Mark Strange

Mark Strange's career in martial arts began in his teens and he has over 24 years experience. He trained in kung fu, learning a variety of styles and kung fu systems. His study took him to China, where he trained with the kung fu masters at the Shaolin Temple, Foshan and Hong Kong. In the UK, he trained for many years with Master Derek Frearson. As an all-round martial artist, Strange's talent was quickly recognised.

He gained tournament success in a range of disciplines in his prime. He represented Britain in the 2002 Chin Woo Championships in China; Euro-British Full Contact Champion in 1999; and the MAI National Chinese Forms Champion in 1992. He was, at the time, the youngest person in the UK to run his own full-time martial arts, in the Lancashire town of Leyland. The facility provided martial arts and fitness instruction, and provided a service for over 12 years before finally closing when Strange decided to focus on his career in film.

Mark Strange began focusing on acting and action performance in the late 1990s, drawing upon his martial arts skills and memorable style. He appeared in a string of TV and film projects, gaining valuable experience in studio sets, live shows, as well as low and big-budget productions. One of his earliest roles was in the cult spoof paranormal comedy series, Roddy Smythe Investigates,[2] playing Geoff the Soundman, alongside actor and comedian, Peter Slater, and actress Kiki Kendrick. Strange has worked in Hong Kong on two feature films – The Medallion and The Twins Effect – alongside Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen.[3] He has also worked on Batman Begins.

Strange's debut as a lead actor, film producer and action performer, arrived with the feature film Displaced The film, considered to be an ambitious project, gained worldwide distribution.

British independent film Underground,[4] produced by Intense Productions, provided Strange with his second starring role. The film achieved an honourable mention award for Stunts at the Accolade Film Festival in California.[5] Co-starring is Joey Ansah (The Bourne Ultimatum) and Danny John-Jules (Red Dwarf, Blade II). Mark Strange, apart from playing the 'Homeless Fighter', also worked on the stunts and fights with Dave Forman (Batman Begins, The Last Samurai). The film is currently on general DVD release (2009).[6]

Strange played a supporting role in Bodyguard: A New Beginning,[7] an acclaimed action drama.[8] Shot on location in Hong Kong and the UK, Mark worked alongside Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Memoirs of a Geisha, The Last Emperor, Mortal Kombat), and Richard Ng (Winners and Sinners, My Lucky Stars). A UK/Hong Kong Co-Production, the film gained a worldwide release in 2009, including a release by Lionsgate in the US.[9]

Mark Strange's next film was Redcon-1, which he helped produce and co-write. The film won several awards; including a National Film Award and won five categories at the Urban Action Showcase in New York. The film received a theatrical release in the UK and many other countries,[10] as well as a release on Netflix.[11] Strange also promoted the film at MCM Comic Con in both London and Glasgow. He played a supporting role and fought fellow action star Scott Adkins (Marvel Studio's Doctor Strange) in Avengement directed by Jesse V. Johnson (Accident Man), and appeared alongside Craig Fairbrass (Muscle), Nick Moran (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) and Thomas Turgoose (This is England).

He also filmed a key action role in Ip Man 4: The Finale where he fights the character of Bruce Lee played by Danny Chan Kwok-kwan, under legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping (The Matrix trilogy).

With his eclectic martial arts background, Strange has worked as a fight coordinator handling fights and stunts on Lionsgate horror, The Thompsons, World of the Dead: The Zombie Diaries and many more.

• Mark Strange at IMDb
• Mark Strange Official Website
• Interview At FarEastFilms.com
• Interview with Mark Strange