Birthday: 17 June 1976, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England, UK
Height: 180 cm
Scott Edward Adkins was born on June 17, 1976 in Sutton Coldfield, England, into a family that for generations were butchers. Along with his elder brother Craig, he was raised by their parents, John and Janet (Sanders) Adkins, in a loving middle-class family. Scott attended Bishop Vesey's Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield. Probably not the be...
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Scott Edward Adkins was born on June 17, 1976 in Sutton Coldfield, England, into a family that for generations were butchers. Along with his elder brother Craig, he was raised by their parents, John and Janet (Sanders) Adkins, in a loving middle-class family. Scott attended Bishop Vesey's Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield. Probably not the best of students, he used to sneak downstairs after his parents had gone to bed and watch films all night then fall asleep during lessons. A natural athlete, Scott enjoyed a variety of sports as he grew up, but when he was 10 years old, he accompanied his father and brother to the local Judo club. The attraction was instantaneous. Idolising stars such as Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude Van Damme, Scott began to train everyday. He took over his Dad's garage and turned it into his own Dojo. He even had a shrine to Bruce Lee in there that he would bow to. He remembers being mugged on a bus when he was around 13 and that really kicked his training into overdrive. He wasn't ever going to let that happen again. At the age of 14, Scott went on to train in Tae Kwon Do under the instruction of Ron Sergiew with the T.A.G.B. After a few years, he moved on to Kickboxing under Anthony Jones. He is now a fully trained Kickboxing Instructor for the P.K.A. A self confessed "film junkie" Scott's attention was drawn to acting through the Hollywood Greats. He enrolled in a drama class at Sutton Coldfield College. Being a shy lad he initially found it difficult to be put on stage in front of an audience. Finally, at the age of 21, Scott was offered a place at the prestigious Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. However, as an impoverished student, he found it hard to make ends meet without a grant and was forced to leave without completing the course. Very dejected he thought that was the end.His first break came when he was offered a role in a Hong Kong martial arts film called Dei seung chui keung (2001) (aka Extreme Challenge). Spotted by Head of The Hong Kong Stuntmen Association and director Wei Tung and English-born Hong Kong movie expert Bey Logan, Adkins found himself in the East for the first time. Scott got the chance to work with some of Hong Kong cinema's leading action directors including Woo-Ping Yuen, Corey Yuen, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and the legendary Jackie Chan. Acting roles started to come in and he was offered a guest role in BBC's Doctors (2000) filmed at Birmingham's Pebble Mill. A few episodes in BBC's EastEnders (1985) and City Central (1998), and a lead role in Sky One comedy drama Mile High (2003) followed by a regular role in BBC's Holby City (1999) as Bradley Hume, the assistant General Manager of Holby General.Starring roles in feature films soon followed with his portrayal of Talbot in Special Forces (2003) and Yuri Boyka" in Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006). It was this film that broke him into the mainstream with his villainous portrayal of a Russian MMA underground fighter Boyka in what has been hailed as one of the best American made Martial Arts films of recent times. Along with lead actor Michael Jai White, fight coordinator J.J. Perry and the slick direction of Isaac Florentine this movie has some unbelievably heart stopping fight scenes. After this Scott has had guest starring roles in bigger budget films like The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) and The Tournament (2009), and played Jean-Claude Van Damme's main adversary in Sony Pictures The Shepherd (2008). Show less «
Back when I used to struggle with how I could define myself in the film business, I knew that I'd al...Show more »
Back when I used to struggle with how I could define myself in the film business, I knew that I'd always remain true to myself and what I wanted to accomplish. The style of action I showcase is quite different from other stars we usually see, but I'm remaining true to myself, and hopefully this comes across. Show less «
My first break was in a Hong Kong movie that I shot in China - I was going out there and working as ...Show more »
My first break was in a Hong Kong movie that I shot in China - I was going out there and working as a western stunt man, if you like, but at the same time in England I was working in daytime soap stuff. Eventually I put the two together. Show less «
I prefer to play the villain or the antihero.
I prefer to play the villain or the antihero.
