John Carew was already well-known before joining West Ham. Standing at six foot five, he played for clubs like Valencia, Roma, Aston Villa, and Lyon. Now, as he shifts his focus to acting, he continues to pursue ambitious goals.
Former West Ham striker John Carew aims to play a Bond villain
The 44-year-old Norwegian made 19 appearances for West Ham during the 2011/12 Championship season (Transfermarkt). He is not one of those players often criticized for staying too long at Upton Park.
Recently, in December 2023, Carew expressed his aspirations on BBC Radio London, stating, “To become a villain in James Bond or Marvel would be absolutely amazing.”
John Carew discusses his post-football life in acting
Carew explained why he chose not to pursue a traditional football career after retirement:
“When I finished football, coaching wasn’t for me. I entered TV production with friends who have a large production company, and we started developing and producing content. This introduced me to the TV industry and its workings.”
John Carew is making strides as an actor
Since then, Carew has appeared in several Norwegian films and taken on English-speaking roles, including in ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ on Netflix and ‘Locked Down’ alongside Anne Hathaway.
John Carew talks about his acting dreams
While his time at West Ham is noted, many remember him more for his stints at Valencia and Aston Villa.
Carew ended his playing career at West Ham, retiring shortly after the club’s 2012 play-off final win.
He has since gained recognition in acting, with a notable role in ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ alongside Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning.
One of Carew’s inspirations is British actor Tom Hardy, who has also been associated with the James Bond role. Carew expressed his desire to join that franchise someday.
Telling The Athletic, he said: “I want to be a villain in a James Bond film. Not the main villain, but a hitman. I’d like to be the antagonist’s right-hand man, a silent assassin who loses a fight to Bond halfway through.”
West Ham’s Hollywood supporters
West Ham has its share of Hollywood fans.
Notable supporters include Danny Dyer, who openly expresses his support, and Ray Winstone. Singer Olivia Dean is also a fan.
Surprisingly, Jason Momoa, famous for his roles in ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Aquaman,’ also supports the team. He shared his connection during a talkSPORT interview.
“That’s the first place I settled in. That’s why I’m a Hammer, but I also have childhood roots with Manchester United,” he mentioned when discussing his time in east London.