Lily Cole

Lily Cole (born May 19, 1988) is an English supermodel and actress.

Cole was born in Torquay, England, and raised in London with her two siblings. A chance encounter began her modelling career when she was fourteen. She was walking through the streets of Soho after a hamburger with friends when scout-turned actor Benjamin Hart approached her. Cole ran, fearing she was being chased by 'some dodgy guy' but after being asked to consider modelling, she accepted and was signed on with Storm Models, the mother agency of supermodels such as Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford.

Despite her successful modelling career, Cole retains a commitment to her education - achieving straight 'A's in her A-level examinations in English, Politics, Drama, History and Philosophy and Ethics at Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith where she was awarded the Mikdadi Prize for Politics in 2006. Before that she attended St Marylebone Secondary School. She gained a place to read Social and Political Sciences at King's College, Cambridge, but deferred entry until 2007.

She has appeared in campaigns for Moschino.

Cole's big break came in 2003 when her long limbs, pale skin and fiery red hair caught photographer Steven Meisel's eye. It was on that photoshoot, her first 'only girl' story for Italian Vogue, that Cole was catapulted into the spotlight as one of the leading new faces of the year. Since then, Cole has worked with many other prominent photographers, including Craig McDean, Nick Knight, Juergen Teller, Arthur Elgort, and Irving Penn.

Cole is featured in top fashion magazines such as Vogue (American, Italian, British, Japanese and Korean), Citizen K, and V. She has also appeared on the cover of Numero and twice for British Vogue. In November 2004, the British Fashion Awards named her 'Model of the Year'. Additionally, Cole has appeared in advertising campaigns for designers such as Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Hermès, Longchamp, Cacharel, Topshop, and Anna Sui Cosmetics, as well as being the face for Moschino's perfume 'I Love Love.'

She is a common sight on the catwalks of the international runway circuit and has walked many top shows- Chanel, DKNY, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, and Louis Vuitton, to name a few. People who worked with her say she is warm and friendly in person.

Cole is part of the group of supermodels who have "doll-like" or "elfin" features along with Heather Marks, Gemma Ward, and Devon Aoki. She is also one of the few red-headed models with very successful careers, others being Cintia Dicker, Jessica Stam (who currently sports blond hair), and Karen Elson.

In February 2006, Indiewire.com broke the news that Marilyn Manson planned to star Cole in his upcoming movie Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll. Shorts from the movie have been featured on his website and a feature length film is also planned.

Cole has been announced as the follow up model for Accessorize, taking the place of model Claudia Schiffer. She also appears in the video for Girls Aloud and Sugababes' cover of "Walk This Way" in aid of comic relief.

In April 2007, it was announced that she would play the role of Polly in the new St. Trinians film, alongside Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Jodie Whittaker and Stephen Fry.