Get to Know ‘Fourth Wing’ Star Esther McGregor, Her Famous Family & More
After coming in the top 10 of Swooon‘s coveted Best Yearners of the Year list in 2025, Esther McGregor has reportedly been cast as Violet Sorrengail in the highly anticipated Prime Video adaptation of Fourth Wing.
Cast alongside Emilio Sakraya, McGregor is set to bring the world of Basgiath War College to life on the screen. Based on the first novel in Rebecca Yarros’ extremely popular Empyrean series, Fourth Wing follows Violet, a soon-to-be scribe, ordered by her commanding general mother to join a group of candidates fighting to become dragon riders. There, she meets the most cunning, dangerous wingleader of them all, Xaden Riorson (Sakraya), who’s more eager to see her head on a platter than ride off with her into the sunset on a dragon’s back.
Before McGregor crosses the parapet, we’re taking a deep dive into her career so far, her famous family, why she’s the perfect addition to the Fourth Wing universe, and more!
Who is Esther McGregor?
While not all fans see the vision for McGregor as Violet just yet, we have to say that, here at Swooon, we are massive fans of the We Were Liars actress, who had us in full on tears during the Season 1 finale of the Prime Video series. Now, she’s taking on a far different role in the new Prime Video romantasy series. Just remember, book purists, you haven’t seen her after hair, makeup, and costuming yet. Trust the process — this girl can act!
Prime Video
McGregor is a 24-year-old British actress, model, musician, and tattoo artist from London, England. Her family, whom many may recognize, moved from London to California when she was just 11, and later, McGregor moved to New York City, where she attended NYU.
Who is Esther McGregor’s dad?
Much like Violet, Esther McGregor knows a thing or two about having a famous parent. Her dad is Ewan McGregor, who is best known for playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars franchise. When she was 16, the split between her father and mother, Eve Mavrakis, led to a period of estrangement. She didn’t have much communication with her dad until she entered the acting scene. In 2022, she even played a small role in her dad’s mini-series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, which he didn’t know about until she surprised him on set.
Looking back at their split amid her Babygirl press run, McGregor told Variety, “For me, that was the age when you shift and realize your parents are humans and fuck up and make mistakes and make decisions that might not be in the interest of others… Now I’m 22, and all that s**t with my family went down when I was 16, so with my newfound closure and understanding of my own trajectory.”
Who else is Esther McGregor related to?
McGregor’s father is now married to his Fargo costar Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The actress also has four siblings, Clara, Jamyan, Anouk, and stepbrother Laurie. Clara is also an actress who appeared in American Horror Story: NYC.
Stewart Cook / A24 via Getty Images
What has Esther McGregor said about nepotism?
As for any actress with famous parents, McGregor has faced quite a few “nepo baby” allegations. She told Variety, “Of course, my dad is an actor in the industry, and I’ve been so privileged to have been able to grow up on sets and find my love for acting at such a young age — I don’t think I would have if I wasn’t around it… I definitely recognize that privilege. I don’t think I’d ever take being called a Nepo Baby negatively.”
However, she added that a lot of hard work has gone into her career. “If you want to, you can, but I won’t let it diminish the f***ing hard work that I’ve put into this. If I wanted to sit on my a**, I would not be working right now.”
What else has Esther McGregor been in?
McGregor’s breakout role came last year, in Season 1 of We Were Liars, where she played Mirren Sinclair. McGregor also played Isabel, Nicole Kidman‘s daughter, in Babygirl, and young Martha in The Room Next Door. For those who spotted her in Obi-Wan Kenobi, McGregor played Tetha Grig.
Fourth Wing, TBA, Prime Video
