Biography for
Clive Owen More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

3 October 1962, Keresley, Coventry, Warwickshire, England, UK

Height

6' 2½" (1.89 m)

Mini Biography

Recently breaking into the top ranks of British superstars who are making it huge in Hollywood, the smoothly virile actor Clive Owen was born on October 3, 1964, in Coventry. His father was a country/western singer who deserted his family when Clive was only 3. He attended Binley Park Comprehensive School and joined the youth theater at 13 after playing the scene-stealing role of the Artful Dodger in a production of "Oliver!" In 1984, following graduation, Clive applied and was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for three years. While there, he built up a classical resume including roles in "Henry IV, Part I" and "The Lady from the Sea." He subsequently joined the Young Vic Theatre Company and in 1988, the handsome actor, while playing Romeo, fell in love with his Juliet, Sarah-Jane Fenton. The couple eventually married in 1995 and have two daughters.

1988 was a good year for another reason. Clive made his film debut in the British-made Vroom (1988) co-starring with David Thewlis as two fellows who restore a classic American car and take off on the road. Within two years, Clive became a full-fledged TV star playing devilish rogue Stephen Crane in "Chancer" (1990). However, the now-sought-after Clive abandoned the star-making part at the height of the show's popularity because of unwanted invasion of privacy and his fear of typecasting. His next project raised more than a few eyebrows when he filmed Close My Eyes (1991) in which he played a brother who acts on his incestuous desires for his older sister. Clive's reputation as a lovable shyster was completely shattered and he lost profitable commercial endorsements following the film's release. Offers fell off for the next two years as a result. But the persistent Clive carried on with stage work, including the role of a bisexual in a production of Noel Coward's "Design For Living." He returned to TV at that time as well and played a number of roles in both mini-movies and series.

In 1997, Clive had a huge hit on the London stage with "Closer," a cynical, contemporary ensemble piece about relationships. Controversy surrounded him again in the film role of Max in Bent (1997) playing a brash, reckless homosexual lothario in decadent pre-war Germany who finds unconditional love while interned in a Nazi war camp. His biggest film break, however, was in Mike Hodges' Croupier (1998), as a struggling writer-turned-casino employee who gets in over his head with a femme fatale scam artist. English audiences stayed away in droves but the U.S. embraced the film and Hollywood took notice of Clive, who was virtually unknown outside of England. Despite playing detective Ross Tanner in a series of successful "Second Sight" mini-movies and finding critical acclaim on stage with "The Day in the Death of Joe Egg" in 2001, Clive has focused primarily on film, including the offbeat Brit romantic comedy Greenfingers (2000), the classy and popular Robert Altman film Gosford Park (2001), the Matt Damon star-vehicle The Bourne Identity (2002), and the title role in King Arthur (2004). He has since reached the top rungs of the Hollywood ladder with the film version of his stage smash Closer (2004/I) co-starring Julia Roberts, in which he received an Academy Award nomination and won the BAFTA award for "Supporting Actor"; opposite Denzel Washington in Inside Man (2006); and alongside Julianne Moore and Michael Caine in Children of Men (2006). Upcoming is his portrayal of Sir Walter Raleigh opposite Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth I in the film Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007). There seems to be only bigger and better things awaiting this versatile talent. Ever since playing the ultra-cool driver in BMW's "The Hire" series, there has been constant pressure for Clive to don a tux and become filmdom's next "James Bond". It has yet to happen, but it seems like it would be a perfect fit.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

Spouse

Sarah-Jane Fenton

(6 March 1995 - present) 2 children

Trade Mark

Deep dramatic baritone voice.

Trivia

Had a recurring role on a series of BMW commercials as their mysterious driver. He played a valet in the film Gosford Park (2001) and played a fellow "Agent" named the Professor in The Bourne Identity (2002) who was sent to kill Bourne.

Was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1984. After he graduated, he joined the Young Vic Theatre.

Has four brothers and was raised by his mother and stepfather.

Has 2 daughters: Hannah and Eve.

Is a huge David Bowie fan and has called singer "the biggest musical influence on my life." He says, "I don't know why, but no one else has ever had such an effect on me. I didn't have most of his work. I had everything." In the 1970s, when Bowie was changing his appearance and style with every album, Owen would re-dye his hair whatever color Bowie's was at the time.

Turned down the role as The Driver for BMW twice. He was sent a copy of the script for the first ad, read it and was impressed by its presentation. He immediately accepted the role, jumped on a plane to LA, and was whisked away to the set of the first ad as soon as he landed.

Two of his brothers, Alan and Lee, became musicians and released a single called "Heartbeat."

Met his wife at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art while doing Romeo and Juliet.

Mentioned in the song 'Risen Within' by MC Homicide featuring PAZ.

When his Beyond Borders (2003) co-star Angelina Jolie told him he looked sexy, she says, he "fell over laughing".

Invited to join AMPAS in 2005.

He is a supporter of Liverpool Football Club.

Was voted "Best dressed male" by GQ magazine in 2006

Began acting at age 13.

