Biography of Jason Statham
Jason Statham (Jason Statham) is a Hollywood action star, often called the “new Bruce Willis.” The actor’s springboard to fame was his collaboration with director Guy Ritchie, who made him the main character in many of his films (“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” “Snatch,” “Revolver”). Subsequently, Jason Statham also became an unshakable symbol of the blockbusters “Adrenaline” and “Transporter”.
Thriller and action star Jason Statham
Childhood
Jason was born on July 26, 1967 and became the second child in the family of famous lounge singer Barry and dressmaker Eileen, who later retrained as a dancer. The father of the future actor was professionally involved in gymnastics and boxing, and therefore raised real athletes from his sons from an early age.
Perhaps the most famous childhood photo of Jason Statham
The boy was born in the town of Shirebrook, Derbyshire, but the family soon moved to the east coast, to Great Yarmouth. Here Jason went to first grade, became interested in football and met Vinnie Jones, his future colleague in many films. He later described his family as quite creative, and recalled how as a child he took part in theatrical productions and enjoyed them.
Jason Statham as a child
Jason's older brother absorbed his father's love of martial arts and often used his younger brother as a punching bag. A friend, Vinnie, continued to play football at a professional level. Jason, on the other hand, preferred water sports, in particular diving, although he was interested in kickboxing and jiu-jitsu.
Jason Statham and his older brother
He has been fascinated by diving ever since he saw people jumping off a diving board as a 12-year-old boy during a family vacation in Miami. Returning home, the first thing he did was sign up for the appropriate section. Jason became friends with coach Kim White, who a couple of years later was appointed coach of the British junior diving team. Having received a high post, White remembered his talented ward and called him to the team.
Jason Statham's parents
A little later, White was promoted and began coaching the adult team. Statham followed him and moved to London, where the Crystal Palace sports complex was located.
On the Internet you can often find mention of Statham’s performance as part of the British Olympic team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. However, the actor himself denied this information and was even surprised when journalists asked if it was true that he took 12th place at the Olympics: “Who told you about this, my mother?”
Hello from Statham's sports past
As an athlete, he did not catch stars from the sky, because he started training too late by the standards of big sports. Jason's triumph, who rarely finished above the second ten in competitions, was 8th place at the Commonwealth Games, which were held in New Zealand in 1990.
Young Jason Statham (right) at competitions in the USSR
But he had fun constantly traveling to countries that were exotic by British standards. What he remembers most is his trip to the USSR for the Spring Swallows tournament. From that trip, he kept a photograph with members of the Soviet diving team. “You frolic with foreign swimmers. You think: “How cool!”,” the actor recalled.
A few general rules by which Statham trains:
The main difference between Statham’s classes and the training that is often promoted by athletes is the lack of a clear scheme of weekly circuit training, where the exercises go in order; you will never find such groups as “leg day” or “back day”. During a training cycle, each exercise can be performed only once, after which there is always a new combination of loads. The mood is to win. Don’t keep any emotions in your head, just focus on the training and the result. Each workout consists of a concentrated intensity. A short 35-40 minutes that explode the body and bring results - more strength and vitality. The results are in pencil. Exercise times, weights and number of repetitions should be recorded in a diary. This data allows you to determine the optimal load by increasing or decreasing the weight.
The progression formula is the goal of every Jason workout.
Don't hang up your gloves! Until the end of the workout. Complexes of combat tasks with elements of kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu and Thai boxing are often practiced; they help to warm up and improve overall tone. There is shadowboxing and striking techniques with hands and feet on bags, pears and paws.
The “core” muscles are the key to a strong torso. Stabilizing muscles, without which it is impossible to imagine serious loads on the back. To pump them up, Jason trains using more than five hundred types of all kinds of squats. There are also planks on the horizontal bar and lifts with knees bent on the abdominal muscles. "Classes in your pocket." The basic plan if there is no free time for the gym is simple classes for which you don’t need to use dumbbells; the gym doesn’t require a specific tracksuit. Exercises with your own body weight. Their effectiveness was once proven by Charles Bronson, a famous British prisoner who developed an entire training method that must be performed with a natural load. Statham builds workouts using jumping rope, jumping jacks, and the popular “Burpees” (squats, moving the legs back with push-ups while lying down and jumping from a seated position). Jumping up onto a hill, jumping jacks with arms and legs swinging to the sides, any variation of push-ups (such as clapping your palms) - all this is mixed into a killer sports cocktail. The main rule is the “explosion” at the time of the main phase of the exercise and the intensity of the repetitions. Squeezing the barbell sharply while lying down, slowly lowering it down to your chest is what makes you healthier.
