Jason Statham wasn’t always an actor. In fact, he never even studied theater like most others working in the business today. A native of London, England, the early part of Jason’s professional career was spent as an Olympic diver for the British National Team, an in 1992, the actor even finished 12th at the World Championships.
Following his departure from the sport, Jason did a little side work as a black market salesman (hence his experience for bringing the role of Bacon to life in “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels“) and finally as a fashion model with French Connection. It’s here that he received his first audition for the popular Guy Ritchie flick, and following the film’s cult success, the actor decided to take a go at making a career out of it.
He returned to the big screen two years later in Ritchie’s sophomore effort, “Snatch,” as well as the John Carpenter’s sci-fi horror flick, “Ghosts of Mars.” In 2002, Jason snagged his first leading role as stunt driver extraordinaire in “The Transporter,” and though it seemed that newcomer Vin Diesel had already been crowned as film’s newest action star, Jason is certainly giving him a run for his money. And at least he never made a film called “The Pacifier.”
Jason keeps going strong as an action star as he keeps pushing his successful formula. In 2026 we saw that in “Mutiny.”
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Jason Statham interview
Check out Bob Westal’s interview from 2011 with Jason Statham.
Jason on the Screen
After making a name for himself in the Guy Ritchie crime capers,”Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch,” Jason went on to make a name for himself as one of the generation’s newest action heroes. From roles alongside Jet Li in “The One” to his first leading role in “The Transporter,” Jason has also appeared in the summer blockbuster, “The Italian Job” and as a baddie in “Cellular.”
From the Mouth of Jason
On his role in “The Transporter”:
“He’s the James Bond that drinks a Heineken, not a martini.”
On acting:
“Guy Ritchie, he thinks going to drama school is the worst thing in the world.”