Clive Owen was born in Coventry, Warwickshire 3rd October 1964. After leaving school Clive was on the dole for two years before he won acceptance to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1984. After he graduated he joined the Young Vic Theatre Company, playing Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Claudio in Measure for Measure. He then went on to make a guest appearance in the TV series Boon in 1986.

This was closely followed in 1988 with his first film Vroom in which he teamed up with David Thewlis and Diana Quick. 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.

Filmography

• The International (2009)
• Sin City 2 (2008)
• The Golden Age (2007)
• Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
• Children of Men (2006)
• Inside Man (2006)
• The Pink Panther (2006)
• Derailed (2005)
• Sin City (2005)
• Closer (2004)
• King Arthur (2004)
• Beyond Borders (2003)
• I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003)
• Ticker (2002)
• Beat the Devil (2002)
• Hostage (2002)
• The Bourne Identity (2002)
• Gosford Park (2001)
• Star (2001)
• Powder Keg (2001)
• The Follow (2001)
• Chosen (2001)
• Ambush (2001)
• Greenfingers (2000)
• Second Sight: Hide and Seek (2000)
• Second Sight: Kingdom of the Blind (2000)
• Second Sight: Parasomnia (2000)
• Second Sight (1999)
• Split Second (1999)
• The Echo (1998)
• Croupier (1998)
• Bent (1997)
• The Rich Man's Wife (1996)
• Privateer 2: The Darkening (1996)
• "Sharman" (1996)
• Bad Boy Blues (1995)
• The Return of the Native (1994)
• Doomsday Gun (1994)
• An Evening with Gary Lineker (1994)
• Nobody's Children (1994)
• The Turnaround (1994)
• Class of '61 (1993)
• Century (1993)
• The Magician (1993)
• Close My Eyes (1991)
• "Chancer" (19 episodes, 1990-1991)
• Lorna Doone (1990)
• Precious Bane (1989)
• "Boon" (1 episode, 1988)
• Vroom (1988)
• "Rockliffe's Babies" (1 episode, 1987)

Awards

• British Academy Film Award Best Supporting Actor "Closer" 2005
• Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor "Closer" 2005
• National Board of Review Best Acting Ensemble "Closer" 2004
• New York Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actor "Closer" 2004
• Toronto Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actor "Closer" 2004
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Acting Ensemble "Gosford Park" 2001
• Florida Film Critics Circle Award Best Ensemble "Gosford Park" 2001
• The Actor Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture "Gosford Park" 2001