Clive Owen may be best known for NOT playing James Bond. When rumors circulated madly over who would succeed Pierce Brosnan as 007, Owen’s name always came up, but the actor quickly dismissed them as just that – rumors. Now that Daniel Craig has given the franchise a fresh face, Clive seems relieved someone else has the job. In turn, he has steadily become one of Hollywood’s most respected English actors of the decade.
Born in England in 1964, Clive took to the stage at an early age, studying theatre and performing Shakespeare. In 1988, he played Romeo and eventually married his Juliet, Sarah-Jane Felton, seven years later. It was not until 2001 when Clive became a recognizable face. He participated in the late Robert Altman’s “Gosford Park” and the same year became BMW’s Driver for their short film series “The Hire.” A couple of supporting roles in “The Bourne Identity” and “Beyond Borders” led to 2004 with the title role of “King Arthur” and his Academy Award nominated performance in “Closer”, for which he also earned a Golden Globe. But it all goes back to 007 and the question of “what if?” Chances are we won’t see him in the tux sipping the martini, but he’s giving us plenty of great alternative movies because of it.
Clive on the Screen
2006 gave us Clive Owen the villain in Spike Lee’s “Inside Man” and Clive Owen the good guy in “Children of Men.” 2004 gave us Clive as the arrogant Larry in “Closer” and the hero “King Arthur.” As Clive’s star rises, it looks like he’ll be leaning more towards the hero side with his answer to James Bond in “Shoot ‘Em Up” and the British period epic “The Golden Age.” He also played a part in the star-studded “Sin City,” made an uncredited cameo in “The Pink Panther”, and romanced Jennifer Aniston in “Derailed.” His early film roles include “Gosford Park” and as The Professor in “The Bourne Identity.”
Clive Says
On eyes:
“The sexiest part of the body is the eyes. Corny, but that’s what I believe. They’re what connect us as human beings.”
On 007:
“All this talk about Bond. That’s all it is.”