The Scottish actor first turned heads in Danny Boyle's noirish "Shallow Grave," which, while violent, wasn't exactly an action movie. He then stole hearts in a string of indie comedies and dramas like "Emma," "Brassed Off," "The Pillow Book" and "Little Voice," not to mention two more Boyle collaborations -- the hit "Trainspotting" and the flop "A Life Less Ordinary." When George Lucas started casting the first new "Star Wars" film in more than a decade, McGregor didn't exactly seem like the Jedi warrior type -- but he grew into his role as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi/Alec Guinness throughout the trilogy, and he only had to have that silly Padawan haircut for the first film.

--Dave Lewis