Jason Statham was born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, to Eileen Yates, a dancer, and Barry Statham, a street merchant and lounge singer. Growing up, he was a diver on the British National Diving Team, finishing twelfth in the World Championships in 1992. Prior to his acting career, Statham also worked as a fashion model, black market salesman, and even dabbled in illegal activities.
Statham's entry into the film industry was through a modeling gig with French Connection, which led to him being cast in his debut role as Bacon in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). The film's success introduced him to director Guy Ritchie, with whom he would collaborate on several projects.
Statham's subsequent roles included Snatch (2000),Turn It Up (2000),Ghosts of Mars (2001),The One (2001),Mean Machine (2001),and The Transporter (2002). He gained recognition for his tough and cheeky performances, which became a hallmark of his career.
Throughout the 2000s, Statham continued to star in action-packed films, including Crank (2006),Crank: High Voltage (2009),War (2007),The Bank Job (2008),and Death Race (2008). His reputation as a leading man in B-films earned him roles in The Expendables (2010) and its sequels, as well as Spy (2015) and Fast & Furious 6 (2013).
In the 2010s, Statham also appeared in comedies like Spy (2015) and action-packed blockbusters like Furious 7 (2015),The Fate of the Furious (2017),and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019). In addition to these major films, he continued to headline B-films like Homefront (2013).
In his personal life, Statham welcomed his first child, a son, with his partner Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in 2017.
