Jason Scott Lee

Born: 19 November 1966
Where: Los Angeles, California

The young Chinese-Hawaiian actor's looks led to a variety of roles in films and TV before he gained international celebrity as the star of the biopic Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.

Though possessing little physical resemblance to the kung fu legend and no prior martial arts training, Lee proved an inspired choice. He not only captured many of Bruce Lee's physical and vocal mannerisms but also made him a complex and sympathetic romantic figure.

Lee played an Eskimo opposite Anne Parillaud in the romantic period drama, Map of the Human Heart, his first starring role in a feature. A loincloth-clad Lee also starred as a 17th-century Easter Island native in the Kevin Costner-produced Rapa Nui.

Disney's live-action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book put Lee back in an exotic period setting. His career momentum slowed a bit during the 90s.

When approached about playing the monarch in the Broadway staging of the revival of The King and I, Lee turned down the offer to concentrate on film work. When approached again three years later, he felt the timing was right and agreed to make his musical theatre and London West End debut.

Starring opposite Brit Elaine Paige, Lee proved a great success.