Oliver James (entertainer)
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Oliver James (born Oliver James Hudson on June 1, 1980) is an English musician singer songwriter and actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the American films What a Girl Wants and Raise Your Voice.
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[edit] Biography
James, an only child, was born in Ottershaw, Surrey. His father is involved in car racing, and James had originally wanted to pursue a career as a professional race car driver. He played the drums in a band while in secondary school, where he also participated in racing and motorcrossing. James graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in Surrey, where he majored in drama, and subsequently appeared in stage productions and commercials. At the age of nineteen, he adapted his middle name as his professional surname, in order to avoid confusion with actor Oliver Hudson.
[edit] Career
James' first screen appearance was a supporting role in the 2002 made-for-television short film, School's Out; he next appeared in a 2003 episode of the BBC series, The Afternoon Play, and joined a boy band produced by Simon Fuller. He left the band as soon as he was cast opposite actress Amanda Bynes in the American romantic comedy, What a Girl Wants; for his role in the film, he learned to play the guitar and co-wrote and sang the songs Long Time Coming and Greatest Story Ever Told, which were on the film's soundtrack. The film was set in England and James played the romantic interest of Bynes' character. It was released in April of 2003 and performed fairly at the box office, grossing $35 million domestically.[1] James' next role was opposite Hilary Duff in the teen film Raise Your Voice, which was released in October of 2004 and grossed $10 million domestically.[2] He will be seen this autumn in the new BBC1 series The Innocence Project, a drama following the lives of law students.
He appears naked on the centrefold of Cosmopolitan magazine's December 2006 issue, with one hand barely covering his genitals.
[edit] Personal life
James currently lives in Los Angeles, California where he moved to in March of 2003, in order to pursue an acting career in the United States.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Innocence Project | Nick | |
| 2004 | Raise Your Voice | Jay Corgan | |
| 2003 | What a Girl Wants | Ian Wallace | |
| 2003 | The Afternoon Play | Dave | Himself did 1 episode |
| 2002 | RI:SE | Himself | |
| 2002 | School's Out | Dean |
[edit] References
- ^ The Numbers.com. What a Girl Wants. Retrieved on April 14, 2006.
- ^ The Numbers.com. Raise Your Voice. Retrieved on April 14, 2006.
