Lily Cole

Birthday: 27 December 1987, Torquay, Devon, England, UK

Birth Name: Lily Luahana Cole

Height: 179 cm

Lily began working as an actress when she was 6 years old, then returned to film when she was 16 in Marilyn Manson's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. In 2009 she played the female lead in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus. Since then she has made over fifteen films with esteemed directors including Sally Potter, Shekhar Kapur, Roland Joffe, Mary Harron and Rian Johnson; performed at the Globe theatre and The Old Vic theatre. Lily wrote and presented a six-part TV series on contemporary art for Sky Arts, shoots photography and directed her first short film Wild Rubber in 2012.Lily has worked with notable photographers and artists from Steven Meisel to Gilliam Wearing. She was the youngest model to appear on the cover of British Vogue, and was listed by French Vogue as one of the top 30 models of the 2000s. As an advocate for sociopolitical and environmental issues, Lily has employed technology, writing, filmmaking and public speaking as means to build awareness and encourage dialogue. Lily was awarded a First Class BA in History of Art from Cambridge University in 2011. In 2013 she co-founded Impossible.com: a technology company that uses technology to solve social and environmental problems.Lily has spoken at Davos, Google's Zeitgeist, Wired and Web Summit, was an affiliate at the Berkman Center at Harvard University, and holds an Honorary Doctor of Letters from GCU. Lily is a patron of the EJF and has worked significantly with WWF. She writes often for national and international press. 'Impossible Utopias', originally submitted as the thesis for her undergraduate degree, is Lily's first book. Show less «

Marilyn Monroe and Vivienne Leigh are real icons of mine. In terms of visual culture, they are both ...Show more »

Marilyn Monroe and Vivienne Leigh are real icons of mine. In terms of visual culture, they are both so iconic. There weren't any paparazzi shots of them falling out of taxis, so they will always look so incredible. Show less «

I'm just a lipgloss, blush and mascara kind of girl. I like playing with a bright lipstick or a heav...Show more »

I'm just a lipgloss, blush and mascara kind of girl. I like playing with a bright lipstick or a heavy eye... But not together! Show less «

I found going to school when I was modeling very grounding. It's really kept my perspective on bigge...Show more »

I found going to school when I was modeling very grounding. It's really kept my perspective on bigger things in my life. Show less «

Don't overpluck your eyebrows. A make-up artist told me this once, and I've always remembered it.

Talent is crucial. It needs to be driven by motivation, but blind ambition isn't the key.

People do make assumptions about models. That's their issue, not mine. It doesn't bother me because ...Show more »

People do make assumptions about models. That's their issue, not mine. It doesn't bother me because I'm comfortable enough in my own skin - I know who I am. Show less «

I part-own a bookshop for some strange coincidence of reasons, and it is one of the best things I pa...Show more »

I part-own a bookshop for some strange coincidence of reasons, and it is one of the best things I part-own in my life, or own in my life. I do not know, it just feels great. Show less «

I don't believe there's an afterlife - but I don't believe there's an end to life. Consciousness goe...Show more »

I don't believe there's an afterlife - but I don't believe there's an end to life. Consciousness goes beyond the bounds of your body. Show less «

The need to protect the environment has emerged as an undeniably important priority for me.

The relationship between art and a job is not quite linear, but I really love any and all manifestat...Show more »

The relationship between art and a job is not quite linear, but I really love any and all manifestations of art, really respect any kind of artistic impulse, whether it's paintings and sculptures or really good filmmaking or music. I really see the relationships between these different mediums as very fluid. Show less «

When I was younger, I definitely did face anti-ginger prejudice. As a child, all teasing hurts, whet...Show more »

When I was younger, I definitely did face anti-ginger prejudice. As a child, all teasing hurts, whether it's because you're fat or a different race or have red hair. I had enough comments from a couple of people to make it a sore point. Show less «

It's hard to appreciate the importance of the rainforest because it seems so far away, but it's vita...Show more »

It's hard to appreciate the importance of the rainforest because it seems so far away, but it's vital to the survival of the planet as we know it. Show less «

As users of the Internet, we all have a role to play in defining what we want it to be.

