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.
