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Twiggy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Twiggy | |
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 Young Twiggy |
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| Born | September 19, 1949 Neasden, London, England |
| Spouse | Michael Witney (1977-1983) Leigh Lawson (1988)- Current |
| Website | http://twiggylawson.co.uk/ |
Lesley Hornby (popularly known as Twiggy, born 19 September 1949) is an English supermodel, actress, and singer, now also known by her married name of Twiggy Lawson. A 1960s pop icon known for her large eyes, long eyelashes, and thin build, she is regarded as one of the most famous models of all time. Twiggy went on to star in movies, and spent two years as a judge on the reality show America's Next Top Model.
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Twiggy was born in the London suburb of Neasden, the daughter of William Norman Hornby, a master carpenter and joiner, and Nellie Lydia "Helen" Reeman, a half-Jewish counter-girl at a Woolworth's store[1][2]and factory worker at a printing firm. She attended the Brondesbury and Kilburn High School in Salusbury Road, Kilburn[3].
In 1966, Nigel Davies noticed the young Lesley Hornby and offered her a modelling contract. She was only 16 and weighed 6½ stone (41 kg, 90 lbs).[4] Davies advised her to go by her childhood nickname, Twiggy, and renamed himself Justin de Villeneuve. After sweeping England as "The Face of '66" when her modelling pictures, taken by Barry Lategan, were made public, Twiggy arrived in New York in March 1967. It was believed that the Twiggy craze would die down within a month; Twiggy, however, became an instant icon and supermodel. Known for the high fashion mod look created by Mary Quant, Twiggy changed the world of fashion with her short-haired androgynous look. Her style has dominated the runways for forty years. She was also famous for drawing long, fake eyelashes under her bottom lashes. These are, unsurprisingly, named Twiggys.
Twiggy was regarded as the face of 1960s Swinging London, along with other models, such as Celia Hammond.
On June 16, 1967, Capitol Records released Twiggy's first single for the label "When I Think Of You" with "Over And Over" on the flip side.
In early 1968, Twiggy toured Japan and filmed commercials for Toyota Motors and Choco Flakes breakfast cereal. In 1969 she did commercial work in the United States for Diet Rite Cola.
Twiggy was the first teenage female supermodel.
After four years of modelling, Twiggy retired, claiming "You can't be a clothes hanger for your entire life!" She embarked on an award-winning acting and singing career, including Ken Russell's 1971 film version of Sandy Wilson's musical, The Boy Friend, for which she won two Golden Globe Awards. Since then she has played a variety of roles on stage and screen, including My One and Only and as Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion, opposite Robert Powell, in a 1981 television production. She also is a judge on America's Next Top Model.
Twiggy married the American actor Michael Witney in 1977. They had one daughter, Carly, born in 1978. That marriage ended with his sudden death in 1983 from a heart attack. She met Leigh Lawson on the film Madame Sousatzka, and married him in 1988. They reside in London.
In 1976, Twiggy signed to Mercury records and released the albums "Twiggy" and "Please Get My Name Right", discs that contained both pop and country tunes. "Twiggy" sold very well, peaking on the UK charts at no.33, and gave Twiggy a silver disc for good sales. The album contains Twiggy's top twenty hit single, "Here I Go Again" and "Please Get My Name Right" made it to no.35 in 1977.
In 2003, she released another album, "Midnight Blue" featuring previously unreleased material she had recorded from 1982-1990, the CD received glowing reviews and had duets on it with Leo Sayor and Carly Simon.
Twiggy's other recordings from 1985 failed to make the charts. "Feel Emotion" and "Diamond" have both been released onto CD format since.
In 2005, Twiggy joined the cast of the TV show America's Next Top Model as one of four judges. She also returned to modelling, fronting a major new TV, press and billboard campaign for Marks & Spencer, a British department store chain. In 2006, she portrayed herself as a nineteen-year-old in the radio play Elevenses with Twiggy for BBC Radio 4's Afternoon Play series.
