As a teenager I was crazy about David Bowie. He was a huge inspiration for me. I dressed a little bit crazily in school and dyed my hair every colour under the sun.

In 2006 Owen spoofed the Bond connection by making an appearance in the remake of The Pink Panther in which he plays a character named "Nigel Boswell Agent 006" (when he introduces himself to Inspector Clouseau he quips that Owen's character is "one short of the big time"). Recognition and acclaim

Owen appeared in the West End and Broadway hit play Closer by Patrick Marber which was produced as a film and was released in 2005. He then appeared in Robert Altman's Gosford Park among an all-star cast which included Helen Mirren Maggie Smith Michael Gambon Kristin Scott Thomas and Ryan Phillippe.

In 2012 he earned his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for his role in Hemingway & Gellhorn. He has since played leading roles in films such as Sin City (2005) Derailed (2005) Inside Man (2006) Children of Men (2006) The International (2009).