James McAvoy revealed he turned down a lucrative opportunity to play a young Tom Riddle in the first 'Harry Potter' film early in his career to pursue more consistent acting work, following his agent's advice to take a lower-paid theater role. This decision, which he credits with helping him grow as an actor, was a significant turning point in his career. Additionally, McAvoy spoke about his last-minute casting in M. Night Shyamalan's 'Split,' a role he took over from Joaquin Phoenix just two weeks before filming began. McAvoy said he quickly prepared for the role, which required him to portray 23 different personalities, and found the experience challenging but rewarding. McAvoy's reflections provide insight into his career decisions and the paths that shaped his development as an actor.