Youth on the streets
By the age of 24, Jason realized that he would not become a champion.
He was paid little; after all, diving is not the most popular sport, and most of his salary went to renting housing in the capital. In addition, I was tired of waking up every day at 6 am in order to be in time for training by 8 and spending 6 hours doing monotonous exercises that did not change from year to year. Statham decided to change his type of activity to a more profitable one. In an interview, Jason noted that in his youth he had to make a living in less than honest ways. The guy got his first money by selling fake jewelry and perfume on the streets.
You are standing near Harrods [the most famous and fashionable shopping center in London - approx. uznayvse.ru], you take out a chain for sale. People understand that I cannot afford such a thing. A man comes up and asks if it’s stolen. I say it's none of their business. I ask him if he knows, although, of course, this is no Cartier. I say that today I have a dream offer for them: instead of a thousand pounds, the chain will cost them not even 500 pounds (although 500 is already cheap), and not even a hundred, not fifty... In general, twenty pounds for this beautiful chain. But I will give this gold chain from Figaro as a gift. In the end, you sell them seven chains for ten, and people are still tearing each other’s throats for them.
Thus, the future actor could earn about two thousand pounds a day. He doesn’t consider this method a “swindle”: “You don’t have to be a very smart person to understand that a gold chain cannot cost 10 pounds. It’s all from greed.” According to Jason, the money itself came to him. He knew how to interest passersby, smite with his charm and convince them of the need for a purchase.
In his youth, Jason Statham sold stolen goods on the streets
It’s interesting, but Jason’s own father taught him the art of “selling” unnecessary things. When Statham Jr. was 12, Barry became interested in buying old junk - not antiques, but cheap dishes and appliances. Having collected a sufficient number of things, he started an auction: he came to the embankment, laid out the goods and, without a hint of embarrassment in his voice, invited people, luring them with the “high quality” of the goods and low prices. The youngest son was the faithful companion of his enterprising father, stood nearby and shook his head.
But as time went on, trade began to get worse - it was no longer so easy to deceive people. And one evening, two guys approached Jason’s stall, introducing themselves as police officers, and demanded to see his pockets. Statham realized that the interlocutors had little in common with law enforcement officers. And indeed, the visitors tried to rob him, and a fight ensued. Jason was not seriously injured, but lost his goods - his chains and watch had to be abandoned as he ran away. “We need to look for a quieter job,” he thought, although he didn’t have the slightest idea what to do next.
Action star nutrition
With sports and anthropometry it is more or less clear. What diet does the actor follow to maintain 10% body fat at all times? When it comes to nutrition, the actor is just as disciplined here. After lunch, he does not consume carbohydrates, which helps maintain dry muscles. Jason also eats about two grams of protein a day. Flour and confectionery products are strictly prohibited. The one thing Jason can't resist is chocolate. He is ready to run an extra couple of kilometers, just so as not to deny himself such pleasant little things.
First steps to glory
While Jason was thinking, the right job found him. For old times’ sake, he sometimes dropped by to train with old friends at the sports complex. By a happy coincidence, during the next visit, recruiters from the Sports Promotions modeling agency arrived there in search of new faces.
In his youth, Statham worked as a fashion model
The athletic figure and face of Jason Statham, who was not yet completely bald, attracted attention. So Statham became a model for clothing catalogs, photographed wearing clothes from Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's and Adidas.
Jason Statham in an advertising catalog
Then the guy was noticed by a larger agency, French Connection. They just needed a male model, not like the emaciated androgynous models that were abundant on the catwalks, and, preferably, not with a pretty face. “A normal, courageous guy,” the agency announced, and Statham fully met them.