My weapon of choice is the nunchuck. I do like the bo as well, which I use, the staff. I'm not so go...Show more »
My weapon of choice is the nunchuck. I do like the bo as well, which I use, the staff. I'm not so good with the sword, but I picked a lot of stuff up on 'Ninja 1' with the sword. Show less «
I did martial arts since I was 10 years old, and I've got as much love for the movies as I have for ...Show more »
I did martial arts since I was 10 years old, and I've got as much love for the movies as I have for martial arts, so when I was 18 years old, I started studying performing arts with the eye of getting into the film industry and went to drama school after that. Show less «
Back in the '80s, you needed the real action guys with the real physiques, not strap-on bodysuits. G...Show more »
Back in the '80s, you needed the real action guys with the real physiques, not strap-on bodysuits. Guys like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. That became the genre of '80s action movies. I think it changed really when The Matrix came out and Keanu Reeves was able to perform kung fu. Then you had Matt Damon in the Bourne films, doing a great job. So it's different now, they can train actors to do their own fights convincingly on screen, so those guys aren't needed anymore. But I think everything goes around in circles; people still do want to see the guys that can do stuff for real, that's why The Expendables is so popular. I think it will come back again. Show less «
I can pretty much say that because of Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude Van Damme, that's why I do what I do...Show more »
I can pretty much say that because of Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude Van Damme, that's why I do what I do today. Show less «
I'm just about the movies; I enjoy the dexterity of actors in action movies and the choreography sid...Show more »
I'm just about the movies; I enjoy the dexterity of actors in action movies and the choreography side of things. You've just got to be a different person to be a professional fighter. I train with professional fighters, so I know what it takes. It's a very difficult profession, probably harder then the acting profession. Show less «
I do find violence entertaining, but that doesn't make me a bad person. I grew up watching all these...Show more »
I do find violence entertaining, but that doesn't make me a bad person. I grew up watching all these action films when I was a kid. My dad would bring back 'Rambo' and whatever, and we'd watch it together. It's not affected me in any way other than I just appreciate the entertainment value of violence on film. Show less «
My bedroom was plastered with pictures of Van Damme. My mother was worried about me. Most teenage bo...Show more »
My bedroom was plastered with pictures of Van Damme. My mother was worried about me. Most teenage boys have half-naked women on their walls, and I had Jean-Claude. Show less «
I'll be honest - I never saw myself making a ninja movie, never entertained the idea. I think ninja ...Show more »
I'll be honest - I never saw myself making a ninja movie, never entertained the idea. I think ninja films can be quite cheesy unless you do them in feudal Japan. Show less «
[on doing fight choreography] Dolph's really easygoing. He's a big guy and he likes his movements to...Show more »
[on doing fight choreography] Dolph's really easygoing. He's a big guy and he likes his movements to be that of a bigger guy; a little bit slower and more powerful. So you need to address the choreography for Dolph. So it's a flurry for me, and then a nice powerful movement from him. With Jean-Claude, to be honest, I have to dumb it down a little bit to cater for him, I'm afraid to say, because we're from different eras. We do it faster, more like they do in Hong Kong these days. And when Van Damme came up, they were doing it the Western way. That's a bit slower and a bit more step to step. Show less «
I make films for the 16-year-old in myself sometimes.
I make films for the 16-year-old in myself sometimes.
In the film industry, we tend to pick up where others have left off, and I'd like to think the influ...Show more »
In the film industry, we tend to pick up where others have left off, and I'd like to think the influences I picked up from Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone and Jean-Claude Van Damme are visible in my work. Show less «
When I was ten years old, my dad and brother did judo, so I went along because I felt like I was mis...Show more »
When I was ten years old, my dad and brother did judo, so I went along because I felt like I was missing out. They eventually gave up, and I continued, then moved into Tae Kwon Do, kickboxing and various other martial arts. I did lots of different things, but mostly things like Wushu, Jeet Kune Do, Krav Maga and stuff like that. Show less «
I just remember Bruce Lee blowing my mind on the screen, and I thought to myself, 'That's what I wan...Show more »
I just remember Bruce Lee blowing my mind on the screen, and I thought to myself, 'That's what I want to do for a living when I'm older.' Bruce Lee was so magnetic and charismatic and held the screen so well. Show less «
I'm good when I've got a bit of an edge, like the Clint Eastwood type of archetypal character. The t...Show more »
I'm good when I've got a bit of an edge, like the Clint Eastwood type of archetypal character. The tough guy that doesn't say a lot. Show less «
I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and...Show more »
I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my dad. They both thought I would grow out of it. That it was a phase. I decided then I was going to do it or die trying. Show less «
Best fight ever in a movie: 'They Live.' I want to do a martial arts version of that, where you thin...Show more »
Best fight ever in a movie: 'They Live.' I want to do a martial arts version of that, where you think it's ended, and it just keeps on going. I love that fight. It was funny as well. Unexpected. Show less «
I was a regular on 'Holby City,' and I did daytime; that's how I started off. Off in Hong Kong doing...Show more »
I was a regular on 'Holby City,' and I did daytime; that's how I started off. Off in Hong Kong doing stuntman stuff, then coming back to England doing daytime soap operas. Show less «
I personally think a fight scene is the most cinematic thing you can witness because all the element...Show more »
I personally think a fight scene is the most cinematic thing you can witness because all the elements of filmmaking come together, you know, with the camera speed changes, editing, make up effects and general smoke and mirrors of trying to make it look like you are hitting someone when you're not. It's filmmaking in it's purest form, I think. Show less «
I think every red-blooded male enjoys brandishing a firearm.
I think every red-blooded male enjoys brandishing a firearm.
Whenever you're looking at new ways to get in shape, first you have to decide what you want. Do you ...Show more »
Whenever you're looking at new ways to get in shape, first you have to decide what you want. Do you want a more muscular look, or do you want to slim down and appear more toned and ripped? I adapt my training and diet with each role I do, depending on the image I want to convey. Show less «
I'm like the king of the low-budget sequel. People ask, 'What film are you going to do next?'. I don...Show more »
I'm like the king of the low-budget sequel. People ask, 'What film are you going to do next?'. I don't know, but it's probably got a 3 or 4 in the title. Show less «
I'm always trying to improve my skills as an actor. I think it shows in 'El Gringo;' it shows in the...Show more »
I'm always trying to improve my skills as an actor. I think it shows in 'El Gringo;' it shows in the new 'Universal Soldier.' You can't rest on your laurels; you've got to keep improving. Show less «
I put so much pressure on myself to raise the bar with each and every project. I treat it like every...Show more »
I put so much pressure on myself to raise the bar with each and every project. I treat it like every film is my last, and I make sure I pour everything I have into every film I make because if I'm not trying to improve, someone else will. Show less «