Trainspotting is celebrating a momentous anniversary, as the Scottish film, which follows a group of heroin addicts, was released 25 years ago today (23 February).
Director Danny Boyle brought the production to life after taking inspiration from Irvine Welsh’s 1993 novel which explored the drug scene in the Scottish capital.
In 1996, the cult classic hit screens and won numerous awards, in addition to being voted the best Scottish film of all time in a public poll in 2004.
With the film being such a hit across the world, it’s no wonder some of the cast found stardom in Hollywood as well.
Daily Star has explored what the original cast members are until now, 25 years after the film hit the big time.
From one of the cast members marrying Angelina Jolie in her own bloodstained t-shirt to becoming a Hollywood A-Lister, the cast has certainly been busy in the 25 years since the film’s release.
Ewan McGregor – Renton
It’s hard to believe all these years that Ewan McGregor was initially deemed “too pretty” to play the role of Renton.
Producer Andrew MacDonald said they almost forgot about the actor at one point.
Speaking about the BBC Scotland series The Years That Changed Modern Scotland, he explained: “We had Ewan McGregor very early on.
“We made this decision which was very controversial because a lot of people saw her as she must be really dirty and they thought Ewan was too good-looking, too attractive, too pretty.”
Showing his commitment to the role, McGregor lost two stones in weight and shaved almost all of his hair to play the heroin addict.
After his stint on the Scottish phenomenon, McGregor was destined for big things and he went on to land the role of Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel Star Wars trilogy.
He has also starred in many other big movies including Moulin Rouge, Black Hawk Down and I Love You Phillip Morris.
The father-of-four, who currently lives in Los Angeles, recently confirmed he will reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Disney remake.
Robert Carlyle – Begbie
In Trainspotting, Robert Carlyle played the tough-mouthed rude and glass-thrower Begbie.
The 59-year-old was praised so much for his portrayal in the first film that when T2 Trainspotting came out in 2017 he also joined the cast.
Robert is believed to remain in frequent contact with some of his former co-stars via email, including Ewan McGregor and Jonny Lee Miller.
Carlyle offered herself a role on TV shows such as Stargate Universe and Once Upon A Time, which then led to a move to Vancouver, Canada, alongside his wife Anastasia Shirley and their three children.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Robert has shown his support by partnering with visor-producing charity Vise Up, which aims to provide protective face clothing to NHS workers in Scotland.
Ewen Bremner – Spud
In the 1994 version of Trainspotting, Ewen Bremner originally auditioned for the role of Mark Renton, before his co-star Ewen McGregor was given the lead role.
He was eventually cast as Spud.
Much like Carlyle, Bremner also returned for the 2017 sequel T2 Trainspotting reprising the role of Spud.
Bremner and McGregor showed there was no hard feelings between them over the roles of Trainspotting and even joined forces again in 2001 for the movie Black Hawk Down.
He landed other roles in a number of British films such as Snatch, but eventually ventured across the pond and now lives in New York City, but often returns to Scotland to reunite with his loved ones.
Johnny Lee Miller – Sick Boy
Following her breakout role as Sick Boy in Trainspotting, Miller starred alongside Angelina Jolie in the 1995 movie Hackers, just before the actress landed her breakout role in Tomb Raider.
The couple dated for six months before deciding to tie the knot in a very bizarre and incredibly intimate wedding that included Angelina’s mother and only one of Miller’s friends.
Angelina wasn’t on board a traditional white wedding, as she opted to wear rubber pants and a T-shirt with Miller’s name written on it – in her own blood.
Speaking to The New York Times about the ceremony, Angelina said at the time, “He’s your husband. You’re about to marry him. You can sacrifice a little bit to make her really special.”
Their romance didn’t last long and the couple later divorced in 1996, with Miller marrying actress and model Michelle Hicks in Malibu.
From 2012 to 2019, he played the role of modern-day Sherlock Holmes in the crime drama Elementary, which went on to earn him a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actor.
Kelly MacDonald – Diane
Kelly MacDonald made her film debut in Trainspotting and most of all remembered her steamy sex scene with Renton.
Before landing her first role, MacDonald was working as a bar waitress when, by chance, she spotted an advertisement for the role of Diane.
MacDonald now has a fairly extensive film career, which includes parts in Finding Neverland, Harry Potter and as the voice behind Merida in Disney Pixar’s Brave.
The movie star had been married to Travis baseman Dougie Payne for some time, with the couple sharing two children together.
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The family lived in London and New York, but then returned to Scotland, before separating in 2017.
MacDonald was recently cast as Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Davidson for the BBC’s upcoming Favorite Line of Duty season.
Line of Duty Creator Jed Mercurio said of her hire: “We are honored to have Kelly MacDonald join Martin, Vicky and Adrian in Line Of Duty Series Six.
“DCI Joanne Davidson will be the most enigmatic adversary the AC-12 has ever faced.”
Kevin McKidd – Tommy
After his stint as Tommy in the film, Kevin McKidd became a Grey’s Anatomy sensation, taking on the role of Owen Hunt.
He also teamed up with a former Trainspotting actress, joining Kelly MacDonald on the film Brave and voicing Lord MacGuffin.
Like many of his film peers, he moved to New York City and now lives with his wife Arielle Goldrath after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2015 and welcoming their first daughter together in 2019.
McKidd also has two other children whom he shares with his first wife Jane Parker.
The actor made headlines recently after revealing on Instagram that he recorded a cover of the Snow Patrol Chasing Cars track alongside poet Azure Antoinette “in honor of Breonna Taylor.”
Its caption accompanied by a teaser clip read: “In honor of Breonna Taylor and the many black lives lost.”