Actor Angus Macfadyen has said his new film Robert the Bruce could be perfectly timed to boos support for Scottish independence, as he attended the movie’s world premiere in Edinburgh.

Macfadyen, known for his vocal support for independence on social media, has played the role before, in 1995’s Braveheart. But he says his latest take on the role comes at a time when Scots “need to be masters of our own destiny”.

He attended the premiere on Sunday at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) along with co-stars Anna Hutchinson, Zach McGowan, Mhairi Calvey and Lulu, who sings over the end credits.

“When I wrote it in 2006 I wanted to get it out the next year but the circumstances of that were out of my hands and now that we’re in 2019 with all the events that have happened, Brexit, the independence referendum, it just feels like the time is perfect,” he said.

“There’s so much political talk and so much anger and fury on Twitter and I just think that a film can tell a story about people and can talk about the human condition and remind you that we’re all in the same boat at the end of the day. We need to be masters of our own destiny at this point I think and we should do it soon.”

Directed by Richard Gray, the film tells the story of the king in the months after his forces are decimated and he takes shelter with a woman and her children who help nurse him back to health as he finds the resolve to lead the Scots to independence.

Macfadyen caused controversy last month when he asked how many people would be ready to “lay down” their lives for what is coming.

Meanwhile an EIFF juror has described Scotland’s lack of a major film studio as “beyond embarrassing”.

Mary Queen of Scots star Jack Lowden, told an audience at the capital’s Filmhouse that Scotland had the best backdrop in the world and “so much to offer”.

But the actor, who also starred in Oscar winning war movie Dunkirk and wresting comedy Fighting With My Family, said Scotland was “missing out” because of the lack of a studio.

Speaking at the “In-Person” event, he said Scotland had lost out to Northern Ireland for TV smash Game of Thrones, as well as the “trickle down” of industry opportunities that might have come with it.

The actor, who won an Olivier Award in 2014 as best supporting actor for his role in Richard Eyre’s production of Ghosts, said: “It’s beyond embarrassing now. Game of Thrones wanted to shoot here. It was their first choice and they couldn’t for a multitude of reasons, we didn’t have the studios and stuff like that. And it’s totally transformed parts of Belfast and Northern Ireland.”

He said a film studio would lead to a trickle down of skills and opportunities. “We missed out on that and we’re still missing out on stuff. I don’t know what the effing problem is but they just need to get it done,” he said. “It’s unbelievable the benefits that a film studio would give to our country.”