They have it all. Today’s high fashion models are rich, famous, svelte and have access to the world’s most coveted clothing lines. So, is it greedy of them to continue to strive for something even greater?
For decades, it has been the goal of the best and the brightest fashion models to achieve even greater superstardom. Today’s models are striving to fit into the Hollywood lifestyle of models-turned-actresses like Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie and Vanessa Williams.
Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley snagged Megan Fox’s role as Shia LaBeuof’s lover in the latest Transformers flick. She proved to audiences worldwide that she can do much more than pose in a swimsuit and purse her lips.
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| A poster for Transformers 3. |
Recently Brooklyn Decker joined some of Hollywood’s A-listers Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston in Just Go With It; Lily Cole landed a role in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus; and fashion mogul Heidi Klum even snatched up a role in the children’s movie, Ella Enchanted.
So what does this all mean? Is modeling truly just a stepping stone into the more prestigious world of acting?
Lily Cole realizes that she is a now a member of the stereotypical actress/model club. Although she says acting has always been her passion, she believes modeling was the pedestal that helped her reach her ultimate goal.
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| A scene from The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus featuring Lily Cole. |
“I’m not so naive to the fact that it has also really helped me,” said Cole. “I have a profile to be able to get the auditions and to perhaps have more options than if I had never modeled.”
Right now fashion fans are eagerly awaiting the acting debuts of some of the industry’s brightest stars: Sasha Pivovarova, Natalia Vodianova and Gemma Ward.
Ward, who retired from the modeling world at the tender age of 21, has already dipped her feet into some small film roles. She has now been hired as the newest addition to Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation of The Great Gatsby.
Let’s flash back to NY Fashion Week circa 2007. For the first time in years, Ward would not walk in any shows at the star-studded event. Coinciding with her hiatus, photos began to surface of the once bone-thin 5’10” model now looking more filled out and “normal”.
IMG, who have represented Ward since her 14-year-old debut, had no problem admitting that her time had come to an end.
“Her moment’s over,” said the IMG source, “She’s not coming back.”
So for what reasons can we attribute her transition into acting? Did her speedy weight gain leave her shunned from the modeling world? Or, like many other models, has acting always been her predestined career?
Regardless of the answer, it is no question that the model-turned-actress trend is at the peak of its existence.
Hannah Button
