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The original supermodel waif who acquired her name for her stick-like figure (a radical departure from the curvaceous ideals of previous generations), 'Twiggy' (nee Leslie Hornby) burst upon the fashion scene and revolutionized it as a teenage icon of the "swinging 60s." Though the world will never forget her larger-than-life beginnings, she modeled a mere four years (and never walked a runway) before forsaking the industry to enjoy a respectable career in film, TV and the theater, although she did come out of retirement and allow herself to be photographed by the likes of John Fwanel and Annie Liebovitz during the 90s....

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Filmography

Woundings - ( Viv / 1998 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Kings X - ( - Cast / / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Istanbul: Keep Your Eyes Open - ( Maud / 1990 / Released / )
Madame Sousatzka - ( Jenny / 1988 / Released / Village Roadshow Pictures Worldwide )
Madame Sousatzka - ( Song Performer / 1988 / Released / Village Roadshow Pictures Worldwide )
Club Paradise - ( Phillipa Lloyd / 1986 / Released / Thirteen Distributing Company )
The Doctor and the Devils - ( Jenny Bailey / 1985 / Released / Brooksfilms International )
The Doctor and the Devils - ( Song Performer / 1985 / Released / Brooksfilms International )
The Blues Brothers - ( Chic Lady / 1980 / Released / )
There Goes the Bride - ( / 1979 / Released / Enterprise Pictures Ltd )
W - ( Katie Lewis / 1974 / Released / )
The Boy Friend - ( Polly / 1971 / Released / )

TV Credits
America's Next Top Model: Exposed ( 2008 / Released ): Actor
part 2 ( 2008 )
TV Episode Judge

Part 1 ( 2008 )
TV Episode Judge

ShakespeaRe-Told ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
TV Episode Mrs Minola

TV Episode Mrs Minola

America's Next Top Model ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
TV Episode Judge

TV Episode Judge

TV Episode Judge

TV Episode Judge

Absolutely Fabulous ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The Beatles Revolution ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
The Hollywood Fashion Machine ( 1999 / Released ): Actor
Princesses ( 1991 / Released ): Actor
The Nanny ( Released ): Actor
Twiggy's Juke Box ( Released ): Actor

Full Biography (Back to top)


The original supermodel waif who acquired her name for her stick-like figure (a radical departure from the curvaceous ideals of previous generations), 'Twiggy' (nee Leslie Hornby) burst upon the fashion scene and revolutionized it as a teenage icon of the "swinging 60s." Though the world will never forget her larger-than-life beginnings, she modeled a mere four years (and never walked a runway) before forsaking the industry to enjoy a respectable career in film, TV and the theater, although she did come out of retirement and allow herself to be photographed by the likes of John Fwanel and Annie Liebovitz during the 90s. When director Ken Russell asked her to star in his 1971 film version of "The Boy Friend", she replied, " ... I can't act, I can't sing and I can't dance." Advised by him to "get yourself off to class," she made a charming debut in his typically strange but highly enjoyable adaptation of Sandy Wilson's spoof of 1920s musicals, saying later: "I owe him an incredible debt; I probably would just have gone on modeling."

Twiggy's second feature, the thriller "W" (1974) paired her with future husband Michael Witney, and she later appeared in a small role in "The Blues Brothers" (1980) and played a would-be singer in "Madame Sousatzka" (1988, opposite second husband Leigh Lawson), among her other pictures. Though she worked in TV both at home in England and on CBS' short-lived sitcom, "Princesses" (1991), she has made her biggest impact on stage, beginning with her West End debut as "Cinderella" in 1974. In 1983 she reunited with her "Boy Friend" co-star Tommy Tune who was co-directing and starring in Broadway's "My One and Only", a reworking of the 1920s Gershwin classic "Funny Face". Acting in a 1997 London revival of Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" was the first step on the way to playing what may turn out to be a defining role of her career, that of Coward's platonic flame and frequent co-star Gertrude Lawrence. Of Lawrence, Agnes de Mille once said, "She can't sing, but who cares?", and Twiggy brought the same kind of star presence to her off-Broadway turn in "If Love Were All", a musical telling of the famous friendship to the accompaniment of 20 Coward songs.


Profession(s):
Actor, singer, model, hairdresser's assistant
Sometimes Credited As:
Leslie Hornby
Leslie Hornsby
Twiggy Hanson
Twiggy Lawson
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Family
daughter:Carly Witney (born on December 1, 1978; father, Michael Witney; studying animation at a university in Scotland c. 1999)
father:William Norman Hornby
husband:Leigh Lawson (born on July 21, 1945; married on September 23, 1988 in Tony Walton's Sag Harbor backyard; has son from relationship with actor Hayley Mills)
husband:Michael Witney (met during the filming of the psychodrama, "W" (1974); married on June 14, 1977 in Richmond, England; divorced; died of a heart attack in 1983 at age 52; struggled for years with alcoholism)
step-son:Jason Lawson (born c. 1976)
Companion(s)
Justin de Villeneuve , Companion , ```..introduced by his brother Tony with whom she worked; born c. 1939; together in the 1960s when he managed her career until c. 1972; gave her famous nickname of 'Twiggy', which evolved from brother Tony calling her 'Sticks'


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Education
Kilburn High School for Girls
Awards (Back to top)

Golden Globe Award Most Promising Newcomer-Female "The Boy Friend" 1971
Golden Globe Award Best Actress-Musical or Comedy "The Boy Friend" 1971

Milestones (Back to top)

2001 Co-hosted the English magazine program "This Morning"
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 pe
1998 Played Gertrude Lawrence in the biographical stage musical "Noel and Gertie" at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, Long Island
1997 Acted in London stage revival of Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit"
1991 Co-starred in the ill-fated CBS sitcom "Princesses"
1988 Had supporting role in "Madame Sousatzka", opposite second husband Leigh Lawson
1987 Played a vaudeville performer in the British TV special "The Little Match Girl"
1983 Broadway debut in the musical, "My One and Only", starring and co-staged by Tune; earned a Tony nomination
1981 Starred as Eliza Doolittle opposite Robert Powell in Yorkshire TV production of "Pygmalion"
1980 Made cameo appearance in "The Blues Brothers"
1974 Made West End stage debut in "Cinderella"
1974 Made second feature, the thriller "W/I Want Her Dead"; co-starred with future husband Michael Whitney
1971 Film debut 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
1967 Mattel issued a 'Twiggy Barbie'
Raised in Neasden, England
Originally nicknamed 'Sticks' because of her figure; later changed to 'Twigs' and then 'Twiggy'
Became a top fashion model in the 1960s
Appeared in several West End shows including "Captain Beaky Presents" and "Funny Face"; also toured in "Funny Face"
Hosted own British TV series, "Twigs" and "Twiggy and Friends"
Cast as Hannah Chaplin, mother to Charles, in the British TV-movie "Young Charlie Chaplin"; aired in US on PBS' "Wonderworks" in 1989



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