Twiggy

For other uses, see Twiggy (disambiguation).

Dame
Twiggy
DBE
Twiggy in 2023
Born
Lesley Hornby

(1949-09-19) 19 September 1949 (age 75)
Neasden, Middlesex, England
Other names
  • Twiggy
  • Twig the Wonderkid
Occupations
  • Model
  • actress
  • singer
Years active1966–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1977; died 1983)​
​
​
(m. 1988)​
Children1
Modelling information
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Hair colourBlonde
Eye colourBlue
AgencyModels 1

Dame Lesley Lawson DBE (née Hornby; born 19 September 1949), widely known by the nickname Twiggy, is an English model, actress, and singer. She was a British cultural icon and a prominent teenage model during the swinging '60s in London.

Twiggy was initially known for her thin build and the androgynous appearance considered to result from her big eyes, long eyelashes, and short hair.[1][2] She was named "The Face of 1966" by the Daily Express[3] and voted British Woman of the Year.[4] By 1967, she had modelled in France, Japan, and the US, and had appeared on the covers of Vogue and The Tatler. Her fame had spread worldwide.[4]

After modelling, Twiggy had a successful career as a screen, stage, and television actress. Her role in The Boy Friend (1971) earned her two Golden Globe Awards. In 1983, she made her Broadway debut in the musical My One and Only, for which she received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She later hosted her own series, Twiggy's People, in which she interviewed celebrities, and appeared as a judge on the reality show America's Next Top Model. Her 1998 autobiography Twiggy in Black and White entered the best-seller lists.[3] Since 2005, she has modelled for Marks and Spencer, appearing in television advertisements and print media. She has been credited for the company's successful revival at that time.

  1. ^ Best Models of All Time: #7 Twiggy Harper's Bazaar.
  2. ^ Roberts, Yvonne (2 November 2005). "Twiggy's wrinkles". The Guardian. London.
  3. ^ a b "Biography". Twiggy – The Official Site. 2010. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Twiggy biography". Thebiographychannel.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010.