James McAvoy Recalls Bullying on Band of Brothers Set

James McAvoy has recalled being bullied by an unnamed castmate on his first day filming the 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers, saying the actor and others pointed at him and laughed for about three minutes. McAvoy described the incident during an October 12 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. The allegation is based on his account; the reports provide no independent corroboration. McAvoy said he had recently left acting school and was filming a crowded bar scene with a large group of actors. He recalled that some cast members had worked on the production for nine or 10 months while receiving only brief dialogue, whereas his one-episode role included an arc, several scenes and many lines. He said the unnamed castmate, whom he recognized in a photograph shown during the interview, decided to bully him on that first day. McAvoy did not identify the person, despite questions and guesses during the interview. He said the actor was not David Schwimmer, but did not name anyone else he said participated. The reports do not establish the identities or motives of those involved, and McAvoy’s explanation of possible resentment over his role remains his interpretation.