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From Times Online

April 29, 2008

My hols: Ewan McGregor

The film star tells Julia Buckley about biking, bungee jumps and being strip-searched

Interview by Julia Buckley

From The Sunday Times Travel Magazine

OK action man, how tough are you really?

I’m not actually. For Long Way Down I biked from John O’Groats to Cape Town with my mate Charlie, and, on the way, he bungee-jumped over Victoria Falls. I couldn’t even think about it. Just a jump on my bike can make me feel sick.

So you’re a big softie. Did you miss your family then?

My wife, Eve, learnt to ride so she could join us for part of the last trip. She’d never ridden before and it was pretty scary to watch her. Anyway, I was only away for three months; one Brit we met had been on the road for 13 years. He’d travelled around the world using only human power, crossing oceans on a pedalo.

Still… three months. What keeps you going?

The collection on my iPod is pretty eclectic – I’ve even got opera on there. But when I’m on a long straight road in the middle of nowhere I tend to whack on cheesy American rock; that or U2.

You rebel. Ever got into real trouble abroad?

I was at Chicago airport once when US customs realised I was from Trainspotting, and sent me over to the Red immigration zone to be stripped off. I’m an actor for Christ’s sake! I’m not really a heroin addict.

Aren’t you ever tempted to spend your time off at home?

No, I love travelling. My wife’s French, so we spend a lot of time there, and I’m taking the family to Scotland in a few weeks to see the relatives and drive around the Highlands.

What’s your favourite spot in the world?

It has to be Camusdarach beach, near Arisaig in the Highlands. We used to camp there when I was a kid, and it’s where they filmed Local Hero, with my uncle, Denis Lawson.

Did he encourage you to start acting?

Partly yes. I come from Crieff in rural Scotland. It’s beautiful, but very conservative – quite a lot of tweed. He would return from London, where he lived in the 1970s, in sheepskin waistcoats and beads and no shoes. I wanted to be like him.

And the most exotic place your career has taken you?

Shooting my Davidoff Adventure advert in the Brazilian mountains, near Florianopolis – the views were staggering. South America’s one part of the world I haven’t explored at all. My next trip might have to be the Long Way Up.

Ewan McGregor is the new face of Davidoff Adventure, available nationwide from £32.