America has had an influence on me, as has going out with a Cuban-American guy and having lots of Am...Show more »

America has had an influence on me, as has going out with a Cuban-American guy and having lots of American friends. But I am still fundamentally British and speak with a British accent and feel very English. Show less «

I'm not sure if it's fair to call it a 'fairy tale,' but I really loved 'Mulan,' the Disney film. It...Show more »

I'm not sure if it's fair to call it a 'fairy tale,' but I really loved 'Mulan,' the Disney film. It was my favorite. I guess it's not really a fairy tale, but you do get Eddie Murphy as a dragon. Show less «

There is a degree of role-playing in modeling, for sure, and you're also in a high-profile job - the...Show more »

There is a degree of role-playing in modeling, for sure, and you're also in a high-profile job - there are lots of similarities for sure. But when I'm acting, I've got to try and be present, and I've got to be emotionally committed to a character, both physically and intellectually. Show less «

It's not that I don't believe in creativity and innovation and new ideas, and the creativity that co...Show more »

It's not that I don't believe in creativity and innovation and new ideas, and the creativity that comes with fashion, which I really respect. But one of my biggest concerns is just how cheap we expect everything to be. Show less «

I love yoga. I don't do it as much as I'd like to, but I feel wonderful when I do.

I was of the type who gets bullied rather than the one who does the bullying, which I'm glad about. ...Show more »

I was of the type who gets bullied rather than the one who does the bullying, which I'm glad about. I'd rather be that than a bully. Show less «

I kind of see clothes a bit like role-playing, depending what mood I'm in.

There's an inherent contradiction between appreciating the beauty of clothes and creativity and indi...Show more »

There's an inherent contradiction between appreciating the beauty of clothes and creativity and individuality, and the waste around the ideas of trends and seasons. Show less «

I always used to love couture because it was more theatrical than the runways. The runways always fe...Show more »

I always used to love couture because it was more theatrical than the runways. The runways always felt more like part of the machine. Show less «

Every time I have to try on a wig for work, I get excited about the colour; I've often thought about...Show more »

Every time I have to try on a wig for work, I get excited about the colour; I've often thought about going for a platinum bob or also raven black, as it looks so great against pale skin. But I always end up being loyal to my red colour. Show less «

It doesn't make me very happy to be on my computer all the time. I've never been drawn to that world...Show more »

It doesn't make me very happy to be on my computer all the time. I've never been drawn to that world. Show less «

In British culture, redheads get teased at school. But I've grown up enough to realize I love my hai...Show more »

In British culture, redheads get teased at school. But I've grown up enough to realize I love my hair. Show less «

The average Londoner knows just one neighbour. I travel a lot, and I'm always surprised by the stron...Show more »

The average Londoner knows just one neighbour. I travel a lot, and I'm always surprised by the strong sense of community in some countries. We've lost something fundamentally human, and we don't even realise it. Show less «

I love modeling but also see it as a platform for the million other things I want to achieve and cre...Show more »

I love modeling but also see it as a platform for the million other things I want to achieve and create in life. Show less «

I usually have a lip balm in my bag and mascara as well. I don't really wear much make-up, but I lik...Show more »

I usually have a lip balm in my bag and mascara as well. I don't really wear much make-up, but I like mascara because I've got fair colouring. Show less «

I think a lot of the most interesting work in art and in films are often kind of polarized opinions ...Show more »

I think a lot of the most interesting work in art and in films are often kind of polarized opinions and affect people in very different ways, which may be less successful commercially, but they elicit a dialogue that's quite interesting. Show less «

I'll always try to follow my heart into things I love, and modelling is not something I'm dreaming o...Show more »

I'll always try to follow my heart into things I love, and modelling is not something I'm dreaming of pursuing forever. Show less «

I paint - I tend more to abstraction - but not as much as I would like to because of time. I would l...Show more »

I paint - I tend more to abstraction - but not as much as I would like to because of time. I would love to do sculpture - I've toyed with the idea of fitting in a sculpture course. Show less «

I was like most teenagers. I wanted to look more conventional - you know, to just be the pretty girl...Show more »

I was like most teenagers. I wanted to look more conventional - you know, to just be the pretty girl in school. Show less «

I have set up several businesses as social businesses, and I am a great believer that the power of b...Show more »

I have set up several businesses as social businesses, and I am a great believer that the power of business should be used for good. Show less «

I've always gone after fears and tried to stifle them by doing them. It is daunting, but it's more r...Show more »

I've always gone after fears and tried to stifle them by doing them. It is daunting, but it's more rewarding. Show less «

I'm not against people buying clothes; I think clothes are wonderful, and I'm very materialistic mys...Show more »

I'm not against people buying clothes; I think clothes are wonderful, and I'm very materialistic myself - but there's a way of finding a compromise. I just think we can buy less and pay more, to make sure people aren't being exploited. Show less «

If I'm anywhere close to where I can hike or swim, that's my favourite thing to do.

