15 Best Films and Biography of a Great English Actor.. Jason Statham

Who Is Jason Statham?

English action star Jason Statham has convincingly portrayed a host of unsavory, yet oddly endearing, tough guys who can generally be counted on to dish out beat downs and lead car chases while intercutting the action with a well-timed quip. But before he ever stepped foot on a movie set, Statham’s life was just as colorful as the characters he’s played onscreen. From being an Olympic diver to fashion model to even having a side gig in the black market, Statham amassed a unique set of skills that perfectly positioned him to be an action star.

Background and Early Career

Jason Statham was born on July 26, 1967 in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, to Eileen and Barry Statham. He had an older brother named Lee and both took interest in martial arts. But Statham had other athletic passions, one of which was diving, and he began working on those skills, eventually becoming a part of the British Olympic Team that traveled to Seoul, Korea in 1988. After the Olympics, he continued as a member of the National Diving Squad for the next decade. However, after some disappointing finishes at the World Championships and Olympic trials, he decided to focus on the next chapter of his career.

A few years later, his athletic build caught the eye of a talent agent and landed Statham a gig in an ad campaign for the European clothing retailer French Connection. An appearance in a Levi’s Jeans commercial and work for Hilfiger followed and soon Statham had a modeling career. This helped him land jobs as a background dancer in early ’90s music videos like The Shamen’s “Comin’ On” and Erasure’s “Run to the Sun.”

Jason Statham

Movies

15.Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Sting, Jason Statham

Released: 1998

Directed by: Guy Ritchie