# Joy McAvoy
**Joy McAvoy** (born 1982) is a Scottish actress best known for playing Michelle in the BBC Scotland sitcom *[Two Doors Down](https://www.edgepedia.org/two-doors-down-tv-series)* and for film roles in [Ken Loach](https://www.edgepedia.org/ken-loach)'s *The Angels' Share* (2012), *Filth* (2013), and Marvel's *Avengers: Endgame* (2019). She is the younger sister of the actor [James McAvoy](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-mcavoy).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982, Glasgow, Scotland, UK[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) |
| Family | Younger sister of actor James McAvoy[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) |
| Signature TV role | Michelle in *Two Doors Down*, from series 3 (2018) through series 7 (2023) and the 2025 Christmas special[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/joy_mcavoy/) |
| Best-known films | *The Angels' Share* (2012, as Mairi), *Filth* (2013, as Estelle), *Avengers: Endgame* (2019, as Asgardian Maiden)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) |
| Recent work | Shona in *California Schemin'* (2025); Mary in the Sky Original series *Meantime*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) • [3](https://skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/bafta-winner-james-mcavoy-to-star-in-sky-original-series-meantime-based-on-the-novel-by-frankie-boyle) |
| Representation | United Agents (agent: Jess Alford)[4](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/joy-mcavoy/) |
## Early life and family
McAvoy was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1982[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) and grew up in the city's Drumchapel area.[5](https://cultureobserver.uk/blog/joy-mcavoy-biography-career/) Her older brother is the actor James McAvoy, and the two appeared together in the 2013 dark comedy *Filth*, in which he played the lead and she played Estelle.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) She began acting in 2003 with short independent films and one-off television appearances; her earliest credited role was the title character in the 2003 short *Jemima: Dating is Murder*.[5](https://cultureobserver.uk/blog/joy-mcavoy-biography-career/)
## Television
**Two Doors Down.** McAvoy's most prominent television role is Michelle in *Two Doors Down*, the BBC Scotland sitcom set on Latimer Crescent in Glasgow. She joined in series 3 in 2018, appearing in the episode "Alan & Michelle", and continued through series 4 (2019), series 5 (2021), series 6 (2022), and series 7 (2023).[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/joy_mcavoy/) She also appeared in the show's 2025 Christmas special, which the BBC ordered in July of that year.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/joy_mcavoy/) • [6](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/joy_mcavoy/press/) In September 2026 the cast, including McAvoy, took the sitcom to the stage in Glasgow as *Two Doors Down Live*, playing to large audiences and generally positive reviews.[6](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/joy_mcavoy/press/)
Her other television credits include *[No Offence](https://www.edgepedia.org/no-offence)* (Angelina Costeros, 2015), the BBC mini-series *Stonemouth* (Jel MacEvett, 2015), *[McDonald & Dodds](https://www.edgepedia.org/mcdonald-and-dodds)* (Angela McGruder, 2021), *Holby City* (2020), and *Doctors* (Cassie Stredway, 2022).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) Earlier credits include *How Not to Live Your Life* (Jackie), *River City* (Fiona), *Personal Affairs* (Young Mum), and a receptionist in an episode of *Taggart*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) • [4](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/joy-mcavoy/) She was an ensemble performer on the BBC Scotland comedy sketch show *Only an Excuse?* from 2019 to 2021.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/joy_mcavoy/)
## Film
McAvoy made her feature-film appearance as Mairi in Ken Loach's *The Angels' Share* (2012), a comedy-drama about a young Glaswegian sentenced to community service.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) She followed it with *Filth* (2013), directed by Jon S. Baird and starring her brother, and appeared in [Wim Wenders](https://www.edgepedia.org/wim-wenders)'s *[Submergence](https://www.edgepedia.org/submergence-film)* as Young Mother/Mrs Moore.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) • [4](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/joy-mcavoy/) Her Marvel appearance is listed by IMDb as the Asgardian Maiden in *Avengers: Endgame* (2019), while her agency CV records the same Maiden role in *Avengers: Infinity War*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) • [4](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/joy-mcavoy/)
In 2025 she played Shona in *[California Schemin'](https://www.edgepedia.org/california-schemin)*, a film directed by her brother; a review in *The Independent* described James McAvoy's directorial debut as one that "makes Scotland proud".[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) • [7](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews)
**Work behind the camera.** McAvoy is also credited as assistant to James McAvoy on *[Victor Frankenstein](https://www.edgepedia.org/victor-frankenstein-film)* (2015) and *X-Men: Dark Phoenix* (2019).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/)
## Voice work and upcoming projects
McAvoy's video game voice credits include Queen Eleanor and additional voices in the English version of *Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age* (2017), voice acting talent on *Battlefield V* (2018), and Tough Female in *Trials Rising* (2019).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) Her stage work includes Glasgow productions such as *Ida Tamson* at Glasgow Lunchtime Theatre's Oran Mor and classical roles at the Langside theater, including [Clytemnestra](https://www.edgepedia.org/clytemnestra) in *The Oresteia* and Helena in *A Midsummer Night's Dream*.[4](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/joy-mcavoy/)
She is cast as Mary in *Meantime*, a six-part Sky Original comic crime thriller written by [Frankie Boyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/frankie-boyle) and Neil Webster, adapted from Boyle's Sunday Times bestselling debut novel, directed by Jon S. Baird, and starring James McAvoy; production began in March 2026.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/) • [3](https://skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/bafta-winner-james-mcavoy-to-star-in-sky-original-series-meantime-based-on-the-novel-by-frankie-boyle)
## References
1. [Joy McAvoy, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671533/)
2. [Joy McAvoy, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/joy_mcavoy/)
3. [BAFTA winner James McAvoy to star in Sky Original series Meantime, based on the novel by Frankie Boyle, Sky Group](https://skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/bafta-winner-james-mcavoy-to-star-in-sky-original-series-meantime-based-on-the-novel-by-frankie-boyle)
4. [Joy McAvoy, United Agents](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/joy-mcavoy/)
5. [Joy McAvoy: The Scottish Actress Behind Two Doors Down, Culture Observer](https://cultureobserver.uk/blog/joy-mcavoy-biography-career/)
6. [Joy McAvoy press clippings, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/joy_mcavoy/press/)
7. [Film reviews, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Scottish actors › Surnames M to W*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license