Cast of Trainspotting now and two unrecognisable stars who went on to huge roles
Nearly 30 years on since Danny Boyle's classic Trainspotting, the stars went onto appear in some huge hits
The ground-breaking film is one of the most famous movies ever to come out of Scotland. Moreover, it made a splash in the film scene way back in 1996.
From the iconic 'choose life' mantra to the infamous toilet cubicle scene, the shenanigans of Mark Renton and the group of heroin addicts in Edinburgh have gone down in cinema history. But nearly 30 years on, many of the cast have found astronomic success.
Since the film's release nearly 30 years ago, the cast have moved to big projects. From a brief marriage to Angelina Jolie to a role in Harry Potter, and even a standout feature in Star Wars, the film catapulted the group into significant Hollywood success.
Here's everything that happened to the cast of Trainspotting since the movie's release:
Mark Renton - Ewan McGregor
The film follows Ewan McGregor as the charismatic and conflicted Mark Renton as he grapples with his heroin addiction and multiple attempts to become sober.
Ewan was already a well-known face for British audiences, having appeared in the Danny Boyle film Shallow Grave as well as a role on Channel 4 's Lipstick on Your Collar - but after Trainspotting, Ewan would reach a whole new level of fame on the global stage.
Carrying on his meteoric rise, the Scottish actor bagged a huge part as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels but also gained even more of a following for his role in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge!, Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down and Disney's Winnie the Pooh reboot Christopher Robin.
Daniel "Spud" Murphy - Ewan Bremner
Having just picked up a handful of acting credits before his breakout role as Spud, the Edinburgh-born actor went on to appear in some of the early 2000s' biggest hits.
He again appeared alongside Ewan McGregor in Black Hawk Down, but also worked alongside mega stars Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale in 2001's Pearl Harbour.
He came back to reprise his role in a standout performance in Trainspotting T2 with the character still battling with the heroin addiction that seemingly still controls his life.
Simon "Sick Boy" Williamson - Jonny Lee Miller
Having starred in the film Hackers the year before the release of Trainspotting, Jonny Lee Miller would strike up a romance with co-star Angelina Jolie, becoming married after just six months of dating. However, after just two years, the pair split, filing for divorce in September 1997.
Outside his personal life, Jonny starred alongside Val Kilmer in Mind Hunters, and also picked up regular parts in drama series Dexter as well as playing a version of Sherlock Holmes in the show Elementary.
Fans of the Netflix show The Crown may also recognise Jonny in his role playing former Prime Minister John Major, a role that the man himself described as 'a barrel-load of nonsense'.
Diane Coulston - Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald was just 19 years old when she landed her first role as Diane, going for an audition after spotting a leaflet advertising the part while she was working in a bar. Trainspotting would set herself up with a solid career, appearing alongside Billy Connolly as the lead Merida in Pixar's Brave.
She also picked up credits in the Oscar-winning No Country for Old Men and a role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. More recently, fans may recognise her as DCI Joanna Davidson in the hit BBC drama Line of Duty.
Begbie - Robert Carlyle
Featuring in big shows Cobra, The War of the Worlds, Once Upon a Time and more, the Glaswegian has become a familiar face to many after his role as the hardman in Trainspotting. He reunited with Danny Boyle for Trainspotting T2 as well as a role as John Lennon in his Beatles film Yesterday.
