Scottish actor James was up against international talent for the inaugural Rising Star award, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Gael García Bernal, Rachel McAdams, and Michelle Williams.
He started out on the stage and in TV, in shows such as Shameless and State of Play. His profile got a boost when he starred in 2005 movies The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Starter for 10.
After his Rising Star win, his career got bigger and bigger with 2006's Academy Award-winning The Last King of Scotland, which earned him a BAFTA nomination, and he went on to star in Atonement, Wanted, and as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise.