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Glasgow Live
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Kaite Welsh

Seven Glasgow actors who took on Hollywood and won

It's no secret that Glasgow, as the old slogan goes, is miles better - and that goes for our actors, too.

Whether it's drama, comedy or sci-fi, there's nothing our thespians can't - and haven’t - turned their hands to. It’s no wonder that they’re some of Hollywood’s hottest properties across film and TV.

But it's only fair that we let the rest of the world enjoy their talents too, so here's a look at some of our favourite acting exports.

We just want them back when you’re done, Tinseltown.

1. James McAvoy

Ah, James McAvoy. Since breaking through in Channel 4's Shameless in the 2000s, he's played everything from a talking faun to a corrupt cop having a breakdown, had a stint as a telepathic mutant and singlehandedly helped us all survive lockdown thanks to his performance opposite Sharon Hogan in Covid dramedy Together. Splitting his time between both sides of the Atlantic, he's one of our hottest properties.

2. Kelly McDonald

Kelly McDonald (Credit: STV/Mark Mainz) (BBC/STV/Mark Mainz/Matthew Burlem)

From her stellar debut in Trainspotting to being - in our humble opinions - the best Disney princess yet, she's had Hollywood success in blockbuster hits like No Country For Old Men as well as must-see US TV show Boardwalk Empire. Oh, and she starred in a little show called Line of Duty as well...

3. Billy Boyd

He's best-known as fan favourite Pippin the Hobbit in Lord of the Rings, but Billy Boyd has made his mark outside Middle Earth as well. He had a star turn as Noel Coward in Ryan Murphy's glitzy Netflix drama Hollywood, popped up in Greys Anatomy and even voiced himself in an episode of The Simpsons.

4. Craig Ferguson

Craig Ferguson (and dog) (Gilded Balloon)

A former bandmate of Peter Capaldi and star of some forgettable British comedies, Ferguson traded the big screen for the small screen interviewing celebrities as one of the biggest chat show hosts in the US. His CBS late-night talk show The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson was a hit for years - it's just a shame Americans can't seem to pronounce Craig (Cregg?).

5. Michelle Gomez

From her brittle, brilliant turn in The Book Group to her glorious bonkers Sue White in Green Wing, Michelle Gomez has been making us laugh - and cry - since the 1990s. But now she's hitting the big time. After catching LA’s attention as gender-flipped villain Missy in Doctor Who and playing Queen of Hell Madam Satan in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina , she won plaudits earlier this year for a darker turn in HBO's The Flight Attendant. Now she’s playing the mysterious Madame Rouge in superhero-with-a-twist show Doom Patrol . Can anything stop her?

6. IaIn de Caestecker

Winning the hearts of sci fi fans everywhere as the awkward genius Fitz on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, de Caestecker showed Marvel fans what Scottish audiences already knew - he's one of our brightest talents. After appearing alongside fellow Weegie James McAvoy in Filth , he was cast in the hit TV series on his very first trip to LA. Now the show is over - it's time to give him back, America.

7. Rory McCann

Rory McCann at the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2015 (Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

So Scottish that he once appeared as the poster boy for Scott's Porage Oats, Rory McCann racked up a slew of impressive TV credits over here before getting cast as Sandor Clegane, aka The Hound, in Game of Thrones. But Hollywood hasn't changed him too much - he still sometimes lives on his boat, and briefly quit acting to work as a carpenter in Iceland.

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