James McAvoy makes rare appearance with wife after secret baby revelation


James McAvoy shares his 15-year-old son, Brendan, with his ex-wife, Anne-Marie Duff, and a four-year-old son with Lisa Liberati


james mcavoy lisa liberati smiling© Laura Rose/Dave Benett/WireImage
Katie Fitzpatrick
Katie FitzpatrickFeatures Writer
April 9, 2026
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James McAvoy stepped out with his wife, Lisa Liberati, for the first time since he let slip that the pair had welcomed a son together four years prior. 

The 46-year-old looked dapper at the premiere of California Schemin' in London on Wednesday in a black suit with a loose black shirt underneath and a sparkling brooch on his lapel. 

Lisa stunned in a sparkling silver top with draped sleeves, and added black flared trousers and an electric blue clutch to complete the look. James, who directed and starred in the comedy film, revealed that he had become a father for the second time in an interview with The Guardian in March. 

james mcavoy lisa liberati red carpet© WireImage
James and Lisa stepped out in London for the California Schemin' premiere

"Having a kid at 42 is definitely easier in some ways," he explained. "I worry less. I'm a bit more philosophical. But it's also harder, because you're just older and tireder." 

James welcomed his eldest child, 15-year-old Brendan, with his first wife, Anne-Marie Duff, whom he was married to for 10 years from 2006 to 2016. 

The Atonement actor is incredibly private about his family life, yet shared rare insight into his parenting style with Screen Rant in 2021 before welcoming his second son. 

james mcavoy lisa liberati red carpet© PA Images via Getty Images
They welcomed a son together around 2022

"I think that sometimes we try and protect our kids from way too much, and we end up not preparing them for the world that they're going to have to step into," he said. "Which is why they're all staying with their parents until they're 35 at the moment. I want mine out the door when he's 18."

James added that he was "a loving, cuddly parent", and that he thought "we worry too much about what we're letting our kids hear". The Scotsman met his wife Lisa on the set of 2016's Split, when she was working as the personal assistant of director M. Night Shyamalan. They married in secret several years later, a fact which they only revealed in 2022. 

Anne-Marie Duff and James share one son together © David M. Benett
James was previously married to Anne-Marie Duff

James' penchant for privacy comes as no surprise considering that the actor shared a fraught relationship with his own father, James McAvoy Sr.

anne-marie duff james mcavoy couple© AFP via Getty Images
They co-parent their 15-year-old son Brendan

James and his sister were raised by their maternal grandparents after their dad left the family when they were young. When James Sr. made comments about his son to the Sunday Mirror in 2006, sharing that he wanted to get in touch, the A-lister made his feelings known to The Guardian.

James McAvoy played Tom Lefroy in Becoming Jane© FilmMagic
The actor was estranged from his own father

"Strange because that's more the kind of story you expect to see about people who matter, people who've done something important, who make a difference in the world," he said. 

"I can't really be bothered with it. If I was less secure in myself, I might be more interested. But I know what made me, I know why I am the way I am. I don't need to go hunting for missing answers. I know what happened and I know what didn't happen, and I know who I want to be and how to get there." 

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