Scottish actor James McAvoy claims he is ‘pretty much 75 per cent Donegal’

Scottish actor James McAvoy claimed that he is  “pretty much 75 per cent Donegal.”

The Glasgow-born film star was referring to the strong historical connection between Donegal and Scotland in a recent interview.

“When speaking to somebody who is of Celtic extraction, somebody who, in particular, is Irish, there are so many similarities with Scottish people, even more so west-of-Scotland people,” McAvoy told The Irish Times. 

“Not all of us, but with myself anyway. I am pretty much 75 per cent Donegal. We’re so similar, and yet we’re so different. And I think the difference is independence.”

McAvoy is referring to the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum, which resulted in a 55% no vote and 45% in favour, which meant Scotland remained part of the United Kingdom. 

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“Maybe it’s slightly different in Ireland because Ireland has its own government, has its own finance, has its own cultural output that serves itself,” McAvoy continued. “But in Scotland, like many parts of the UK, we are underrepresented.”

McAvoy has starred in an array of films such as Split, X-Men, The Chronicles of Narnia, Muppets Most Wanted, IT, and Atonement.