Jason Statham: The Next Action Star

British action star Jason Statham

As an action star, Jason Statham is in a unique position. England has produced countless famous actors; from Richard Burton to Jude Law, from Cary Grant to Hugh Grant. However, it has never exported an action hero like Statham. Sure there are the James Bond actors, but they are all about the look and charm of the character. Orlando Bloom does lots of action films, but he is little more than a pretty boy. The London born Statham is a true action star who makes up in his no nonsense charisma for what he lacks in follicles.

Unlike most British actors, who could be described as soft, Jason Statham is in athletic shape and performs many of his own stunts. He has some experience in martial arts and thus convincingly plays his scenes well. He was on the British National Diving Team before becoming a model. His modeling lead to his film debut in Guy Ritchie’s Lock Stock and two Smoking Barrels and then it’s follow up starring Brad Pitt, Snatch.

In the next two years he would co-star in several mediocre films like Turn It Up, Ghosts of Mars and The One. In 2002 Statham finally carried a film on his own and demonstrated his full on screen charm. In The Transporter, Statham plays Frank Martin, a criminal turn good guy. In this film, Statham walks around with an aura of cool and charm that hasn’t been seen since the likes of Steve McQueen. Like McQueen, Statham does not have to speak a line to exude charisma. Just standing in repose you can tell this guy has his shit together.

For the next two years Statham again returned to playing small roles. Only this time they were in bigger films. He played Handsome Rob in The Italian Job, to which a sequel, The Brazilian Job in is the planning stages. In 2002 he played the heavy to Kim Bassinger’s heroine in Cellular. He also had a blink and you missed him scene in Tom Cruise’s Collateral. Now, in 2005, Jason Statham returns to his best character to date in The Transporter 2. Next year he can be seen in a supporting role in Steve Martin’s remake of The Pink Panther.

Jason Statham has all of the markings of a great action star. He has the build, the look and man what a distinct voice. So good is the tone in his voice that he has done voice work in several video games. Jason Statham is an actor on the cusp of movie superstardom. He only needs that one film to put him over the edge. In the mean time, rent The Transporter and see it’s sequel. If your not a fan afterwards, then this is not your genre.