Check out the Clive Owen gallery

“The name's Owen, Clive Owen.” Has a certain ring don't you think? Well, it sounds better than, “The name's Everett, Rupert Everett” or, God forbid, “Williams, Robbie Williams,” who are two other contenders for Pierce Brosnan's action hero crown. Broody, moody, suave and overflowing with charisma, Clive Owen is the top tip to be the next 007.

He’s also high up on our ‘woof’ ratings. A little rough around the edges maybe, but who doesn’t fancy a quick fumble with a bit of rough trade?

His latest film, Mike Hodges I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, opens on 30 April 2004 and sees him playing a gangster whose brother commits suicide after being raped by a 60 year old gangster, played by Malcolm McDowell.

Time to bring on a working class dose of top totty.

Name
Clive Owen

Famous For
Clive's had a sketchy and varied career. Mixing theatre, TV and film work with relative ease and more recently he’s been the lone star of an elaborate advertising campaign of short films for BMW directed by some heavy weight directors.

Clive's a believer in the 'less is more' school of acting and relies on an enigmatic look to convey what's going on behind those beautiful green eyes. He's well known for taking on challenging and controversial roles. "I remember years ago an American actor told me that acting in movies was all about being likeable. I thought that was bollocks then, and I still think so."

He had an affair with his sister in Close My Eyes; lost three stones to play  gay alongside Ian McKellan and Mick Jagger in the film adaptation of the hit stage play Bent (Max, his character, denies his sexuality in order to escape the gas chambers of Dachau); and popped up as a bisexual in Noel Coward’s Design for Living at the Donmar Warehouse. So he isn’t exactly scared of playing gay! Is it any wonder he's got a huge gay following?

Vitals
Born on 3 October 1964, Clive's a working class lad from Coventry. On his days before being accepted into drama school he says, "I was doing what half of Coventry was doing at the time: playing pool and waiting for the next Giro."

Career History
After treading the boards of classical theatre, he first came to prominence as a lovable rogue in the TV series Chancer in the late 80s. But it wasn't until the yanks embraced a small British film, also by Hodges, called Croupier in 1998, that Clive got the break he deserved in La-La Land. Croupier did bugger all this side of the pond, but was such a success stateside that the Hollywood hotshots sat back and took notice of the cheeky unknown with a steely gaze who reminded them of a young Sean Connery. Robert Altman's Gosford Park followed and then he played an assassin alongside Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity. Hollywood had beckoned and Clive responded.

He'll soon be gracing our screens wearing armour and chain mail in the title role of King Arthur opposite everyone’s darling Keira Knightley.

So will he be filling Pierce Brosnan's shoes when the position of sexiest, coolest spy in history is free? Clive's keeping tight-lipped, but claims he would be tempted if he were approached. We live in hope.

Worth Knowing
Clive isn't too keen on the publicity that fame brings. His role in Chancer brought him success and recognition, but the media interest in his life was too much. When a tabloid newspaper unearthed the father he hadn't seen for 16 years he wasn't impressed and escaped the limelight by returning to the stage.

When Clive announced he wanted to be an actor at school his teacher encouraged the rest of his classmates to laugh at him! Who’s laughing now?

On homosexuality: “I've always had a relaxed attitude to people who happen to fancy members of their own sex. It's never been an issue for me. If it were, I’d have been more bothered about some of the roles I've played.”

Availability
Nil points. Clive has two daughters with his wife Sarah Jane Fenton who he met while playing Romeo opposite her Juliet. Aahh! "The sexiest gift? No question: a wedding ring." Oh well.

Give Me More
Click on the images below to get the big picture.

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is released in the UK on 29 April 2004.

Want to suggest a future ‘Totty Watch’? Get in touch

Buy the DVD of the Bent, starring Clive Owen as a gay man, catch him in Close My Eyes, or buy the series 1 and series 2 of Chancer. Buy them all online and save some money!