2. Jason Statham
The former black market salesman and athlete, joins Idris Elba and Patrick Stewart as the 3rd English actor in the list and similarly, needs no introduction. The shaved bullet-headed friend of Vinnie Jones broke into acting unconventionally after modelling for French Connection where he was introduced to Guy Ritchie. What followed was the role of Bacon in Ritchies Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1999) which propelled the actor to public notice, and the role of boxing promoter, Turkish, in Snatch (2000).
Known for his euphemistic demeanour, sarcasm, and deep and gravelly voice, Stathams acting has mostly been called upon for tough characters usually not shy to land a roundhouse kick or a knuckleduster wherever and whenever needed. The talented actor nearly played Agent 47 in
Hitman (2007) for his resemblance, athletic and physical prowess, but ended up seeing Timothy Olyphant playing the deadly protagonist. Statham credited his ease - when playing underworld characters - to his past experience in a circuit that exposed him to characters who werent on the legal side of things. Tarantinos mastery of the crime genre comes as the perfect playground for Statham and his trademark acting, athleticism and experience. Always insisting in performing his own stunts, the Wing Chun, karate and kickboxing adept has played numerous scenes where he has been attacked with an axe the type of violence the controversial director is known to value along with a range of blades (
Pulp Fiction Butch uses a samurai, Kill Bill full of blades, Inglourious Basterds Nazis being scalped). That might well open a door for Statham who should and probably would jump at the opportunity, while we hopefully treat our eyes and ears to another masterpiece.