Jason Statham

Biography: An English actor and former diver, known for his roles in the Guy Ritchie crime films Revolver, Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Statham appeared in supporting roles in several American films, such as The Italian Job, as well as playing the lead role in The Transporter, Death Race, Crank, The Bank Job and War. Statham also appeared alongside established action film actors Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren in The Expendables. He normally performs his own fight scenes and stunts.

Statham was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, the son of Eileen (née Yates) and Barry Statham, a lounge singer. He moved to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, where he chose not to follow his father?s career working the local market stalls, and decided to pursue the arts. He grew up with Vinnie Jones, alongside whom he would later go on to act. Jones introduced him to football, and Statham went on to play for the local grammar school (1978-83), which he had attended since the age of eleven, but his real passion was diving. He practised daily in perfecting his diving techniques - in particular, he finished 12th in the World Championships in 1992. He was also a member of Britain?s National Diving Squad for twelve years.

Statham?s life in the media began when he was spotted by a talent agent specialising in athletes while training at London?s Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Afterwards, he became a model for the clothing brand French Connection.

While working for French Connection (FCUK), he was introduced to fledgling British director Guy Ritchie who was developing a film project and needed to fill the role of a street-wise con artist. After learning about Statham?s past as a Black Market Salesman, Ritchie cast him to play the role of "Bacon" in his break-out 1998 hit, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The movie was well received by both critics and audiences, and helped catapult Statham into the public eye. Statham?s second collaboration with Ritchie came in the 2000 film Snatch, playing the role of "Turkish". Cast alongside popular actors Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina and Benicio del Toro, and with the movie earning more than $80 million in box-office revenue, Statham was able to break into Hollywood and appeared in two movies in 2001: Ghosts of Mars and The One.

Statham was in a seven year relationship with model Kelly Brook, until 2004. Since April 2010, he has been dating Victoria?s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.