Elle Macpherson

Elle Macpherson (born March 29 1964, Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian supermodel and actress. Her nickname is “The Body”.

Related Topics:
March 29 - 1964 - Cronulla - New South Wales - Australia - Supermodel - Actress

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Born Eleanor Gow in Sydney, Australia, Macpherson was the eldest of four children. Her parents divorced when she was fourteen years old and her mother later married Neil MacPherson. Macpherson then changed her last name for her stepfather's.

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She studied one year of Law in the University of Sydney.

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While vacationing in Aspen, Colorado Macpherson was discovered and signed to Click Model Management. Macpherson became an international star through her appearance in ELLE magazine—every issue, for six straight years. At 21, she married Gilles Bensimon, a french photographer and creative manager of ELLE. Eventually she gained even more exposure through Sports Illustrated magazine?s annual swimsuit issue. She appeared on the cover a record four times, including three straight years.

Related Topics:
Aspen, Colorado - Click Model Management - ELLE - Sports Illustrated - Annual swimsuit issue

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By 1986, her popularity has increased sufficiently for Time magazine to run a cover entitled “The Big Elle”. The Australian government simultaneously offered her a post on the tourist commission as an unofficial ambassador.

Related Topics:
1986 - ''Time'' - Ambassador

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Macpherson made her movie debut playing an artist's model in the 1994 film Sirens, which also starred Hugh Grant and Sam Neill. Macpherson gained 9 kilograms (20lbs) for the part to more closely resemble the 1930s models of the day. She surprised fans and critics by appearing unabashedly in numerous nude scenes, earning her top billing for the film above more established actors (in fact, all the female characters in the movie appeared nude at least once in the film).

Related Topics:
1994 film - Sirens - Hugh Grant - Sam Neill - 1930s

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In 1999, Macpherson appeared in five episodes of the sitcom Friends as Joey's roommate—girlfriend Janine Lecroix.

Related Topics:
1999 - Sitcom - Friends

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Macpherson went on to film Jane Eyre with William Hurt and has also appeared alongside Ben Stiller and Sarah Jessica Parker in If Lucy Fell.

Related Topics:
Jane Eyre - William Hurt - Ben Stiller - Sarah Jessica Parker - If Lucy Fell

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Macpherson is the most financially successful of all the world's supermodels. A 1997 estimate placed her net assets at $40.3 million. Cindy Crawford was a relatively close second with $37.7 million.

Related Topics:
1997 - Cindy Crawford

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Understandably, Macpherson is incredibly popular in her home country of Australia. In 1999, she became the first living Australian entertainer to be put on a postage stamp.

Related Topics:
1999 - Postage stamp

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Elle is a partner in the Fashion Café restaurant, along with fellow models Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell, and is the owner of a successful lingerie brand, Elle Macpherson Intimates, which is manufactured by New Zealand company Bendon. She uses her fame to assist many charities, including those of AIDS and homelessness.

Related Topics:
Fashion Café - Claudia Schiffer - Christy Turlington - Naomi Campbell - Lingerie - Elle Macpherson Intimates - New Zealand - Bendon - AIDS - Homelessness

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Macpherson has two sons, Arpad Flynn Busson and Aurelius Cy Andre. Arpad's father is Arpad "Arkie" Busson, a Swiss financier. Macpherson and Busson were engaged in 2002 after a six-year relationship. Their relationship ended in July of 2005.

Related Topics:
Arpad Flynn Busson - Aurelius Cy Andre - Arpad "Arkie" Busson - 2002 - July - 2005

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