Sunday January 6, 2008

Scottish actor James McAvoy says that he wants to fill the boots of the late football legend Jimmy Johnstone.

The 28-year-old ‘Atonement’ star revealed that his dream role is to play the Celtic winger – affectionately known Jinky on the big screen.

The former ‘Shameless’ star told Britain’s Sunday Mail newspaper: “If I could play any person in a movie, it would be Jimmy Johnstone, the legendary winger for Glasgow Celtic.

“He was such an inspiration and hero, especially to a small guy like me.”

Jinky – who died from Motor Neurone Disease in 2006, aged 61, was a hero to Celtic fans in the old Jungle terracing.

He made 515 appearances for his club, scored 129 goals and helped Celtic win the European Cup against Inter Milan in Lisbon in 1967.

James added: “In my spare time, I play twice a week in London.

“My life is the same as it always was and I still try to play as much football as I can.

“It’s just 30 guys and me in a sports complex.

“I have the black away Celtic strip and the green third strip which I wear at my five-a-side Sunday games.”

James – who shot to fame in the Channel 4 hit “Shameless” – where he played the character of Steve, a professional car thief, has been nominated for a best actor Golden Globe for Atonement in which he stars alongside fellow British thespian Keira Knightley, 22.

James – married to his ‘Shameless’ co-star Anne-Marie Duff, is set for even greater Hollywood success this year, when his latest movie, ‘Penelope,’ a romantic comedy about a girl who is cursed with a pig nose and needs to find true love to break the spell, hits theaters.

James plays lovable rogue Max, who helps Penelope come to terms with having to live with her snout.

McAvoy loved his playboy character and starring alongside Christina of Addams Family fame. He said: “Max is a reprobate, a gambling addict.

“He is just as damaged and trapped as Penelope.

“His social disfigurement is his addictions and Max and Penelope seem to help each other.”

McAvoy is also full of praise for the movie’s first time director Mark Palansky.

He said: “He is a fabulous movie director and understands his role as a storyteller.

“Mark knows how to marshal his assets and works his crew and the actors to maximum effect.”

Penelope is released in the UK cinemas on February 1 and will be released on February 29 in the US.