(Cover) - EN Showbiz - James McAvoy wanted to be a pilot when he was growing up.

The Scottish-born actor was raised by his grandparents after his father abandoned his mother. Even though he grew up in a tough neighbourhood, James always had high aspirations when it came to his career choice. The 31-year-old dreamed of flying a plane or saving peoples lives when he was younger, but admits he didnt consider acting until he was a teenager.

I wanted to be a doctor at one point and I also wanted to be a pilot. I think if you grow up in a dodgy area, reality often beats down those ambitions as you get older. But with me that never really happened, he said in an interview with British newspaper The Daily Telegraph. Somehow I always had this sense that I was going to be all right. That was always very important to me, not to be in debt to anyone, money-wise.

I certainly didnt harbour any ambition of being an actor because no one I knew had ever done anything like that.

James began to take acting seriously when he was given a scholarship to attend a drama school. After landing a few roles in television shows, he went on to enjoy success on the big screen and has appeared in movies including The Last King of Scotland and Atonement. His career has continued to flourish and James can next be seen in The Conspirator directed by Robert Redford and X-Men: First Class, in which he plays a young Professor Xavier.

James is married to actress Anne-Marie Duff and the couple have a young son, Andrew, together. The star still feels passionate about acting but admits he doesnt know if he will want to continue spending long periods of time away from his family.

I do love acting, but maybe therell come a time when Ill think, I cant be doing this for the rest of my life, he explained. I have to be able to come home and be happy with who I am and my family and all that. I know I need more than just my job. If you want to let your career run your life then fine, but just stay single. If you commit your life to someone else, then you cant let the job control you. (C) Cover Media