McAvoy to Take a Break From Films

James McAvoy is turning his back on Hollywood blockbusters - because he wants to focus on forging a stage career in his native Britain.

The Atonement actor pulled out of a starring role in upcoming comedydrama I'm With Cancer shortly after an announcement that his wife Anne Marie Duff is expecting their first child in June (10).

McAvoy is said to have been offered $1.5 million (£1 million) for the role - but he has no regrets about turning the part down, because he doesn't want to spend all his time in Hollywood.

He says, "I don't like planning too far ahead. My life was getting planned for me, so I said, 'Stop.' I'm going to do a play, no films for a while.

"I don't want to be in America all the time. If you go down that blockbuster, starry route too much, there's no way back to being a normal actor".