I think models have a lot less power than they did in the '80s, when there were, like, only 10 super...Show more »

I think models have a lot less power than they did in the '80s, when there were, like, only 10 supermodels who could dictate the rules, whereas now there's so many, and that changes the power dynamic and makes it a more insecure business. Show less «

Production chains, how consumers can drive change: all these things may seem at odds with fashion, b...Show more »

Production chains, how consumers can drive change: all these things may seem at odds with fashion, but arguably, they're not. Show less «

I've always cared about issues, always thought through problems. I don't know how much that comes fr...Show more »

I've always cared about issues, always thought through problems. I don't know how much that comes from my personality or my mum. Show less «

I don't think of myself as a role model for others, but I like to live my life by my own integrity. ...Show more »

I don't think of myself as a role model for others, but I like to live my life by my own integrity. So, in that sense, I might be a positive influence. I do believe you should get over your insecurities and just try to be the best you can. Show less «

As the generalization goes about the art industry, people can be really challenging and thought-prov...Show more »

As the generalization goes about the art industry, people can be really challenging and thought-provoking in their thinking and questioning the status quo, and it's really important that the status quo can be questioned and that there are people doing that. Show less «

I have to admit I've always had quite a complex relationship with modeling and with the idea of adve...Show more »

I have to admit I've always had quite a complex relationship with modeling and with the idea of advertising: not always knowing what I'm advertising and selling. Show less «

I have made a living off the way I look, and I have really learnt to accept myself for being unusual...Show more »

I have made a living off the way I look, and I have really learnt to accept myself for being unusual. Show less «

With acting, if I'm any good at it, my modeling career would never be a hindrance but would rather b...Show more »

With acting, if I'm any good at it, my modeling career would never be a hindrance but would rather be a help. And if I'm not, then it doesn't really matter. Show less «

I love beautiful things; I like having nice clothes, and I can appreciate why other people do - but ...Show more »

I love beautiful things; I like having nice clothes, and I can appreciate why other people do - but I've also started to learn more about the impact of what we buy: how things are made, how much you buy and the quality of everything. Show less «

Modelling, fashion and film have all encouraged me to learn more about issues and to feel empowered ...Show more »

Modelling, fashion and film have all encouraged me to learn more about issues and to feel empowered enough to do something about them. Show less «

It was a scandal when I did French 'Playboy' in 2008, though I was never actually nude in it. I thin...Show more »

It was a scandal when I did French 'Playboy' in 2008, though I was never actually nude in it. I think it's really funny that I'll have a cover of 'Playboy' to show my grandkids. Show less «

I don't personally follow trends; I don't even like the idea of trends. I think it's kind of absurd ...Show more »

I don't personally follow trends; I don't even like the idea of trends. I think it's kind of absurd that you have to change every six months, so I always try and buy things that hopefully I'll like forever, and resonate with me. Show less «

I think the media are so hypocritical a lot of the time in the way they chastise something just so t...Show more »

I think the media are so hypocritical a lot of the time in the way they chastise something just so that they can print it again. Show less «

I guess I try and learn all the time from every experience in life, so my thinking is a hybrid of ev...Show more »

I guess I try and learn all the time from every experience in life, so my thinking is a hybrid of everything. I'd have to attribute some of that to my work in the fashion industry - in some obscure way. Show less «

Life is shining a light through a magnifying glass on me, looking for me to stumble. I think that's ...Show more »

Life is shining a light through a magnifying glass on me, looking for me to stumble. I think that's my biggest fear. Show less «

Giving triggers social cohesion. It's also the basis for an economy not based on money.

I started modeling at 14. It's simple. You respond to what the photographer wants and wear other peo...Show more »

I started modeling at 14. It's simple. You respond to what the photographer wants and wear other people's ideas. I got bored with it, though, so I went to university. Show less «

Acting is something I've done since I was six years old, performing for my mum and my family in the ...Show more »

Acting is something I've done since I was six years old, performing for my mum and my family in the living room, and I do it because my heart's in it. Show less «

There are so many great, great vintage clothes to find; there's a whole territory unexplored there.

The narrative of so many fairy tales are timeless in so many different cultures, and they have been ...Show more »

The narrative of so many fairy tales are timeless in so many different cultures, and they have been since the dawn of man. They represent escapism, but they all feature themes that have such poignancy in a modern world. Show less «

Lily Cole

Lily Cole's FILMOGRAPHY

Lily Cole'S roles

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