by Tom on 22 Feb 2015, 14:12
I think at least in the UK, the whole Vinnie Jones shtick stems from his football career and his first film, Lock Stock. He always had a reputation as a thug on the pitch. He wasn't very skilled with the football, but better at roughing up the opposition.
He's played for a lot of clubs with reputations for being physically rough and intimidating, like Chelsea (at least in those days), QPR. Not only the players but the fans of these sides have reputations for liking to fight. Indeed Chelsea fans were in the news just last week for racism during a trip to Paris. They refused to let a black man on a train after the game.
Vinnies most famous period as a footballer was playing for a club called Wimbledon. They were nicknamed "The Crazy gang" and he was a big character in that. On and off the pitch. He's had plenty of violent incidents come out in the newspapers in England over the years.
So yeah, long story short. These roles are very easy for him, as there's a ring of truth to them (though exaggerated of course).