James McAvoy claims Scotland will separate from the UK within the next ten years

It is not known which way the actor voted in last year’s referendum

McAvoy said should independence happen, there still needs to be a 'partnership' with the rest of the UK (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

James McAvoy says he believes Scotland will “consciously uncouple” from the UK within the next decade.

McAvoy made the comments on Scottish Independence when talking to the Sunday Times Culture magazine.

Without saying which way he voted in last year’s referendum, the actor says he thinks independence will happen within the next ten years, and would like it to.

“I’m very much up for independence. But we need to still be in some kind of partnership with the rest of the island.”

Coining the term made famous by Gwyneth Paltrow when announcing her separation from Chris Martin, he said “When we get it… it’ll be a conscious uncoupling, rather than a messy break up.”

The Glasgow native added: "A lot of people who wanted it voted no last time because they didn’t like Alex Salmond and sensed there was ego at play, rather than a conscientious leader."

During the 2014 campaign, McAvoy said he was keeping his voting choice quiet for “career preservation”.

He also warned his fellow Scotsmen and women to think carefully before voting, adding that there was “no going back” after the vote and, for him, the choice came down to “a matter of the heart and a matter of personal identity and national identity”.