Clive Owen Biography
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Clive Owen BiographyOCCUPATION: actor BORN: October 3, 1964 at Keresley Hospital (near Coventry) EDUCATION: Attended Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. Majored in acting (1984-86). Graduated. OTHER-JOBS: housecleaner MILESTONES: Raised
in Coventry, England BIOGRAPHY: A rising British leading man, the darkly handsome Clive Owen was on the dole for two years after completing high school before he won acceptance to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1984. After graduation, he went acted with the Young Vic, playing Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet" and "Claudio in "Measure for Measure". Owen's innate sexual charisma was effectively employed by Beeban Kidron in the feature "Vroom" (1988), which teamed the actor with David Thewlis and Diana Quick in a road trip tale. That same year, he displayed his darker side as a psychopath in the BBC's adaptation of "Precious Bane" (aired in the USA on PBS' "Mystery!") and then turned roguishly heroic for the British TV series "Chancer" (1990-91). The tall, lanky actor delivered a strong portrayal of an ambitious businessman who is seduced by his older sister (Saskia Reeves) and then becomes obsessed in Stephen Poliakoff's excellent drama "Close My Eyes" (1991). Poliakoff tapped Owen to play a Jewish doctor who clashes with the head of a medical center (Charles Dance) in the period piece "Century" (1993). He crossed the Atlantic to appear in the ABC drama "Class of '61" (1993), as an Irish graduate of West Point who goes off to fight in the Civil War. Owen received strong notices for his seductive hedonist in "The Return of the Native" (CBS, 1994) and as Halle Berry's lover in "The Rich Man's Wife" (1996). After starring as a British private investigator in the series "Sharman" (1996), Owen essayed his most challenging role to date, playing a concentration camp inmate in Sean Matthias' film version of "Bent" (1997). As Max, the actor a powerful performance, skillfully negotiating the characters evolution from selfish and debonair decadent to caring individual. Owen and co-star Lothaire Bluteau wonderfully worked off one another in their scenes and both delivered star-making performances. After co-starring on the London stage in "Closer" (1997), the actor appeared opposite Alex Kingston in the drama "The Croupier" (1999). Owen next starred opposite Angelina Jolie, in "Beyond Borders," the story of a disaster-relief worker who falls in love with a socially conscious wealthy woman. AWARDS: Received
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble for "Gosford
Park" (2001). FAMILY-MEMBERS: Father:
Country-western singer. Divorced from Owen's mother c. 1968; did not
see son again until c. 1984. COMPANIONS: Wife: Sarah-Jane Fenton. Actor. Met when they appeared together as "Romeo and Juliet"; married c. 1994. NOTES: On his role in "The Rich Man's Wife", Owen was quoted: "It was an amazing experience. I was there for three months and was given the complete Hollywood treatment. It was a real treat to go to the States and work in L.A., but Hollywood's a crazy place. I wouldn't like to live there but equally I wouldn't have missed the opportunity for anything." Thanks, Chris, for the bio ***************************************************
Clive Owen previously collaborated with Sean Mathias in his stylish revival of Noel Coward's DESIGN FOR LIVING at London's Donmar Warehouse, starring alongside Paul Rhys and Rachel Weisz. The production gamered excellent reviews and played to capacity audiences. His performance in A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JOE EGG also excited the critics. Owen has recently completed his first American film THE RICH MAN'S WIFE, directed by Amy Jones, but first came to notice in the UK TV series CHANGER. In 1996 he starred on UK TV in four 90 minute episodes of SHARMAN, a Cariton TV drama about a south London ex-policeman private eye. On film, Owen has twice been directed by Steven Poliakoff, in the historical drama CENTURY, starring alongside Miranda Richardson and Charles Dance, and in CLOSE MY EYES, the claustrophobic examination of an incestuous relationship, with co-stars Alan Rickman and Saskia Reeves. Most recently, Owen completed filming on Mike Hodges' CROUPIER, a thriller set in London's gambling world. Clive
can be contacted by writing: Image of Clive as Clive above thanks to Chris L. |
Q:
Do you remember when you first heard about Privateer 2: The Darkening?
A: "I got a call from my agent. He said, 'Clive, you've been offered
a role in a computer game.' My initial reaction was, 'What are you
talking about?' I was very skeptical. As I learned more, I decided
it was very exciting. I liked the script and was interested in becoming
involved." Q: Do you have any experience with computer games? A: "I'm
computer illiterate, but I've seen a bit of Wing Commander. I feel
like I don't need to know a lot about the computer side of it because
it's just like shooting any other movie."