Mark Owen

Probably best known as one of the founding members of Take That -- alongside Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Robbie Williams, and Howard Donald -- Mark Owen successfully carved a solo career after the group's initial break-up in 1996.

Born in Oldham, England, in 1972, Owen's original boyhood dream was to become a professional soccer player, and subsequent trials for Manchester United, Rochdale, and Huddersfield Town proved fruitless after an injury put a stop to any chance of a sporting career.

Joining Take That in 1989, the five-piece went on to become one of the U.K.'s biggest-selling boy bands until their split in 1996.