Jason Statham has spent decades throwing himself into high-speed chases, explosive fight scenes and physically demanding roles, and he has no intention of slowing down.
Even after years of injuries and near misses, the action star says he plans to keep doing his own stunts and pushing his limits with each new project.
speaks to BBC News at the premiere of his latest film, Shelterthe 58-year-old actor explained that taking risks has always been part of how he approaches his work.
“There have been a lot of stunts where I went too far,” Statham admitted, saying that his commitment sometimes comes at a price.
He reflected that injuries often bring moments of regret, adding that when things go wrong, “you think, ‘why did I do that, why didn’t I get a stuntman to do that?'”
Over the years, these choices have left their mark.
Statham shared that he has injured his neck and other parts of his body several times, and said these experiences serve as reminders of the risks involved.
Still, he shows no signs of backing down. With what he describes as an “in for a penny, in for a pound” attitude, Statham believes his hands-on approach is what keeps his performances authentic.
“I like to be in front of the camera and do as much as I can,” he said, explaining that years of training have given him the confidence to handle complex action sequences himself.
Although he admits that age has changed things a bit, he remains optimistic about his fitness.
“I’m not that old,” he joked, adding that while he’s less “bubbly” than he was at 25, he’s still very much in the game, helped along by “lots of physical therapy.”
Shelter sees Statham play a former hitman drawn back to violence after rescuing a young girl, with the film leaning more into thriller territory than his usual action-heavy roles.
One particularly demanding scene involved an open-sea rescue, which he described as physically punishing, particularly while swimming underwater in heavy clothing and boots.
With several films lined up for premiere in 2026, i.a Mutinya sequel to The beekeeperand Viva La Madness with director Guy Ritchie, Statham seems poised to keep raising the bar and do it himself.
