Ewan McGregor showed ‘Trainspotting’ toilet scene to his kids ‘for a laugh’

Ewan McGregor has said that he used to show his children the infamous toilet scene from Trainspotting “just for a laugh”.

The actor said during an interview at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival that he did so to make the most of the “unique” situation of being a father who’s able “to show his children footage of him going down the toilet”.

In the 1996 film in which McGregor plays heroin addict Mark Renton, McGregor is seen climbing into the bowl of “the worst toilet in Scotland” to retrieve opium-laced suppositories. The trippy scene, which sees him swim in an ocean once he’s delved head-first into the toilet, is a metaphor for the desperate measures that addicts will go to to score their next hit.

Speaking to press at the festival (via Variety) where he was joined by his daughter, Clara, McGregor said: “I wasn’t there when Clara watched Trainspotting for the first time. But I did used to show my kids the toilet scene. Just for a laugh. It’s a unique situation, perhaps, for a father to be able to show his children footage of him going down the toilet.”

He added: “I have a memory of showing Clara Moulin Rouge!, however. I think she was nine years old. I put it on, and then I hear this wailing and crying. I rushed in, asking if I should switch it off and she went, ‘Noooo!’”

McGregor was at the Czech festival to receive the honorary President’s Award. “Thank you so much for being here tonight,” he said during his acceptance speech (via Deadline). “I believe so much in what we do as actors. I’m so fortunate to do what I love and I love what I do,” he said.

McGregor stars opposite his daughter Clara in the road trip film You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder, which premiered at SXSW Festival in March. There is currently no information about a release date for the 2023 film in cinemas.

Meanwhile, the Scottish actor returned to the Star Wars franchise last year in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.