Tommy - Kevin McKidd
After playing Tommy in Trainspotting and a special role as Father Deegan in a Christmas special of Father Ted, Kevin McKidd is now probably best known for his role as Owen Hunt in the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. However, he has continued his work in the film world, working alongside Kelly Macdonald in Brave and as Poseidon in the Percy Jackson films.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Jamie Oliver reveals how cooking saved him from prison and calls for urgent Dyslexia screening and teacher training reform
Jamie Oliver has revealed that if he had not discovered cooking, he might have ended up in prison. Speaking at the British Library ahead of the premiere of his Channel 4 documentary Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, the chef, 50, said: 'Statistically, if you follow the data, I might have ended up in jail. The stats are really clear. 'There's a paper trail showing that dyslexic kids are three and a half times more likely to be expelled.' The documentary marks the latest step in Mr Oliver's two-decade-long advocacy, which began with his influential 2004 series Jamie's School Dinners that sought to raise standards in school meals. In this new film, he urges the government to introduce earlier screening for neurodiversity in children and enhance teacher training to better support their needs. The father-of-five added: 'That often leads to a pathway from expulsion to violent crime. It's linked to lower educational attainment, lower-paying jobs, and over 50% of inmates in prison are dyslexic. 'I wasn't one of the kids who suffered. I found cooking, and it totally saved me.' Jamie Oliver has revealed that if he had not discovered cooking, he might have ended up in prison. Speaking at the British Library ahead of the premiere of his Channel 4 documentary Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, the chef, 50, said: 'Statistically, if you follow the data, I might have ended up in jail. The stats are really clear' '10 to 15% of every class in the country is dyslexic. If you're adding on other neurodiversities, we're talking 25% of every class don't really fit into the man-made system, which is education,' Mr Oliver said. He also revealed a personal struggle in the documentary: 'I knew things were bad when my own six and seven-year-olds were reading better than me. As the dad reading them their night-night story, I'm the second biggest author in the country. 'It's bonkers, but I really struggled to read at primary school. I read my first book when I was 33 or something like that, and it was all those feelings of just feeling sh** and that you had nothing to offer the world, and like everyone else seems to be getting it, and you don't.' Mr Oliver explained: 'Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects the ability to read, spell, write, process and remember information.' Speaking to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson at the screening last night, Oliver said: 'We need new systems and ways of allowing these [children], up to 25% of every class, to have the ability to show their genius.' Ms Phillipson acknowledged the problem: 'One in four children being left behind by the education system is a sign that change is needed.' She committed to reforming teacher training on neurodiversity for all new teachers starting this September. She also promised a 'really big upskilling of the workforce' to better support pupils with special needs. Mr Oliver urged the public to 'bash the door down' of Phillipson's office to push for reform. He said: 'I am not the kid that suffered. I found cooking, and it totally saved me. And I've always been positive, but there's definitely something going on right… I'm a lucky one, but clearly there's issues.' Mr Oliver added: 'We know what needs to change, and we know it's possible. Last night Secretary of State Phillipson agreed that one in four kids being left out of education is a sign the system needs to change and has committed to reform teacher training around neurodiversity for all new teachers from this September. 'With no news yet on supporting existing teachers or vital early screening - the fight continues.' Mr Oliver pressed Phillipson further, saying: 'May I ask one, Bridget, one last thing that I just don't know if it's within your permission or power, but I'm disgusted of my county of Essex. I come from Essex. I was born and bred in Essex, and within education in Essex, and there's a handful of other counties, they've decided to not recognize dyslexia. They don't recognise it. They don't see it.' He went on: 'My instinct is, because once you recognize it and once you have a diagnosis on it, then because of the 2010 Human Rights Act, you have to deploy resource as a human right, and I believe that Essex are not wanting to spend the money and therefore changing science. 'We have scientists in the room that will say that dyslexia does exist. Essex, my county, disgusting, have decided to say that it doesn't exist...' Kate Griggs, founder of the global charity Made By Dyslexia, praised Oliver's efforts: 'It's fantastic to see Jamie shining a spotlight on dyslexia - too many children aren't getting the chance to thrive. 'We must shift attitudes across society, because the very skills dyslexic pupils possess are now the most sought-after in every workplace.' She added: 'We welcome the Education Secretary's comments that we can make fast progress by learning from great practice. This is exactly the knowledge our free training provides. 'Our Empowering Dyslexic Thinking in Schools course, created in partnership with The Open University, is now available online.'