Jason Statham in his youth
French Connection specialized in finding actors for music videos. With their help, Jason starred in videos for the groups Erasure (“Run to the Sun”), The Shamen (“Comin’ On”), and The Beautiful South (“Dream A Little Dream”). It’s not that such small roles satisfied Statham’s ambitions, but they paid him well. Jason Statham in the Erasure music video
Strength indicators and anthropometry
He is also known to bench press approximately 80kg 10 times. How big will his biceps be? The figure does not seem to be too high and is 40 cm. Jason tries to keep his weight around 77 kg with a height of 175 cm. These are not quite impressive volumes for a fighter for justice, as it might seem. But there is no need for a huge mass, so it looks quite harmonious in the movie.
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Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie: a brilliant tandem
In the late 90s, the head of the Tommy Hilfiger fashion house became the producer of the first full-length film by the young director Guy Ritchie. Bearing in mind Jason's illegal past, one of the employees of the fashion house who worked with Jason recommended him to the director as a candidate for the main role in the film.
Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham and Dexter Fletcher
Apparently, the experience of street trading played its part. At the casting, Jason was asked to sell fake jewelry to the director, and he did a brilliant job. And as soon as Richie tried to return the “jewels” to him, Statham became as adamant as a rock. Here's what Statham said about this test: "Guy was looking for a genuine character, and it turned out to be me, because the things that he needed and that I can do are not taught in art schools."
So Jason Statham became one of the four main characters in the complicated crime film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, full of first-class black humor. Together with Jason Flemyng and Dexter Fletcher, he had to bring together several storylines and save his friend who lost at cards from a fatal fate.
“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” - trailer The film, released in 1998, was a resounding success. Although some critics accused Guy Ritchie of imitating Quentin Tarantino, the majority received the film with a bang. It was a stunning debut for both Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham, and two years later the next premiere of their tandem’s result, Snatch, took place.
“Snatch”: Jason Statham as Turetsky
This leading role belonged entirely to Jason Statham. He reincarnated as the criminal "six" named Turetsky, who by chance found himself embroiled in a breathtaking twist involving a lethally powerful gypsy (Brad Pitt), fist fighters, a hysterical crime lord, cannibal pigs, hapless jewelry robbers and a dog.
Subsequently, already in 2007, the actor appeared in another project of the director - “Revolver”. His hero, Jack Green, ended up behind bars due to a coincidence and lost seven years of his life in solitary confinement. But these years gave him irreplaceable skills that helped him win in any gambling game. Jack's antagonist in the film was Ray Liotta's character, casino owner Dorothy Mac.
Hairy Jason Statham (Revolver)
Jason Statham's daily training follows the following plan:
Warm-up (10 minutes)
The first item includes a jump rope, cardio equipment (frequent work on the rowing machine), and light work with gloves.
Performing moderate intensity exercises. (We remind you that some of this list is not all items at once) (~15 minutes)
- Multi-joint work with weights (deadlifts, which the actor especially loves; front squats, rows, etc. - 10 repetitions with light weights, 5 repetitions with medium weights, a small number of repetitions with increasing loads)
- Basic strength training (bench press, regular squats with a barbell - 5 reps each)
- Work using weights (clean-up + squat, seated French press) 15 times
- Farmer's Walk with heavy dumbbells at a relaxed pace
- Medicine ball throws (rubber ball with padding) weighing 9 kg. On the wall or on the floor.
High intensity training circuit. (10-15 minutes)
- Accelerated hits with a medicine ball on the floor from an overhead position - 20 times
- Pull-ups with a dynamic jerk between bars at different heights - repeat back and forth 8 times
- Active walking in a bear or crab position (on your hands and feet in a push-up position or with your back to the floor) - 20 meters. Walking crouched in single file in the opposite direction - three distances are enough
- Burpees – 20 times
- Strength sets with light weights - 20 reps
- Farmer's Walk with heavy dumbbells at a fast pace
- Climbing a step with weights and weights. – 20 lifts
- Waves with ropes - 20 times for each hand
- Work is done with a lot of variations of push-ups, squats, etc.
- Statham’s complete delight in training is the pyramid of push-ups (from 1 to 5 in a “ladder” until the total is 200) - take note.
