Clive Owen (born 3 October 1964) is an English actor who first gained recognition in the United Kingdom for playing the lead role in the ITV series
Chancer from 1990 to 1991. He then received critical acclaim for his work in the film
Close My Eyes (1991) before getting international notice for his performance as a struggling writer in
Croupier (1998). In 2005, he won a
Golden Globe and a
BAFTA Award and was nominated for an
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his appearance in the drama
Closer (2004).