Top Ten: Sport Stars Who Have Starred In films

Death Warrior is the explosive, new MMA film and is out now on DVD from E1 Entertainment. Featuring some of the biggest and best Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters including former UFC Light heavyweight champion, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, who also stars as BA Baracus in the new version of ‘The A Team.’

10. Keala Kennelly, Carol Anne Philips, Rochelle Ballard, Megan Abubo – are all female professional surfers who have tried their hands at the movies. Or one movie to be more precise. They starred as themselves in 2002 film Blue Crush. Ok, it’s quite tricky to think of any female sports stars who have moved over to films – any suggested please send them on a postcard please?

9. Hulk Hogan – at number 10 is THE quintessential professional wrestlers from the WWE heydays when wrestlers were like rockstars in stretchy underwear. Not only was he a hero to millions, he also made it acceptable for men to wear yellow and grow moustaches again. As if body slams, full nelsons and ‘clothes lines’ weren’t enough, he also had a go at transferring some of that charisma to the big screen and appeared in Rocky III, Mr Nanny and Thunder in Paradise – although finding it back to his real home at TNA.

8. Michael Jordan – the former American basketball player and a very successful one winning many titles and 2 Olympic Gold Medals. Michael also featured in the 1996 film Space Jam, incorporating his skills as a basketball player and acting with animated Looney Tunes characters and he slams dunks in at number 8

7. Bruce Lee – this martial arts legend was an inspiration for many generations and even developed and taught his own style of combat. As if that wasn’t enough, he had appeared in 20 films by the time he was 18 years old. His most unforgettable films are Enter the Dragon, Way of the Dragon and Game of Death making him the most famous martial artist of all time. He kicks his way in to number 7.

6. Mike Tyson – is the American former World Heavyweight boxing Champion who, in between buying cars and tigers, has managed to squeeze in a plethora of movie cameos. Most recently he starred in the 2009 hit comedy film The Hangover, where he swapped punching other boxers for punching one of the lead characters. It’s called method acting, darling.

5. Eric Cantona – the legendary French Footballer and pitch side karate expert recently starred in the eponymously titled Looking For Eric. This 2009 modern classic is only one of many films Eric has appeared in since hanging up his boots. If you ever see him in theatre, don’t sit in the front row.

4. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson – The former UFC heavyweight Champion has starred in my mixed martial arts films including Death Warrior which is out on 26th July. His other notable role is in the upcoming film The A Team where he plays B.A. Baracus – I pity the fool who doesn’t buy Death Warrior and watch The A Team.

3. Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock – another very popular professional wrestler who has transferred his skills and physique to the big screen. Dwayne has featured in smash hits The Mummy Returns, Welcome to the Jungle, The Scorpion King and most recently The Tooth Fairy – Tooth Fairy has now surprisingly knocked train driver off the top spot for professions people want to be when they grow up.

2. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Before governing California, flying to Mars to save Earth and chasing 7ft aliens around the South American jungle, he was a professional body builder and Mr Universe. While these days he’s more comfortable with policies than oozies, he’s about to appear in Sylvester Stallone’s new film The Expendables.

1. Vinnie Jones – A little more Millwall than Macbeth, this hard man of football with an iron grip found it very easy to switch to films and finds himself at Number 1. With many titles under his belt including X Men: The Last Stand, Snatch, Strength and Honour, Mean Machine and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels; needless to say Vinnie has definitely made his fist gripped tightly around this menacing movie niche.