The path to being a Hollywood elite isn’t an easy one, and even more so for those who’ve had to build a name for themselves from scratch, like Jason Statham.

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The English actor might be considered no less than an action icon in the industry today, but it took him years of toiling away to earn the reputation he now has. That includes a few odd jobs here and there before esteemed filmmaker Guy Ritchie discovered him, and the rest is history.

Jason Statham – A Diver, Dancer, And Model Turned Action Icon

Some actors have a repertoire of eclectic characters that they’ve portrayed, and then there’s Jason Statham, who has perhaps lived a life more eventful than all his on-screen roles combined.

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Before rising to stardom as one of the most renowned action figures in the film industry, Statham, 56, started as a professional diver and was a part of the British National Diving Squad for over a decade (via Manifest_Lord on X).

Few actors can say they’ve had an Olympic-level career, but The Meg star certainly can. Although Statham didn’t make it to the big game, he did represent England in the 1990 Commonwealth Games, and that’s a stellar accomplishment in itself (via Olympics).

Jason Statham in Meg 2: The Trench | Warner Bros.

The actor and martial artist has also done modeling gigs and worked as a street vendor selling perfume and jewelry before getting his big break on the silver screen. What’s more, Statham has even worked as a go-go-dancer in ’90s British EDM music videos (via YouTube).

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Back in 2015, The Shamen’s Comin’ On and Erasure’s Run to the Sun went viral on the internet. In the background of the MVs, a half-naked and oiled-up Statham can be seen gyrating in leopard-print briefs. Shakira who?

Guy Ritchie Was Jason Statham’s Ticket to Stardom

Although Statham had more than a few jobs under his belt at this point, not a single one of them could offer him the relief of a stable and secure living. Enter Guy Ritchie, the famed Hollywood filmmaker and screenwriter who would end up being The Expendables star’s golden ticket to the dazzling world of films.

The Gentlemen director came across Statham thanks to a modeling gig the latter had secured at the fashion brand, French Connection, and immediately recognized the untapped potential that he possessed (via Manifest_Lord on X).

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Coincidentally enough, Ritchie’s directorial debut also turned out to be the start of his now-decades-old relationship with Statham. Not to mention, the same film – Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) – is also accredited for placing The Transporter star into the limelight.

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Ritchie had penned the role of Bacon – a tough, black-market salesman – specifically for Statham in the comedy crime film, and ever since then, the actor-director duo have partnered up for numerous popular flicks, with 2021’s Wrath of Man being their latest project.