The best surprise at the movies this weekend is James McAvoy's performance as the love-stricken Robbie Turner in "Atonement." What's even more surprising is that he's now considered a frontrunner for a best actor Oscar nomination. In the past, the Academy has tended to overlook younger male heartthrobs (Leonardo DiCaprio for "Titanic," Joseph Fiennes in "Shakespeare in Love"), although Oscar babes (Angelina Jolie in "Girl, Interrupted," Natalie Portman in "Closer") don't have the same problem. (Blame the largely male Academy membership.)  But you can expect McAvoy to make the final cut, along with, most likely,  Denzel Washington for "American Gangster," Johnny Depp for "Sweeney Todd," Daniel Day Lewis for "There Will be Blood" and George Clooney for "Michael Clayton."

McAvoy spoke to the GoldDigger. Here are 7 things you don't know about him.

(1) The Scottish actor recently received the Scottish BAFTA for "The Last King of Scotland." "For best actress, there was only one nomination," he says. "It was strange. She isn't even Scottish, she's English. Which is fine. But it's a shame we don't make enough films that we don't have a Scottish nominee in a Scottish film ... I've worked a hell of a lot. And I'm very lucky to have done that. Had I just played Scottish people, I don't think I would have been able to work as much."

(2) What he says about his love scene with Keira Knightley in "Atonement": "It was awkward and not particularly easy to do. But it was easier than usual. Partly because Keira is so nice and we trust each other. We choreographed it like a dance."

(3) He's tries not to listen to all the hype about himself. "I don't watch a ridiculous amount of E! News or TV and I don't read a lot of tabloid press. I'm blissfully ignorant of what's happening with my public persona. That's the way I like it. It's hard for an actor. We imagine and make believe enough as it is as a profession. You start make believing about your personality and your worth to the world, you can end up with a disproportionate image of yourself."

(4) In his spare time, he plays soccer twice a week in London, where he lives. "My life is the same as it always was," McAvoy says. "I try to play as much football as I can, or soccer as you guys call it. It's with 30 guys and me in a sports complex.

(5) His next movie is the action film "Wanted," with Angelina Jolie. "I did a lot of training for that job. I built muscle, but not too much. I was glad they finally offered a part to not an alpha male, but to someone who is relatively representative of the middle ground of humanity and someone who's relatively normal looking."

(6) Wait. James McAvoy thinks he's normal looking? "Oh well, I don't know. It's weird, man. Whenever I do an interview, people ask me what do you feel about your status as a f--king I don't know, somebody that people find whatever. I say, I feel like I'm a pretty average guy."

(7) But his past two costars--Anne Hathaway in "Becoming Jane" and Keira Knightley--weren't so average looking. "The question I get asked constantly about Angelina, Keira and Anne, ends with a bit of, you must enjoy that. It's strange. It makes you feels like, come on guys. I have been around people who are good looking before. Let's all settle down."