'I'm enthusiastic, ambitious and work hard' One-time hawker Jason Statham strikes gold as hero of The Transporter

Som Chivukula

Five years ago, Jason Statham was selling jewellery on the streets of London to make ends meet. One day, a smalltime filmmaker named Guy Ritchie spotted him. Impressed by Statham's deft use of slang and his uncanny street sense, Ritchie met him some time later.

The director cast Statham in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, a dark comedy about four con artists. The film was well received by critics in the UK and the US. Its success on home video, where it achieved cult status, put two people on the map, Statham and Ritchie. The latter followed it with Snatch two years ago.

Now, at 35, Statham might just be ready for the Hollywood spotlight as he takes on his first leading role in The Transporter. He plays Frank Martin, a no-nonsense ex-Special Forces guy whose job is to deliver packages without asking questions or looking at the contents.

Don't Miss! Amitabh, 60: A special Salman Controversy     Recent Reviews Dil Vil Pyar Vyar Hathyar Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai Road Shakti Sur The Four Feathers Leela Mr and Mrs Iyer     Recent Stories The box-office report Another goal for     Beckham! The magic of Amar Prem Namrata Shirodkar on     Hathyar

On a routine delivery, Martin runs into trouble when he opens a box containing a beautiful woman (Chinese actress Qi Shu). Soon they are both on the run, evading the villains. The film is distributed by 20th Century Fox in America. Last weekend, it grossed a palatable $9.1 million in its opening week. Not a bad figure when the film cost $20 million.

Though many critics faulted the film for its gaping plot holes, they still found the action scenes scintillating.

'It combines Bond's luxurious European locations and love of deadly toys with all the tricks of martial arts movies,' said Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times.

For Statham, this is just the beginning of what could become a line of action films. With his muscular build and scruffy voice, comparisons have already been made with Vin Diesel.

Hollywood moguls are desperate to find the successors to ageing stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylester Stallone. Diesel, with hits like The Fast And The Furious and XXX, is clearly up next.

Statham, who was a champion high diver for many years on the British national team, looks to join Diesel. "Other than my short haircut and rough voice, the comparisons end there," Statham said, with a chuckle, about comparing himself with Diesel.

Statham was at the Fox offices in New York to talk about his latest film. The Transporter is written and produced by Luc Besson, known for such films as The Fifth Element and The Professional, which launched the career of actress Natalie Portman.

Besson had watched Statham's previous films (including Snatch), where he instantly became attracted to the actor's screen presence and wit. Last year, Besson approached Statham about a project he was going to develop specifically for Statham.

"It is a huge privilege," Statham noted. "To have a part written for me in a kind of a movie that you can watch over and over, it doesn't get much better than that. "Luc is such a great storyteller and he is great to be working with."

Though Besson did not direct the film, it has bears some of his trademarks: a European setting, slick action scenes and fast pacing.

Statham said he did several of his own stunts and also had to learn to scuba dive for an underwater sequence. Much of the action came to life after director Cory Yuen scouted the locations for the filming, Statham added. The film features a smooth action scene in a bus depot where Statham's character coats his body in oil.

"The action should have flair and meaning," Yuen told reporters. "I'm not interested in pyrotechnics and combat for their own sakes."

But Statham's presence makes The Transporter easy to digest. After having substantial roles in two films, the actor felt he was ready for the challenge of taking on a lead role. "I had a lot to learn before Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and I had to pick on the other actors' brains," Statham said. "But there is no substitute for experience and there was no way I could have done The Transporter two or three years ago."

Statham has already begun work on his next project-The Italian Job, a heist movie costarring Ed Norton, Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. Some day, Statham wants to work with his heroes such as Robert De Niro and directors David Fincher and Martin Scorsese.

For now, he is content with his career and the shape it has taken. "I can't get carried away. I'm enthusiastic, ambitious and work hard," he said. "I am not fixated with any roles in particular. If I get a chance to work with some of my heroes, how rewarding can that get?"