Short Biography

Twiggy (born Lesley Hornby; 19 September 1949) is an English supermodel, actress, and singer, now also known by her married name of Twiggy Lawson. A 1960s model 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 appeared as a judge on the reality show America`s Next Top Model. She now models for Marks and Spencer to promote their recent rebranding, and appears in seasonal TV commercials with others such as Myleene Klass, as well as other forms of media for the campaigns.

Early life
Twiggy was raised in the London suburb of Neasden, the daughter of Helen (Nellie) Lydia Hornby (née Reeman), a counter-girl at a Woolworth`s store and factory worker at a printing firm, and William Norman Hornby, a master carpenter and joiner. She attended the Brondesbury and Kilburn High School in Salusbury Road, Kilburn.
In 1966, Nigel Davies noticed the young Lesley Hornby and offered her a modeling contract. She was only 16 and weighed 6½ stone (41 kg, 90 lbs).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 modeling 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; however, she became an icon and a supermodel. Known for the high fashion mod look created by Mary Quant, Twiggy changed the world of fashion with her short-haired androgynous look. She was also famous for drawing long, fake eyelashes under her bottom lashes.

Twiggy was regarded as one of the faces of 1960s Swinging London, along with other models, such as Jean Shrimpton and Celia Hammond. On 16 June 1967, Capitol Records released Twiggy`s first single for the label "When I Think Of You" with "Over And Over" on the B-side. In early 1968, she toured Japan and filmed advertisements for Toyota Motors and Choco Flakes breakfast cereal. In 1969 she did advertising work in the United States for Diet Pepsi Cola.
Life after modeling
After four years of modeling, 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. 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.

She 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 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 Sayer and Carly Simon.

Miscellaneous Information

Friends and Family

Carly Witney [Mother]

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