Ewan McGregor is set to add pilot to his impressive resume - he wants to join the group of stars who reach for the sky.

After tackling two televised motorcycle marathons - from London to New York and Scotland to the tip of Africa - the Star Wars actor now has his sights set on the heavens.

The daredevil star says, “I want to learn how to fly, and I would especially love to fly old-fashioned planes. I love the airplanes they call tail-draggers. They’re old bush planes, and there’s a company, called Aviat, that still makes them. I like the look of the Aviat Husky. That’s the one I want to fly.”

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The first official production photo from the new Jim Carrey comedy I Love You Phillip Morris has been revealed on JimCarreyOnline. Adapted from Steve McVicker’s 2003 novel, and based on a true story. Carrey plays Russell, a criminal who falls in love with his cell mate, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). After Morris’ release from prison, Russell attempts a variety of bizarre prison escapes in hopes of reuniting with the love of his life. The movie was apparently pitched as “Catch Me if You Can meets Brokeback Mountain“. The screenplay was witten by the team who did Bad Santa. You can read the actual book description below.

Steven Russell possessed unusual talents-he was a jailhouse Houdini with a specialty in fraud. Staging his escapes on a series of Friday the thirteenths, he managed to outwit the Texas criminal justice experts in four ingenious jailbreaks. The first time, he simply waved a walkie-talkie convincingly and was buzzed out by an affable guard. Another time he used a green pen and a bucket of water to concoct surgical scrubs and sauntered out. His ensuing escapes grew more audacious, as did his plans to reunite with his co-convict lover. Award-winning journalist Steve McVicker captures with a pitch-perfect blend of humor and disbelief the real-life story of Steven Russell, a con man so shrewd, relentless, and incorrigible that he’d be walking free today, if it weren’t for his fatal aw-he’s in love with a man named Phillip Morris. Written with exclusive cooperation and disclosure from Russell, who’s serving 45 years plus 99 years in a maximum-security jail (at least, for now), I Love You Phillip Morris tells an oddball American tall tale of what can happen when mocking the law, a daredevil spirit, and undying love collide.

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Ewan McGregor was floored when his wife insisted on joining him for his most recent televised motorbike trek - because she’d never shown any interest in cycles.

The Scottish star was putting the finishing touches to his Long Way Down adventure with pal Charley Boorman when his French wife Eve Mavrakis asked to come along for the ride - on the evening before they set off.

McGregor recalls, “She wanted to ride her own bike and I’ve been married to her for almost 13-years and she’s barely been on the back of my motorcycle… so she learned. She flew into Johannesburg and drove up with these guys and the bike on the back of a pick-up truck to the border of Malawi and we met her there… and she rode down the whole length of Malawi with us and across Zambia with us, which was brilliant. It was really nice.”

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Ewan McGregor has scuppered plans to star in a sequel to cult film Trainspotting - insisting he is not a fan of the book the film would be based upon.

The star was reportedly eager to set work in motion on plans for a follow-up to the 1996 movie, adapted from Scottish author Irvine Welsh’s second book, Porno.

But the Star Wars star claims he wouldn’t want to appear in the film, because a big screen venture based on the poor follow-up book could potentially ruin the acclaimed first movie’s iconic reputation.

He says, “There has always been talk of a sequel (to Trainspotting) but I was disappointed with the book, Porno, that Irvine wrote afterwards - it was like he wrote a sequel to the movie.

“I would hate to damage Trainspotting. It would be awful to damage the reputation of that film.”

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WENN

Ewan McGregor had a brush with skin cancer but says he is “fine” now.

The Scottish actor, 37, was promoting his latest film, the sex thriller Deception, when he revealed on the BBC that he was forced to have a suspicious-looking facial mole – one of several – removed from just below his right eye.

“You have to be careful if you’re pale-skinned and spend any time in the sun,” McGregor said. “I went to see a specialist who thought they were better to be removed, and indeed he was correct.”

He advised others similarly at risk that it “was best to be looked at” by doctors.

Was the Star Wars Obi Wan star jolted by his experience? As he sarcastically replied, “It was great fun having skin cancer, it was great. I really enjoyed it.”

On March 25, CNN newsman Anderson Cooper revealed a similar scare, when he wrote on his network’s blog: “I had minor surgery on Monday. A small spot of skin cancer was removed from under my left eye. I hadn’t planned on mentioning this, but I still have stitches and you’ll no doubt notice.”

As dermatologists have increasingly warned, using a strong sunscreen is vital to survival. The American Cancer Society estimates that this year alone, there will be will be 62,480 new cases of melanoma in the U.S. The disease will also claim the lives of about 8,420 people in 2008.

Only last week, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Bandmate Danny Federici, 58, died of melanoma, after a three-year battle.

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Actor Ewan McGregor has revealed that he used to turn up for acting jobs drunk - while he was battling a drink problem.

Ewan, 36, revealed that he eventually decided to quit seven years ago before he ended up ruining his career and personal life.

He said: “I felt it was time to stop. I had drunk enough is the truth - I had my share, your share and everyone’s share.

“There comes a point, and it was quite a clear point for me.

“Things were going to start going downhill with my work and every other aspect of my life. It was the thing that was expendable.”

According to Britain’s Mirror newspaper, Ewan told British talk show host Michael Parkinson, tonight, that he even managed to work while drunk by downing more, adding: “It’s the road to ruin.”

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Ewan McGregor said he is sick of Britain’s “ludicrous nanny state” rules, which he said might force him to quit the country, in an interview to be published Tuesday.

ealth and safety regulations were becoming “insane”, the 36-year-old film star told the weekly Radio Times magazine.

The Scottish actor, who played the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the most recent Star Wars trilogy, blasted the rise of security cameras and London’s congestion charge, which forces drivers to pay to enter the city centre.

McGregor recently completed a 15,000-mile (24,000-kilometre) motorcycle adventure, riding the length of Africa with best friend and fellow actor Charley Boorman.

“Our trip opened my eyes to how insane the rules are in Britain — CCTV cameras everywhere, congestion charge — a ludicrous nanny state.

“If anything drives me out of the country it will be that — not tax, I don’t earn enough.”

When Daniel Craig was unveiled as the new James Bond actor in October 2005, he was forced to wear a life jacket as he sped through London on a boat up the River Thames.

It was somewhat out of keeping for the daredevil fictional British spy, in a press call stunt widely acknowledged as having backfired.

“It’s not his fault. He’s doing what he’s told,” McGregor groaned.

“Today, health and safety are out of control. In Africa, garage attendants smoked as they filled the bikes. I took great pleasure in that.”

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