Career blossoming
After a double combo of breakthrough projects, Jason Statham became an instant global celebrity. He immediately took part in three films of the action genre: “Turn It Up,” “Ghosts of Mars” and “Confrontation.” And although the films did not achieve the success of Statham’s first films, collaboration with Ice Cube, Jet Li and a string of other well-known actors contributed to his acting experience. Jason Statham in “Evening Urgant” But Jason Statham won the title of star of Hollywood blockbusters after the release of the first part of “The Transporter” - a thriller about a driver who is ready to transport anything and anywhere without asking any questions. Only once did he deviate from his principle and look into the bag that the customer gave him...
“The Transporter” is one of the brightest moments in the biography of Jason Statham
Unlike many action-packed films, this film was met with applause thanks to its original plot and Statham's charismatic persona. The actor's fee exceeded the landmark mark of one million dollars, and the continuation of the epic (2005, 2008) aroused no less interest than the first part. “Transporter 2” by Jason Statham: failed scenes Since then, Statham has been assigned the role of a kind of “cold-blooded big guy”, knocking out his opponent with one blow and getting away with it in any shootout. From now on, his filmography includes such characters as hired killers, super agents, police officers, bodyguards and thieves.
Jason Statham's figure is perfect for his character roles
Jason lamented that he had not reached his maximum in sports, so he believed that he had to give his best on the set: “At least here I have no right to screw up.” In 2005, the first part of the action movie Adrenaline was released, where Statham played the hitman Chev Chelios, who must create an incredibly tense environment around himself in order not to die from a deadly poison that reacts to a slowing pulse. Jason Statham on the set of “Adrenaline” Another important point in Jason Statham’s acting career is the thriller “The Mechanic”. The actor's character is the assassin Arthur Bishop, who received the nickname of the same name for his amazing accuracy and precision.
"The Mechanic" Arthur Bishop
It is worth noting that Jason Statham is one of the three favorite actors of the legendary Sylvester Stallone. In 2010, he even invited his English colleague, as well as Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis, to participate in the film “The Expendables,” directed by himself.
Still from the film "The Expendables"
The four masters created such a sensation among action fans that the film paid for itself at the box office many times over, and two years later a sequel was released. This time, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme joined the super team. In one of the scenes of the film, Statham’s character uttered the phrase: “I’m a professional mechanic,” referring viewers to two films with his participation: “Mechanic” and “Professional” (in “Professional,” released in 2011, the actor again played a killer with an international name).
Surprisingly, Statham tried his hand at voicing cartoons. His voice is spoken by Tybalt from the animated film Gnomeo and Juliet.
Statham voiced Tybalt in Gnomeo and Juliet
In 2015, Jason Statham joined the cast of the Fast and the Furious film series, appearing in the seventh part of the film as the anti-hero Deckard Shaw, the older brother of Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), who appeared in the previous part. Due to the tragic death of Paul Walker, the film's premiere was postponed for 2 years. In 2016, the sequel “Mechanics” was released, in 2022 the premiere of the eighth part of “Fast and the Furious” took place, and in 2022 the actor appeared in the horror film “The Meg”, where his hero had to meet the prehistoric monster megalodon.
2016: Jason Statham at the 21st Annual Critics Choice Awards
Statham made a career in Hollywood, but still regrets not making it in sports
Jason is a popular actor and multi-millionaire, but he still yearns for a career as a swimmer. In 2012, he flew to Los Angeles for the premiere of the film “The Mechanic.” Instead of partying, he spent all his free time watching the broadcasts of the London Olympics. And at one of the press conferences he unexpectedly gave a monologue about his sporting past: “I read that the budget of our diving team is seven million pounds a year. This is very cool: when I was training, we didn’t have that kind of money, so many people quit the sport. I left too and I still regret that I never went to the Games.”
Statham may regret not participating in the Olympics, but he is unlikely to be upset about the transfer to the cinema. Now he is one of the most sought-after actors, his fee for the film is about $10 million. Jason is sure that his failure in diving helped him:
“In sports, I did not achieve what I dreamed of. Because of this, I took my film career as seriously as possible. I knew I couldn’t screw it up this time.”
