Scott Adkins

Born into a working-class British family, Scott Adkins seemed to be unlikely future professional actor. While still in his teens, Adkins began training in kickboxing and various other forms of martial arts. It was a skill he would continue to develop well into adulthood, and one that would prove beneficial later on when he made the leap into acting. Although Adkins began taking drama classes at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art at the age of 21, he soon found it difficult to pay for the courses, and ultimately had to drop out. Luckily for him however, his prowess in martial arts came in handy when he was offered a small role in the 2001 Jackie Chan action movie "The Accidental Spy."

In 2003 Adkins landed a recurring role on the BBC soap opera "EastEnders," and he later scored recurring parts on "Mile High " and "Holby City," two other British television dramas. By the late 2000s Adkins, now in lead roles, began appearing almost exclusively in action films once again, including "Undisputed II: Last Man Standing" and its sequel, "Undisputed III: Redemption," as well as "Assassination Games," which also starred Jean-Claude Van Damme. Adkins reunited with Van Damme twice in 2012, with both tough guys featured in "The Expendables 2" and "Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning."