|
Oliver James Profile |
|
-
Birth Date: June 1, 1980
-
Birth Place: Ottershaw, Surrey, England, UK
-
Birth Name: Oliver James Hudson
-
Height: 5'11"
|
|
|
Biography |
Oliver James (born Oliver James Hudson on June 1, 1980) is
an English musician singer songwriter and actor. He is
perhaps best known for his roles in the American films What
a Girl Wants and Raise Your Voice.
James, an only child, was born in Ottershaw, Surrey. His
father is involved in car racing, and James had originally
wanted to pursue a career as a professional race car driver.
He played the drums in a band while in secondary school,
where he also participated in racing and motorcrossing.
James graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in
Surrey, where he majored in drama, and subsequently appeared
in stage productions and commercials. At the age of
nineteen, he adapted his middle name as his professional
surname, in order to avoid confusion with actor Oliver
Hudson.
James' first screen appearance was a supporting role in the
2002 made-for-television short film, School's Out; he next
appeared in a 2003 episode of the BBC series, The Afternoon
Play, and joined a boy band produced by Simon Fuller. He
left the band as soon as he was cast opposite actress Amanda
Bynes in the American romantic comedy, What a Girl Wants;
for his role in the film, he learned to play the guitar and
co-wrote and sang the songs Long Time Coming and Greatest
Story Ever Told, which were on the film's soundtrack. The
film was set in England and James played the romantic
interest of Bynes' character. It was released in April of
2003 and performed fairly at the box office, grossing $35
million domestically. James' next role was opposite Hilary
Duff in the teen film Raise Your Voice, which was released
in October of 2004 and grossed $10 million domestically. He
will be seen this autumn in the new BBC1 series The
Innocence Project, a drama following the lives of law
students.
He appears naked on the centrefold of Cosmopolitan
magazine's December 2006 issue, with one hand barely
covering his genitals.
James currently lives in Los Angeles, California where he
moved to in March of 2003, in order to pursue an acting
career in the United States. |
|
|
Other Information |
He was the only actor to kiss Amanda Bynes in his screen
test for his role in What a Girl Wants (2003).
Played drums for a band when he was in school and had only
fiddled with friends' guitars before playing one for real in
the movie What a Girl Wants (2003).
Went to Guildford School of Acting in Surrey to learn the
trade.
Oliver has recently moved to Los Angeles from his native
England.
Main reason to enroll as an acting major was so he could
attend the same school as his then-girlfriend.
His own songs appear on the What a Girl Wants (2003)
soundtrack.
In "What a Girl Wants" and in "Raise YOur Voice" he plays
the guitar a lot. Only in "Raise Your Voice" he plays the
acoustic guitar. |
|
|
|
:D