Liz Hurley landed a plump role as spokesmodel for Estée Lauder in 1995, such was the power of "that" dress - she had no prior modelling experience. She tried her hand at acting in 1999 as a spy in the hit "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me". That would prove to be her acting highpoint; in 2000, she starred in "Bedazzled" as the devil who granted Brendan Fraser seven wishes, one of which should have been: "Burn this film from movie history, please."
A big-name model in the Eighties, Andie MacDowell appeared in ad campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent and Armani. She turned to acting in the late Eighties, after taking classes at the Actors Studio. Her star rose in the early Nineties after the success of "Groundhog Day", but it was her turn in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" with Hugh Grant for which she is remembered. The 1994 film became the highest-grossing British film at the time, taking $245.7 million at the box office, and earned a nomination at the Oscars for Best Picture. The 53-year-old has been less prolific on the big screen since, with roles mostly in television.
Agyness Deyn is dipping her toes into the acting world in new film 'Pusher'; which other models have turned actresses over the years?
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ameron Diaz, 38, began her career with Elite Model Management, landing campaigns with
Calvin Klein and Levi's. Her breakthrough, though, came in 1994, with the film, "The Mask". The comedy made stars out of its leads, Jim Carrey, and Diaz, who was awarded the part of Tina Carlyle, despite having no previous acting experience. The sunny Californian native has never looked back, with a diverse CV that covers everything from comedies ("There's Something About Mary") to period pieces ("Gangs of New York") and animation (the "Shrek" films).
Compiled by Phong Luu.
Halle Berry regularly tops the lists of the world's most beautiful women these days, but the Ohio-born star's beauty has been celebrated since her youth; she won the Miss Teen All-American Pageant in 1985. The 44-year-old actress dabbled with modelling, but acting called early on when she landed a role in the television series, "Living Dolls" in 1989. Things didn't take off instantly, though - her most memorable role in the Nineties was the dire "The Flintstones". However, she proved she was more than just eye candy in 1998's "Bulworth", portraying a street-smart young woman who takes up with a struggling politician, but it was "Monster's Ball" which cemented her status. That role earned her the Oscar for Best Actress in 2001, the first African-American actress to win the accolade. Then "Catwoman" happened...
Born Mary Laurence Hutton in 1943, Lauren Hutton started ger career with Ford Modelling Agency, notching up countless covers for
"Vogue". She was also the original "Charlie" girl. Her debut in acting came in 1968, when she was selected to play the only major female character in "Paper Lion". She starred opposite Richard Gere in "American Gigolo" in 1980, but good roles were few and far between thereafter. Nowadays, she continues to juggle modelling and film duties: she walked in Tom Ford's comeback show last September and starred in "The Joneses" with Demi Moore and David Duchovny in 2009.
