Ewan McGregor regrets not talking to Danny Boyle for over a decade.

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor

The 45-year-old actor fell out with the famous director, 59, after he was made to believe he would play the lead role in 'The Beach' in 2000 but was then dramatically dropped and later replaced with Leonardo DiCaprio.

But, since the pair buried the hatchet a few years ago, the handsome star can't help but think what might have been if they hadn't locked horns in the first place.

He said: "It [the falling out] was almost nothing to do with 'The Beach'. I mean, of course it was all over 'The Beach' and my understanding that I was playing the role. To discover that I wasn't came as a shock. It wasn't just not getting that role, it was the way it was handled that wasn't very clever. It did knock me a bit. I was disappointed because I put so much importance in being their actor ... leading up to it, I was in the running for 'Star Wars', but I had meetings with them, saying, 'If the dates clash, I'll do 'The Beach'. I'll turn 'Star Wars' down.

"Eighteen years since that point, I just regret all the films that we didn't make together, me and Danny."

However, since calling a truce, the pair have bumped into each other on numerous occasions and, each time they do, the moment is bittersweet.

He explained to The Times newspaper: "It was like meeting an old lover or something. Ultimately, it was nice to see him, always."