Released 30 years ago, Trainspotting was a defining moment in the life and career of Ewan McGregor, who starred in the film. Even after all these years, the actor still looks back in amazement, recalling the fame and attention it brought. From Renton’s story to its soundtrack and impressive cinematography, the film caught the attention of international audiences and went on to gross $72 million worldwide.

As Trainspotting gets a 4K re-release for its 30th anniversary, McGregor reflected on the cult classic’s popularity and what it felt like to be part of the film.

In a conversation with PEOPLE, Ewan McGregor spoke about Trainspotting and how it arrived at a crucial moment in British culture, during the rise of bands such as Oasis, Blur, Pulp, and The Verve. With Blur and Pulp contributing songs to the soundtrack, the film likely attracted even more attention from audiences. Or, as McGregor said, Renton and his friends “became the movie version” of those bands. 

“Me and Jonny Miller lived together with Jude Law at the time. We would go out like we were the Rolling Stones or something. We'd walk into clubs, and it was like we were a band; people would lose their minds, and it was mad that it was happening to us," he said as he recalled what it was like for him and his co-stars getting recognized in public.

Alongside McGregor, Trainspotting also starred Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly Macdonald. While McGregor has built an impressive filmography over the years, he said he still enjoys being recognized for Trainspotting. 

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During the interview, he also spoke about director Danny Boyle and his confidence in Boyle's vision for the film. McGregor shared that he recently got back in touch with Boyle to talk about Trainspotting.

Ewan McGregor revealed that he rewatched Trainspotting ahead of its big-screen re-release and was awe-struck by how brilliant the film still is. The actor said he was deeply impressed by how well the movie has held up over the years. And although he does not stay in regular contact with director Danny Boyle, McGregor shared that he sent him a text message to express his appreciation for the film.

“And I wrote to Danny [Boyle] afterwards, and I'm not in touch with Danny all the time, so it was a rare occasion, but I wrote to him just to say how amazing a film it was,” he told PEOPLE.

McGregor believes that, even after all these years, Trainspotting has lost none of its energy or impact. Rewatching the film, he was deeply impressed by the strength of its characters, its iconic soundtrack, and the way it still feels fresh decades later. As the 1990s cult classic returns to theaters, it is set to be rediscovered by longtime fans while also finding a new audience among younger viewers experiencing it for the first time.

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