Jason Statham

Jason Statham was born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, to Eileen (Yates), a dancer, and Barry Statham, a street merchant and lounge singer. He was a Diver on the British National Diving Team and finished twelfth in the World Championships in 1992. He has also been a fashion model, black market salesman and finally of course, actor. He received the audition for his debut role as Bacon in Jogos, Trapaças e Dois Canos Fumegantes (1998) through French Connection, for whom he was modeling. They became a major investor in the film and introduced Jason to Guy Ritchie, who invited him to audition for a part in the film by challenging him to impersonate an illegal street vendor and convince him to purchase fake jewelry. Jason must have been doing something right because after the success of Jogos, Trapaças e Dois Canos Fumegantes (1998) he teamed up again with Guy Ritchie for Snatch - Porcos e Diamantes (2000), with co-stars including Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina and Benicio Del Toro. After Snatch - Porcos e Diamantes (2000) came Febre Urbana (2000) with US music star Ja Rule, followed by a supporting actor role in the sci-fi film Fantasmas de Marte (2001), Jet Li's O Confronto (2001) and another screen partnership with Vinnie Jones in Penalidade Máxima (2001) under Guy Ritchie's and Matthew Vaughn's SKA Films. Finally in 2002 he was cast as the lead role of Frank Martin in Carga Explosiva (2002). Jason was also in the summer 2003 blockbuster remake of Um Golpe à Italiana (1969), Uma Saída de Mestre (2003), playing Handsome Rob.