In a 2005 poll, was voted the top choice to play James Bond in Casino Royale (2006) but polled fewer votes than Pierce Brosnan continuing the role.

January 2007 - has signed on as the face of a new Lancome anti-aging cream for men. He was also be named the new spokesman of the cosmetics firm's new Hypnose Homme fragrance. The print adverts resulted in complaints to the advertising Standards Authority over the heavy airbrushing used to make him look younger.

In November 2006, he became patron of the Electric Palace Cinema in Harwich, England and launched an appeal for funds to repair deteriorating elements of the fabric.

In the original theater production of "Closer" he played the character Dan. In the film version he played the other prominent male character, Larry, while Dan was played by Jude Law.

Voted #5 in Elle (France) Magazine's "15 Sexiest Men" poll (June 2007).

Is the patron for the Electric Palace Cinema in Harwich, England.

Was named Empire Magazines #25 in the list of 100 Sexiest Stars(2007).

Lobbied for the role of Lord Asriel in The Golden Compass (2007).

After Russell Crowe turned down the role, he was chosen by Jerry Bruckheimer over Antoine Fuqua's choice of Daniel Craig for the lead role in King Arthur (2004). Owen was later turned down for the role of Lord Asriel in The Golden Compass (2007) in favor of Daniel Craig in spite of offering to screen test for the part.

Although his 'official' date of birth is 1964, the News of the World published a birth certificate stating it as 1962 as part of an article about the real age of movie stars.

Got the the role of King Arthur (2004) after Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson and Hugh Jackman turned it down and after producer Jerry Bruckheimer vetoed the director's choice of a then comparatively unknown Daniel Craig because he was convinced Owen was going to be the next James Bond.

Admitted in a Newsweek interview to promote The International (2009) that he has considered submitting false trivia about himself ("I once talked to someone about putting something on IMDB") and was surprised at how seriously people took it. In the same interview he also claimed he doesn't eat biscuits because 'He-men don't need biscuits.'.

In an interview published in the Daily Express, he said that he was terrified of badgers. In a subsequent interview in Newsweek, he denied being afraid of them and said it was a joke.

Personal Quotes

I've never been interested in playing good guys. I'm always attracted to dangerous characters. Those roles are usually far more interesting and I hold no fears about doing them. With my character in Croupier (1998), you're never really sure where he's coming from. He's not really a good guy or a bad guy. But people generally aren't, are they?

The sexiest part of the body is the eyes. Corny, but that's what I believe. They're what connect us as human beings.

Theatre uses a different energy. It's like going to the gym and having a vigorous workout. But every few years is enough because I love filming. I am a real film animal.

When I was 10 or 11, I played the Artful Dodger in a school production of 'Oliver. From that point forward, I said I wanted to be an actor. Nobody in my family took it seriously, but I saw no other path. I was a cocky little kid. This one teacher said: 'You're a working-class kid from Coventry. What do you know?'

Theater is like exercise. I feel it's healthy. But I don't love it as much as movies. A bad experience in the theater can be so depressing. You've got to do it every night, even if the production is not working.

The lighter stuff has got to be really well written for me, or it just doesn't get me going. There's something to play if there's conflict going on. Whatever that conflict is, that's where drama is; if the character is grappling with something you've got something to play, there's layers to it. And when that isn't there it's ... less interesting.

[Talking about Daniel Craig]: "I think when Craig first took the (James Bond) part he got a pretty rough ride, which to a certain extent is inevitable because there are so many different people who have so many different ideas about something like that. You are never going to please everybody. The thing that is really exciting is that he is a proper actor. He is not shallow or posing, they have cast a really serious actor and I think that when the film comes out everyone will see what a great choice he was".

On his fear of badgers: I've never been bitten by one or anything like that, they just look evil to me. Even watching The Wind in the Willows they scared me. It was like the Devil staring straight into my eyes. It's something I've never outgrown. Even today, just the thought of badgers absolutely terrifies me. Hell to me is a room full of badgers.

Bond was the best thing that never happened to me. I was never in the running but the more I said so, the more people thought I had it in the bag. What's so funny about it all is my career in Britain was in really bad shape at the time, but my agents pretty much built me a new one in America by playing up all the Bond stories. All I had to do was keep on telling people I was never going to be Bond. I'd like to think I made it on talent, but it's really just dumb luck. If I hadn't worn that tux in Croupier, I'd still be begging for the parts Robson Green turned down on cop shows.

I don't "do" emotion. Emotions are overrated. I'm more interested in creating a presence.

(On Bond) It's easy to keep saying no to a role you're not being offered. If they really had offered? I don't know. It's possible I would have said yes. It's possible. But they never asked so we'll never really know.

I've heard people say I have a dull and monotonous voice, but the truth is that I put all my effort into communicating to the audience via my eyes. An actor can say so much with their eyes. I would have loved to have been an actor in the days of silent movies. Sounding interesting disinterests me. Looking interesting is another matter entirely.

Where Are They Now

(October 2008) Currently Filming The Boys Are Back in Town in Adelaide, Australia

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