James McAvoy had to walk out of the world premiere of his latest movie “Atonement” last night, because he thought he was so bad. I personally think he was being a bit hard on himself, having watched a press screening of the Ian McEwan adaptation, also starring Keira Knightley and Vanessa Redgrave, a little earlier in the day. In a “junket” (i.e. five-minute) interview today in Venice, he said:

“Strangely, I was the most critical about it (’Atonement’) last night. The first time I watched it I was devastated by it and slightly left distraught. I just found it very harrowing. The second time I saw it I really enjoyed it and the third time I saw it I just went ‘Oh my God, why did I do that? What were you thinking, you idiot? Why did I even get the part?’ It was horrible. I had to leave half way through and just go and get a breath of fresh air because I was just being horrible to myself. Strange.”

Mind you, I have some sympathy with him. Just listening to myself on a tape recorder makes me cringe, but to see yourself up there on a giant screen pretending to be someone you’re not, I would loathe it.

Scottish-born McAvoy doesn’t think his reaction was that unusual.

“I don’t think I’ve watched anything I’ve done three times. I wouldn’t have watched it last night if it wasn’t expected of me. I think it’s normal. I think most actors feel like this.”