James McAvoy has opened up about the challenges of acting and directing at the same time, admitting that the experience was the most stressful of his career so far.
The X-Men actor discussed the demands of taking on both roles during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on Wednesday, October 14, while promoting his latest film, California Schemin’.
McAvoy explained that acting and directing require very different approaches, particularly when it comes to dealing with problems on set.
“When you're acting, the time that the guy says 'Action!' and 'Cut,' that's your time. As a director, I can't do that. Right before my first AD says action, and I'm supposed to be all relaxed and let the story flow out, I've got people coming up to me with problems!” he said.
The actor went on to describe just how demanding the experience had been.
“It's the most stressful thing I've ever experienced, directing a film,” he admitted.
During the conversation, host Drew Barrymore shared her own experience of directing, describing the process as “the most anxiety/pleasure I have ever felt at the same time” and comparing it to “ecstasy and agony”.
McAvoy agreed with her assessment, reflecting on the unusual pressure of trying to stay in character while also managing the many practical decisions involved in making a film.
California Schemin’ marks McAvoy’s feature directorial debut, with the actor also appearing in the film. The dark comedy is based on the true story of Scottish rappers Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, who pretended to be American hip-hop artists in an attempt to break into the music industry.
The pair, who grew up in Dundee, initially struggled to get record labels interested in their music because of their Scottish accents. After being dismissed by industry figures, they reinvented themselves as a Californian rap duo called Silibil N’ Brains, adopting American accents and a fictional backstory. The deception eventually helped them secure a record deal and appear on MTV.
McAvoy explained to Barrymore that the story resonated with him because of his own experiences as a Scottish actor and his desire to tell stories about people who are often overlooked by the entertainment industry.
He said he wanted to make an entertaining film about people from backgrounds that are not always represented in mainstream art, while exploring the wider issue of who gets opportunities to succeed.
The film stars Séamus McLean Ross as Bain and Samuel Bottomley as Boyd, with McAvoy playing Anthony Reid. It also features Lucy Halliday and Rebekah Murrell.
McAvoy has previously spoken about wanting to direct for years, making California Schemin’ a significant career milestone.
However, his experience on set has made clear that taking charge behind the camera comes with challenges he never faced in quite the same way as an actor.
