If you’re looking for a glossy "at home" spread of James McAvoy and his son, you’re going to be looking for a long time. It doesn't exist. Honestly, in a world where every celebrity toddler has a curated Instagram feed before they can even walk, McAvoy has managed something of a minor miracle. He’s kept his family life almost entirely out of the headlines.
It's refreshing. It’s also kinda baffling to the paparazzi.
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Most people know James as the guy who played Professor X or the terrifyingly talented lead in Split. But in London, he's just a dad. Specifically, a dad to his eldest, Brendan McAvoy, and a younger son with his wife, Lisa Liberati. If you’ve been scouring the internet for "James McAvoy and son," you’ve likely realized that the details are sparse, which is exactly how James planned it.
The Early Years in North London
Brendan was born in 2010. This was right as James’s career was hitting that stratosphere level of fame. He was married to the brilliant Anne-Marie Duff at the time—they’d met on the set of Shameless and were basically the UK’s favorite low-key power couple.
When Brendan arrived, James didn't do the "sold photos to a magazine" thing. He did the opposite. He went quiet.
I remember reading an interview where he mentioned turning down roles because they hit too close to home. Specifically, he passed on The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby initially because it dealt with the loss of a child. Brendan had just been born. James couldn't even go there mentally. That’s the thing about McAvoy—he’s got this raw, exposed-nerve quality to his acting, and it clearly stems from how much he protects his real-world emotions.
Why the Co-Parenting Works
When James and Anne-Marie divorced in 2016, the internet braced for a scandal. It never came. They didn't even move out of their shared home for quite a while.
They stayed under one roof in North London for a significant period after the split to make sure Brendan’s life wasn't turned upside down. Think about that for a second. Most Hollywood divorces end with lawyers and "anonymous sources" leaking dirt to Page Six. These two just kept living together so their kid could have stability.
"We co-parent, so I'm very involved in my child's upbringing," James once told the Journal Review. It sounds simple, but in their industry, it's basically a feat of Herculean restraint and maturity.
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The Mystery of the Second Son
Fast forward to 2022. James confirmed he’d married Lisa Liberati, whom he met on the set of Split (she was M. Night Shyamalan’s assistant). Rumors started swirling about a new addition to the family.
By late 2024 and heading into 2026, it became clear that James had welcomed a second son. But again, have you seen a photo? Nope. Have we seen a name officially confirmed in a splashy headline? Not really. James has basically treated his second child's privacy with the same iron-clad grip he used for Brendan.
He's even joked about slowing down. He told The Guardian he wanted to be at home more. "The industry survives on the sacrificial nature of performance," he said. Basically, it eats your time. And James seems done with letting it eat the time he has with his boys.
What Brendan Thinks of "Professor X"
You’d think having a dad who is a literal superhero would be the coolest thing ever. Apparently not.
In a funny 2022 interview, James admitted that Brendan wasn't actually that into His Dark Materials or his other big projects. Kids have a way of humbling you like that. To the world, he’s a BAFTA winner. To Brendan, he’s just the guy who probably forgets where the car keys are.
The Takeaway for Fans
If you're following James McAvoy and his journey as a father, the "actionable" part isn't about finding more photos. It's about respecting the boundary he's drawn.
- Privacy is a choice. McAvoy proves you can be an A-list star without selling your children’s childhoods for engagement.
- Co-parenting is possible. The way he and Anne-Marie Duff handled their split remains the gold standard for celebrity breakups.
- Work-life balance is real. Even at the peak of his career, he’s willing to "slow down the film and TV roles" to be present.
Next time you see a grainy paparazzi shot of a celebrity kid, remember the McAvoy approach. It’s possible to stay famous and keep your family life completely normal. Sorta. As normal as it can be when your dad is a shapeshifting mutant on the weekends.
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To stay updated on James’s actual work—which is what he wants us to see—keep an eye on his upcoming production projects, as he's shifting more toward directing and producing to stay closer to his London home base.