Vinnie Jones

Biography

Born Vincent Peter Jones in 5 January 1965, Jones grew up in London and became a professional football player at clubs Wealdstone, Wimbledon, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Chelsea and QPR, as well as captaining Wales. He gained a reputation as a hard man of football, for his disciplinary attitude and on-pitch misdemeanours.

After retiring, Jones capitalised on his image by playing tough guy roles in films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Gone In Sixty Seconds, Swordfish, Mean Machine and X-Men 3: The Last Stand. He also appeared in WWF wrestling as a guest referee, released a music album and guest-hosted on Channel 4 show The Friday Night Project.

Extras

Jones played himself in Extras, co-written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, where he was acting in a film in an opposite studio to fellow hardman Ross Kemp. When Jones receives word of Kemp's threats and insults about the former footballer, he confronts Kemp and intimidates him into cowardice.