr McAvoy, Donald’s problem stems from his penchant for alcohol: “He’s a polite boy who doesn’t cause trouble until he has been drinking.”

[From the Daily Mail]

It sounds like James McAvoy (Jr) isn’t so much distancing himself from the unsavory side of his family – he simply has no relationship with them and never has. He’s not under some obligation to acknowledge them now that he’s doing well. They haven’t been a part of each other’s lives for a long time – and in the case of his half-brother, they’ve never even met. James himself has admitted to struggling with alcohol, and credits his wife with helping him straighten out his life, noting in his BAFTA acceptance speech, “she taught me to respect life.” Having no relationship with his father is sad, but his dad doesn’t say anything that implies he tried to reconnect with his son before he was famous – he even said he “took a step back” from their relationship rather than upset James, which makes no sense to me. McAvoy clearly has a lot of talent and a great head on his shoulders, and has made a lot of his life already. His family history is sad, but it explains why he doesn’t want to talk about them and has insisted on moving forward.

Here’s James McAvoy at the 2008 Wonder Con in San Francisco on February 22nd. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Reese Witherspoon, Christina Ricci, James McAvoy and Amanda Bynes were among the stars at last night’s premiere of Penelope, a modern romantic fairy tale about a girl born with the nose of a pig. Christina Ricci stars as Penelope, with Witherspoon as her rough ‘n tumble sidekick friend. Witherspoon also produced the film. James McAvoy is the love interest who is able to look past the physical imperfections to the girl underneath. The film is getting mixed reviews, with some saying that it’s not cohesive. Many other reviewers call it charming and quirky.

Some commentors on Oh No They Didn’t note that the film has been out for some time, as it premiered at film festivals including Toronto in 2006 and Cannes in 2007. That doesn’t mean that it won’t be a commercial success, though, as it seems to be the type of cute film that movie-goers enjoy. I had high hopes for a box office success for Sweeney Todd over the holidays, but it only took in $52 million domestically. That’s nothing to scoff at, but it isn’t that high either, and the film may have suffered from its dark subject matter as well as the fact that it was a musical. Penelope seems to have broader appeal, and we’ll have to see how it does at the box office.

Penelope is out in US theaters on January 29.

It’s cute how Reese and Christina both have the same hairstyle with bangs and pulled back hair. Reese’s outfit is looking a little too casual for a premiere but maybe she didn’t want to upstage Christina Ricci. Rachel Taylor is also shown, and she’s wearing a very odd sack-like dress. Thanks to PRPhotos for these pictures.

I love stories of humble, down-to-earth actors. The opposite of the MTV Cribs sort. Actor James McAvoy appears to be just this sort. The actor, who is currently starring with Keira Knightley in “Atonement” lives a life that isn’t just down to earth, it’s downright humble. According to the Daily Mail, McAvoy and his wife, actress Anne-Marie Duff, live in a small apartment Duff bought for £178,000 (about $346,000 USD) before they were married. It’s in the untrendy Stroud Green area of North London. They also drive a 10-year-old Nissan Micra that’s worth less than $2000. McAvoy could be the worst actor in the world and I swear I would love him just for his lifestyle.

James McAvoy doesn’t seem to even understand why anyone would bother following him or taking his picture. He told Newsweek about an incident where he and Duff were followed by a photographer, who eventually decided not to bother taking pictures of the couple, as they weren’t worth the $20 parking lot he’d have to park in.

I’ve only ever had anybody waiting outside my house once. We got in our car and we were followed, and it was very weird and disconcerting. We thought we would just go about our daily life and just ignore it, all that kind of thing. I think because we had once read that Clive Owen said just ignore it. Like, do whatever Clive Owen does—he’s a solid guy. We were going into town to buy something for the house, and we went into a parking lot that costs £10 an hour, and on seeing the price of the parking, the paparazzi went, “F— that.” They left us alone. So the lesson is, if you’re being chased by paparazzi, don’t drive fast. Just find a really expensive parking lot, and you will be fine.

[From Newsweek]

Sounds like good advice. Next time the press is following me and I just can’t shake them, I’ll swerve into the most expensive lot I can find. McAvoy is getting rave reviews for his performance in “Atonement,” and will next be starring with Angelina Jolie in “Wanted.” Though he’s certainly making some decent money, his neighbors say you’d never know it. Commenting on his lack-of-flash lifestyle, McAvoy told the Daily Mail “I’d rather be who I am and do what I do without seeking any attention.” Something tells me he’ll end up getting more attention for his regular Joe attitude than if he blended in with all the other celebs.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s James at the Hollywood Life Magazine’s 7th Annual Breakthrough of the Year Awards on December 9th. Header of James and Keira Knightley at the “Atonement” Screening Hosted by The Cinema Society on December 3rd. Images thanks to PR Photos.