His father, Jess Owen, is a British country-western singer
Failed to get into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art on his first try; worked as a house cleaner for two years until he successfully won admittance
Made professional stage debut as part of the Young Vic company, where he met his soon-to-be wife in a production of Romeo and Juliet
Played Ross Tanner, a cop suffering from a virus that affects his vision, in the British series Second Sight
Breakthrough movie role in 1998's Croupier was a flop in England but a sleeper art-house hit the following year in the U
S
Featured in a series of eight short films titled The Hire, produced by BMW and helmed by such international directors as Guy Ritchie, John Woo, Ang Lee and Wong Kar-wai
Had an uncredited in-joke cameo as Secret Agent 006 in the Steve Martin remake of The Pink Panther; Owen was for a time rumored to be the next James Bond in Casino Royale (a part that went to Daniel Craig)
Promoted Lancôme grooming products for men in spring 2007
Re-created on-screen chemistry with Closer costar Julia Roberts five years later in the romantic spy thriller Duplicity
Awards
2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama:nominated
2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:nominated
2012Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie:nominated
2012Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:nominated
2010Australian Film Institute Awards-Best Lead Actor:nominated
2007Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated