James McAvoy has revealed he went "from zero to 100" after being attacked by a stranger in a Canadian pub, and responded by telling his assailant "I'm from Drumchapel".
The 46-year-old Hollywood star was enjoying a quiet night out with his producers in Toronto last September, ahead of the world premiere of his directorial debut California Schemin', when he was allegedly set upon in Charlotte's Room.
Things turned ugly when the X-Men actor was allegedly punched in the back of the head by a man who was being removed from the bar by bouncers after causing a drunken disturbance.
Brawl in Toronto Bar
McAvoy says he "flew" for the man, resulting in a tussle between the two. In a heated exchange of words, the man reportedly told McAvoy "I'm from Mexico", to which the actor replied "Yeah? Well I'm from Drumchapel".
Speaking on Late Night with Seth Meyers, the Glasgow actor told the US chat show host: "I'd been at the [Toronto International Film Festival] for six days and I was just sitting at the bar with the two producers having a roundup.
"This guy who apparently had drank too much and was behaving badly was getting ejected by the bouncer and as he was walking past me, he just cold clocked the first guy he could reach and smacked me as hard as he could in the back of the head.
"I went from zero to ninety in about three seconds and I went flying for the guy. By the time my producers grabbed me I went from ninety to zero and was like, 'I need to go back to London I need to be with my wife and kids and if I'm with the police, that's not going to happen'."
The man turned around and came at him again, prompting the exchange about their hometowns. McAvoy added: "It used to happen a lot when we were kids which is you're in a fight with someone and they start telling you where they're from. I was like 'what's next? You're going to give me your zip code and your postal address?' It's such a weird instinct."
Fans React to Drumchapel Name-Drop
Scots who were tickled by the local name drop flooded the comment section of the clip with their reactions. One wrote: "Never thought I would see the day The Drum was being mentioned on a talk show in America".
Another laughed: "Can take the lad out the Drum," while a third joked: "Drumchapel international". A fourth penned: "I just knew he was gonna play the Drumchapel card. If you know, you know," while a fifth added: "Drumchapel on the map now, troops".
McAvoy was brought up in a council flat in the neighbourhood with his sister, Joy, known for her role as Michelle in Two Doors Down. Despite the siblings' fame, the family shunned the limelight and remained in the area.
Directorial Debut
McAvoy was in Toronto promoting California Schemin', his directorial debut. The film follows the true story of aspiring rappers from Dundee, Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, who reinvented themselves as Eminem protégés, Silibil N' Brains, from California, while even blagging themselves a record deal and appearing on MTV.