In 2007, it was announced that Twiggy would not be returning to America's Next Top Model's 10th season due to scheduling conflicts. She will instead be replaced with supermodel Paulina Porizkova. [5]
*1966 Mattel issued a 'Twiggy' doll. It was Barbie sized, but with smaller bust and hips.
- 1971 Film
- as an extra in Ken Russell's The Devils
- 1971 First leading role in features as Polly in Ken Russell's adaptation of Sandy Wilson's pastiche of 1920s musicals The Boy Friend; initial collaboration with Tommy Tune
- 1974 Made West End stage debut in Cinderella
- 1974 Made second feature, the thriller W; co-starred with future husband Michael Whitney
- 1974 Hosted own British TV series, Twiggs (later renamed Twiggy)
- 1977 Makes an appearance on The Muppet Show.
- 1980 Made cameo appearance in The Blues Brothers
- 1981 Starred as Eliza Doolittle opposite Robert Powell in Yorkshire TV production of Pygmalion
- 1983 Broadway debut in the musical, My One and Only, starring and co-staged by Tune; earned a Tony nomination
- 1987 Played a vaudeville performer in the British TV special The Little Match Girl
- 1988 Had supporting role in Madame Sousatzka, opposite second husband Leigh Lawson
- 1989 Cast as Hannah Chaplin, mother to Charles, in the British TV-movie Young Charlie Chaplin; aired in US on PBS' Wonderworks
- 1991 Co-starred in the ill-fated CBS sitcom Princesses
- 1997 Acted in London stage revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit
- 1998 Played Gertrude Lawrence in the biographical stage musical Noel and Gertie at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, Long Island
- 1999 Returned to New York stage as Lawrence in Off-Broadway production If Love Were All, a revised version of Noel and Gertie, directed by Lawson; what set this edition apart were its tap numbers in period style; starred opposite Harry Groener's Coward
- 2001 Co-hosted the English magazine programme This Morning
- 2006 Twiggy was featured on the cover of the Icons issue of SWINDLE magazine
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- ^ http://www.nationsmemorybank.com/editorial/fashion_article_3.html
- ^ http://www.filmreference.com/film/80/Twiggy.html
- ^ http://www.famouspeople.co.uk/t/twiggy.html
- ^ Cheever, Susan (May 1983). Twiggy. New York Times. Accessed 2007-04-17.
- ^ http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-paulinaporizkovatwiggyantm,0,4534084.story?coll=zap-news-headlines
- Twiggy Official Site
- Twiggy at the Internet Movie Database
- Twiggy at TV.com
- Fashion Windows: Twiggy - from an article by Dorothee Werner
- TWIGGY Interview in SWINDLE Magazine
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| Current Judges & Personnel |
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| Former Judges |
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| Cycles: Winners |
Please see individual cycle articles for additional contestants. |
| Mods |
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| 1960s - Blowup - Casuals - United Kingdom - Lambretta - Pete Meaden - Mods & Rockers - Pop art - Quadrophenia (film) - Roundel - Scooter - Scooterboy - Sharpies - Skinhead - Suedehead - Swinging London - Speed (drug) - Twisted Wheel - Union Jack - Youth subculture - Vespa |
| Music |
| 2 Tone - Acid Jazz - Beat music - Blue-eyed soul - Blue Beat - British Invasion - Britpop - Freakbeat - Garage rock - Jazz - Mod revival - Modern soul - Motown - Northern Soul - Power Pop - Psychedelic rock - Reggae - R&B - Rocksteady - Soul - Ska - Stax Records - Trojan Records |
| Clothing |
| Ben Sherman - Bespoke tailoring - Brogues - Carnaby Street - Chelsea boot - Fishtail parka - Fred Perry - Harrington - Levi's - Loafers - Parka - Sta-Prest - Suit |
| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Twiggy |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Lesley Hornby, Twiggy Lawson |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Model, Actress, Singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 19 September 1949 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Neasden, London, England |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |