Heartbroken James McAvoy mourns the death of his mother, 59, in council estate flat in Glasgow

Eleanor Rose3 February 2018
The Weekender

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James McAvoy is mourning the death of his mother after she passed away last month.

Liz Johnstone, 59, died in the Glasgow council estate flat the actor grew up in after battling ill health for years.

Her death in the Drumchapel area of the city is being treated by Scotland Yard as "non-suspicious".

The Atonement actor, 38, remained close to his mother, a psychiatric nurse, until her death - despite having cut ties with his father.

Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

He did not speak to his dad James McAvoy Senior, a roofer, from age seven when his parents split.

A local source told the Daily Record: "Liz had health troubles and faced up to them as well as possible but it meant she really kept herself to herself. James became estranged from his dad but he was supportive of his mother.

"She had no desire to change her life on the back of his fame. She wished to stay in Drumchapel and that's what she did."

In 2008, James Snr told the Daily Mail that the Shameless star "took it hard" when he split from his mother.

He told the newspaper: "I think James still had hopes of me and his mum sorting things out.

"It has been hard on me not being in his life, but I’m just glad that he seems happy."

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