Our cover gentlemen may have killer credentials, but neither has mass murdered the box office…yet. Running and gunning together in Wanted, the two are finally shooting for the stars. Duck down!

By Nate Denver; Photographs by James Dimmock

Common, you have training as well?

Common: Once I knew I wanted to start getting into it, I took some classes and I loved it. That’s what made me want to do movies because my first class I was like, “Man! This is a good feeling, getting to express myself like that.” So I can say the classes have helped me to become more confident and comfortable. And I was just excited to work with James. I seen James in Last King of Scotland, I’m one of them people like, if I see somebody and I think they got something, I become a fan and follow they stuff. So when I seen James, after that, what was that movie you did with “ten?”
James McAvoy: Starter for 10? I can’t believe you watched that. Common: [Laughs.] I wanted to see that just because I liked James. So I was excited to work with him. Going back to the whole classical training, whatever he was bringing was just right, and he’s like that in every movie I seen him do. James McAvoy: Thank you, man. Common: So whatever training is going on, it’s right. [Laughs.] You can learn some things through training, but there’s a certain natural quality that God gives you and that’s what I saw in James that made me go, “All right, he got that thing that make you wanna watch him.” You wanna watch James. I’m just tellin’ the truth. James McAvoy I should leave the room and do something about the raging erection I now have. [Both laugh.] James McAvoy Thank you, man. That’s really kind of you. Common: I’m very serious.

How does acting compare to being an MC?

Common: Ah, man, there’s some similarities as far as just you know, expression, it’s still an art—MCing is an art. With acting, the difference is you have to channel somebody else’s spirit even though you’re not the writer, so you got certain guidelines that you need to go by, ’cause you part of a story. I definitely can say MCing has helped me as far as improv. I’m not afraid to go on naturally what’s happening. ’Cause I’ve learned through performing just, through any situation, keep rockin’!

Do you know of some MCs who are great actors? Studio gangsters, maybe?

Common: There’s a lot of people out there who exaggerate their lifestyle. My father said to me, some of the best actors he know is them cats on the streets, those hustlin’ cats you know? If you wanna know an actor who comes from music who is a great actor, I’d have to say Mos Def.
James McAvoy He’s great, isn’t he? You know what I think helps as well, mate, is that you can learn lots of techniques and tricks and you can get experience doing different types of theater and different types of film, different genres, but if you’re not open, you can’t communicate. That’s what I love about you, you’re so open as a person. On set, as well as an actor, I think you’re incredibly open. It must be MCing that’s done that for you, but like you said, it’s also something you’re just born with. Common: Yeah.

Do you listen to hip-hop, James?

James McAvoy I don’t really, I do like Common’s stuff, though. I really, really like it, and I didn’t know it before we got together on the film. I think it’s exactly what you were talking about, so hopeful.
Common: Thank you, man. You know, I actually feel good that James wasn’t familiar with my work and I got to introduce it to him. You know I’ve been rapping for a long time... James McAvoy Have you? Common: Yeah, there’s still new ground to gain.

Which album did you give him?

James McAvoy It was your latest one, wasn’t it? Common: I think I gave him either Be or Like Water for Chocolate. James McAvoy It was Be. Hip-hop’s not particularly huge in Scotland, although my little sister, Joy, was in a hip-hop group called Streetwise, which is kind of strange, to be a Scottish girl in a hip-hop group. But I’m quite glad I’ve been introduced to it properly.

We gotta get you Resurrection.

Home // CELEBRITIES // COVER STORY // McAvoy and Common