Daily Mirror
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Jamie Oliver tearful as dyslexic teen tells him 'I don't see any hope'
The campaigning chef is calling for a huge overhaul of the school system so that dyslexic and neurodivergent kids can thrive alongside their classmates Jamie Oliver is winning the first stage of his latest Channel 4 campaign after getting Bridget Phillipson onside in his battle to overhaul the education system for dyslexic kids. The education minister has pledged her support for Jamie's mission to revolutionise the school experience for those with special educational needs. The chef, who previously tackled school dinners and sugary drinks, is calling on the government to bring in early screening, within the first two years of primary school, and for teachers to receive proper training on dyslexia - currently just half a day is given over to the subject during a three-year teacher training course. Dad-of-five Jamie said he was inspired to bring about change because of his own painful experience at school. 'It wasn't great,' he sighed. 'Everything to do with learning and getting it down on paper was terrible, I hated words. I had nothing to offer. That feeling of sadness, of feeling thick, stupid, worthless and dumb. READ MORE: Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness join Celebrity Gogglebox for first time - and promise 'no filter' 'School was just tough because I didn't get it. But seeing other kids and parents going through that pain in 2025, it does make you quite angry.' The film, Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, uses statistics showing that one in ten kids is dyslexic - meaning there are three in the average classroom - but for every 10 dyslexic children, only two will be diagnosed. These children are 3.5 times more likely to be expelled, and those who lose their place at school are 200 times more likely to get involved in violent crime. This could explain why 50% the UK's prison inmates show signs of dyslexia. 'I am starting to see the patterns of getting into trouble and ending up in prison are all massively amplified by dyslexia and neurodiversity…and I don't think it is because this is destiny for them, I think it's a reaction to a feeling that they never fit it,' he said at a launch event in London. 'Dyslexia is bigger than letters jumping around and a few kids struggling to read. It's about getting tens of thousands of kids a year to thrive, and not just survive, in school. An education system that only works for some kids, and not everyone, is broken.' Jamie said he believes the current education minister is the right person to bring about the changes so many kids and families are desperate for. Having met with mum-of-two Bridget at her parliamentary office, he says: 'I like her. She's doing things that others haven't done for a long time. Out of the 17 or 18 [education ministers] that I've seen over the last 20 years, she sticks out as being one worth putting a bet on.' Since filming ended, Bridget has agreed that 1 in 4 kids being left out of education is a sign the system needs an overhaul and has committed to improving teacher training around neurodiversity for all new teachers from this September. The education minister said: 'I am determined to reform the system for children with SEND so that all children can achieve what they're capable of.' All new teachers will be fully trained when it comes to SEND neurodiversity and existing teachers will also be 'upskilled' as part of reforms she will set out later this year. 'What a lot of our teachers tell me is that they don't feel they've got the support that they need to really provide a brilliant education to children with a much bigger range of needs than might have been the case when they did their initial training,' she said. The film also hears from 15-year-old Amira, who felt 'isolated' at school, where she failed to get a formal diagnosis and now expects to fail her GCSEs. 'It feels like I have no opportunities. I don't see any hope,' she tells Jamie, who says she's being badly let down. - Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, Channel 4, 8pm, Monday
Rhyl Journal
23 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Lorde ‘pretty keen' to ‘pull some strings' and make Glastonbury appearance
This draws speculation as to whether the singer from New Zealand, who does not feature on the official line-up, will play during one of the slots marked TBA. The full scheduling for this year was announced earlier in the week and includes sets from Irish rap trio Kneecap and singer Charli XCX, as well as headline performances from British pop band The 1975, Neil Young and his band the Chrome Hearts, and US pop singer Olivia Rodrigo. Asked if she would be playing at the festival, Lorde told Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 2 show: 'You know, I'm pretty keen, honestly. 'I feel like, because the album's going to be coming out, I am quite tempted by what's going on, because I've got lots of friends playing as well. We'll see if I can pull some strings and get there.' The 28-year-old is friends with a number of singers including Brat star Charli XCX, who is playing the Other Stage on the Saturday night. Earlier in the year, the British singer played at US festival Coachella where Lorde made an appearance to perform their collaborative version of Girl, So Confusing. The singer, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor, has played at Glastonbury before and performed on the Other Stage in 2017 and the Pyramid Stage in 2022. Asked what it was like to walk onto the Pyramid Stage, she said: 'Absolutely unbelievable, enormous. I was shooketh at the scale. So many cameras … oh goodness. So beautiful, so amazing. 'In 2017 we played the Other Stage, which was so amazing, that was kind of sunset and very moody and just the best. It's the best festival in the world.' The singer shot to fame with her chart-topping single Royals in 2013, which was included in her album Pure Heroine. She has since released the albums Melodrama (2017) and Solar Power (2021), with her fourth studio album, Virgin, to be released on June 27. Glastonbury is running from June 25 to June 29 with performances from the likes of US rapper Doechii, UK singer Raye and veteran rocker Sir Rod Stewart, who will be playing during the coveted legends slot.
