The Scottish actor found fame as Mark Renton in the 1996 FilmFour classic Trainspotting. Since then he has carved a major Hollywood career, most notably being cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Christian in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge.

In an interview with the Scotsman newspaper, McGregor talks at length about his new film, I love You Phillip Morris.

McGregor plays Morris, the lover of serial con man Steven Russell (played by Jim Carrey). The film is based on a true story which sees the two men meet in prison.

It is not the first time McGregor has played a gay character on screen. He got to snog Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Velvet Goldmine, and for a second time in the film Scenes of a Sexual Nature.

“It’s just not an issue. As an actor you’re stepping into the shoes of people in life and people in life are gay or straight or both or whatever,” says McGregor.

“People never say ‘how did you manage to play a miner, that must’ve been really difficult?' But the fact that it’s a man who likes to be with other men it’s somehow still weirdly an issue. I don’t think that it is. I liked very much the nature of the writing, that it’s romantic. I like that it’s a gay romance.”

To read the full interview, visit Scotsman