5 Sports Stars on the Big Screen

With the news that Conor McGregor has been approached by movie bosses, we’ve taken a look back at some of our favourite sports stars turned movie stars…

UFC champion Conor McGregor may have conquered the ring, but now it looks like he’s about to take over the big screen. Movie bosses have apparently approached the 27-year-old mixed martial arts champion to follow in the footsteps of Arnold Schwarzenegger. In fact, McGregor is already friends with the Terminator star who has nicknamed Conor the McGregornator. Catchy.

And the best news? Conor, you don’t even have to know how to act – just take a look at these sports stars turned actors who aren’t exactly setting the Oscars alight…

Arnold Schwarzeneggar

Well, we have to start with the master. Of course. Arnie was a world-class award-winning bodybuilder before he was lured into the world of movies. His breakout role was in Conan the Barbarian, but his most famous was in The Terminator franchise. Hasta la vista. Baby.

Vinnie Jones

Known as the “hard man” on the football field, Vinnie Jones successfully took his tough persona and translated it to the big screen where he played a number of hitmen and hangsters, most notably in Guy Ritchie’s films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Snatch. He also played a soccer player (no stereotypes there then) in Mean Machine.

Jason Statham

Another hard man with a London accent much loved by Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham is a rather unlikely Hollywood star – but he’s managed to quietly work his way to the top thanks to films like The Transporter trilogy. Before he was an actor, Statham was a world-class diver for 12 years, representing England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Probably one of the biggest breakout stars in the world of wrestling, Dwayne Johnson has successfully made the transition into movies, most notably appearing in the Fast and Furious franchise. No acting really required.

OJ Simpson

Former Buffalo Bills running back OJ Simpson enjoyed a successful movie career following retirement from the football field, starrign in such films as The Naked Gun and The Towering Inferno. But of course his most famous on-screen appearance was in THAT televised slow car chase before he was arrested for murder.