When The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe came out in 2005, James wasn’t a huge star yet. He was mostly known for British TV shows. Can you imagine the casting call? “Must be able to bleat and look terrified of a snow queen.”
He absolutely nailed it. He brought this warm, childlike wonder to the role. You really believed he’d rather have tea and sardines than kidnap a little girl.
Fun fact: James McAvoy is not actually 2 feet tall. They used forced perspective and a little movie magic to make him look tiny next to Lucy. Classic Narnia trickery.
The “Before They Were Famous” Factor
This is the best part. When you watch him as Tumnus now, it feels like a glorious secret. You’re watching a future A-list star in a goat suit, sipping tea.
Narnia Faun Guy
He’s so sincere! He makes you care about a mythical creature’s moral dilemma. “Should I betray this child to the White Witch or risk death by statue?” Heavy stuff for a Tuesday afternoon.
And that little dance he does? The clumsy, happy faun dance when he thinks everything is okay? Pure acting genius. I still do that dance when I get good news. Try it—it’s surprisingly effective.
