Getting to the top was not an easy journey for Jason Statham, the renowned star of “The Transporter.” In his early days before fame, he found himself working as a street vendor just to make ends meet. However, it was not only his acting skills, particularly in the action genre, that propelled him to success. Statham initially rose to prominence due to his martial arts abilities, which he began learning during his childhood.

Yet, his impressive repertoire extends beyond mastering roundhouse kicks. The multifaceted actor, known for his role in “Hobbs and Shaw,” also harbors a passion for other fields such as soccer and swimming.

Jason Statham, known for his incredible roundhouse kicks, has more to his success story than just his legwork. While he denied being an Olympic swimmer, he did confess to his expertise in swimming. He spent 12 years competing at the national level as part of the U.K.’s National Swimming Squad. This experience taught him discipline, focus, and kept him out of trouble. Despite his swimming background, it was his martial arts skills that ultimately propelled him to stardom when he landed his first major acting contract.

Jason Statham’s martial arts expertise played a significant role in his first major project. In addition to his various talents and his job as a street seller, Statham also worked as a sports model, collaborating with well-known brands like Lee, Levi’s, and French Connection. It was during his time as a model for French Connection that he crossed paths with Guy Ritchie, who was highly impressed by Statham’s martial arts skills. This led to Statham landing a role in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.

Reflecting on his experience, Statham revealed that the character he was offered to portray in the film was loosely inspired by his real-life background. He elaborated, “One of the investors of Lock, Stock knew Guy and informed him about my time on the streets selling perfume and jewelry, among other things. Essentially, the character I played was loosely based on what I used to do, so it was just me coming in and doing what I did every day anyway. And that was how I made my entry into acting.”

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1988) marked the beginning of an exciting partnership between the talented duo, Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham. Their collaboration has extended over numerous films, including the recent blockbuster, Wrath of Man, released in 2021. For those interested in indulging in their captivating cinematic journey, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels can be effortlessly streamed on Apple TV.