Personal life of Jason Statham
Despite his “on-screen role,” Jason Statham cannot boast of a huge number of romance novels. For seven years (since 1997), the actor dated his colleague Kelly Brook. They were a beautiful and almost perfect couple until the moment when Kelly met actor Billy Zane. The meeting took place on the set of the film “Sex for Survival.” Brooke left Statham, causing an incurable wound to his heart. And although Brooke and Billy broke up long ago, Jason still ignores all his ex-girlfriend’s attempts at reconciliation.
In his youth, Jason Statham dated Kelly Brook
After Kelly, Jason Statham tried to build a relationship with singer Sophie Monk, but their romance was doomed to failure as soon as it began. The reason for this, as the tabloids claimed, was Sophie's vulgar behavior.
In 2006, the actor began dating art critic Alex Zosman. This event brought down such a volume of negativity on the girl from fans of the Hollywood star that Statham no longer wanted to share details from his personal life with anyone. Therefore, they did not immediately learn about their breakup in 2010.
Jason Statham's ex-girlfriend - Alex Zosman
After that, luck smiled on the actor - in 2010, Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley noticed him. They got together several times, separated, took a break, lived separately from each other...
In 2016, Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley were preparing for their wedding
As a result, in 2022, the media learned that Statham was about to become a dad for the first time. At first, fans of the actor’s girlfriend were puzzled that the girl stopped publishing new photos on social networks. And when the paparazzi caught Rosie and photographed her rounded belly, which the model carefully covered with an oversize coat, then everything became clear.
On June 24 of the same year, Jason Statham became a father for the first time. She and Rosie had a son, Jack Oscar Statham.
Jason Statham with his son Jack
A year after the birth of their child, in August 2022, Jason and Rosie announced their upcoming wedding. At least that's what all the British media reported. But in December, Statham’s fiancee belatedly commented on this news: “It’s all a lie!” The actor and model are still not married, but are happy. They and their son can often be seen walking near their house.
Jason Statham and his girlfriend are in no hurry to get married
In August 2022, it became known that Rosie was expecting her second child.
Physical training
The reader already knows how tall Jason Statham is. So let's also take a look at what kind of physical activity the actor uses to maintain his shape. He always starts his workouts with a ten-minute warm-up on the rowing machine. Next comes the starting load, the exercises of which alternate with each other every day. The complex includes various types of exercises: all kinds of push-ups, exercises with one-pound weights, pyramids of pull-ups or push-ups, throwing a heavy medicine ball and other elements of sports.
To top it all off, Jason also uses circuit training. According to the artist himself, it is not at all easy to withstand such a load. Sometimes you feel like you're about to fall and suffocate. But Statham copes with all the exercises and does not stop training for a day.
Jason Statham now
Remaining perhaps one of the most recognizable action actors, Jason Statham delights fans with an appearance in at least one film every year. So, in the summer of 2022, he played with Dwayne Johnson in the new film about street racers “Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw.” This time, his hero, an elite special agent, was assigned one of the key roles.
"Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw": Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson
In 2022, Jason Statham was busy filming the film “The Wrath of Man.” The actor will play the main role of H in the film, a gentleman who wants justice and is looking for the mastermind of a series of robberies in Los Angeles. Scott Eastwood and Josh Hartnett will star alongside him in the film. Also on the list of films Statham is currently starring in are Spy 2 and Guy Ritchie's Five Eyes. It is currently unknown what stage of production they are at.
How an actor trains
In films of the 2000s, the actor looks dry, moderately pumped up and not bulky. This is what Jason looks like even at age 50+. Strength training, functional training in the CrossFit style, and cardio help him stay in shape. In addition, he pays no less attention to nutrition. The actor also practices martial arts to look more realistic on camera. In general, the bulk of his workload consists of endurance exercises, and Statham works out 5-6 times a week, regardless of filming.
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Best films
- 2019: "Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw"
- 2017: "Fast and Furious 8"
- 2016: "Mechanic: Resurrection"
- 2015: Fast and Furious 7
- 2013: Fast and Furious 6
- 2012: "The Expendables 2"
- 2010: "Mechanic"
- 2010: "The Expendables"
- 2006: "Adrenaline"
- 2006: "Pink Panther"
- 2005: "Revolver"
- 2005: "London"
- 2003: "The Italian Job"
- 2002: "Carrier"
- 2001: "Confrontation"
- 2000: "Big Snatch"
- 1998: “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”
