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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Daniel J. Travanti to Dick Vitale
Twiggy Biography (1949-)
Original name, Leslie Hornby; born September 19, 1949, in north London, England; daughter of William Norman (a carpenter) and Helen (maiden name, Reeman)Hornby; married Michael Witney (an actor; some sources spell name Michael Whitney), June 14, 1977 (divorced); married Leigh Lawson (an actor and director), September 23, 1988; children: (first marriage) Carly; stepchildren (secondmarriage): Jason. Addresses: Agent: Peters Fraser and Dunlop, Drury House, 34-43 Russell St., London WC2B 5HA, England.
- Nationality
- British
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Actress, singer, model, writer
- Birth Details
- September 19, 1949
- London, United Kingdom
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Film Appearances
- Herself, Popcorn (documentary; also known as Popcorn: An Audio-Visual Rock Thing), Sherpix, 1969
- Extra, The Devils (also known as The Devils of Loudon), Warner Bros., 1971
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Polly Browne, The Boy Friend (musical), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1971
- (Uncredited) All Talking ... All Singing ... All Dancing (short documentary), Kaleidoscope Films, 1971
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Katie Lewis, W (also known as I Want Her Dead and W Is the Mark of Death), Cinerama Releasing, 1974
- Herself, The Butterfly Ball (animated musical), Oyster Films, 1976
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Polly Perkins, There Goes the Bride, Vanguard,c. 1979
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Chic lady, The Blues Brothers, Universal, 1980
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Jennie Bailey, The Doctor and the Devils, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Phillipa Lloyd, Club Paradise, Warner Bros., 1986
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Jenny, Madame Sousatzka, Universal, 1988
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Maud, Istanbul (also known as Harem Hotel Istanbul and Istanbul, Keep Your Eyes Open), Omega Film & Television, 1989
- Viv, Woundings (also known as Brand New World), Isle of ManFilm Commission/Cinequanon/Muse Productions/Stone Canyon Entertainment, 1998
- Marlene Dicktrick, Edge of Seventeen, Blue Streak Films/Luna Pictures, 1998, Strand Releasing, 1999
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Television Appearances
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Series
- "Twiggs," Show of the Week, BBC-2, 1974
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Twiggy, BBC-2, 1975
- Host, Twiggy's Juke Box, syndicated, beginning c. 1978
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Twiggy and Friends, BBC, beginning c. 1980
- Princess Georgina "Georgy" De La Rue, Princesses, CBS, 1991
- Interviewer, Twiggy's People, Independent Television, 1998
- Guest presenter, OK! TV (also known as OK! Television), Independent Television, 1999
- Presenter, This Morning (also known as This Morning with Richard and Judy), Independent Television, beginning 2001
- Interviewer, Take Time with Twiggy, Granada Television, 2001
- Judge, America's Next Top Model (also known as America's Next Top Model Cycle 5,
America's Next Top Model 2, and ANTM), UPN, beginning 2005
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Miniseries
- Hannah Chaplin, Young Charlie Chaplin (also known as Charlie Chaplin and Charlie the Kid), Thames Television, 1988, broadcast onWonderWorks (also known as WonderWorks: Young Charlie Chaplin),PBS, 1989
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Movies
- (As Twiggy Lawson) Detective sergeant Charlotte "Charlie" Lawson, TheDiamond Trap, USA Network, 1988
- Fen Harris, Sun Child, Yorkshire Television, 1988
- (As Leslie Hornby) Cathy Matthews, "Eye," Body Bags (also known asJohn Carpenter Presents "Body Bags" and John Carpenter Presents "Mind Games"), Showtime, 1993
- (As Twiggy Lawson) Eve Hamel, Something Borrowed, Something Blue,CBS, 1997
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Specials
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Twiggy (documentary), Granada Television, 1967
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Twiggy in Hollywood (documentary), ABC, 1967
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Twiggy in New York (documentary), ABC, 1967
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Twiggy, Why? (documentary), ABC, 1967
- Song performer, Cole Porter in Paris, NBC, 1973
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Charles Aznavour Sings for You, BBC, 1975
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Bring on the Girls, Independent Television, 1976
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The Daily Mirror Supersonic Pop Club, Independent Television, 1976
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Portrait of ... Twiggy, Independent Television, 1976
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Roller Coaster, Independent Television, 1976
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, NBC, 1977
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Night out at the London Casino, Independent Television, 1977
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Noel Edmonds Presents Swap of the Pops, BBC, 1977
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Golden Gala, Independent Television, 1978
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Mike Yarwood in Person, BBC, 1978
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Ronnie Corbett's Thursday Special, BBC, 1978
- (As Leslie Hornsby) Host, Echoes of the Sixties, NBC, 1979
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Bonkers, Associated Television, 1979
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The Val Doonican Christmas Show, BBC, 1979
- (As Leslie Hornsby) The Donna Summer Special, ABC, 1980
- Eliza Doolittle, Pygmalion, Yorkshire Television, 1981
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Royal Variety Performance, Independent Television, 1983
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Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's Super Birthday Special, NBC, 1984
- (As Leslie Hornsby) The 1984 Miss USA Pageant, CBS, 1984
- Josie Roberts, The Little Match Girl (musical), Harlech Television, c. 1987
- Herself, The Royal Film Performance, BBC, 1989
- Sophie's mother, Sophie's World, BBC-2, 1995
- Herself, An Audience with the Spice Girls, Independent Television,1997
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Esther, BBC-2, 1997
- Herself, Carry on Snogging, Channel 4 (England), 1998
- Herself, The Beatles Revolution (documentary), ABC, 2000
- Herself, Fame, Fashion and Photography: The Real Blow Up (documentary), BBC, 2002
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Broadway's Lost Treasures (documentary), PBS, 2003
- Herself, The Rise of the Celebrity Class (documentary), BBC, 2004
- (Uncredited) Herself, Why I Hate the 60s: The Decade That Was Too Goodto Be True, BBC, 2004
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Cause Celeb, Community Channel, 2004, 2005
- Mrs. Minola, The Taming of Shrew (part of the Shakespeare Re-Toldseries), BBC, 2005
- Herself, TV Pop Rules!, Channel 4, 2005
- Appeared in a solo stand-up comedy show broadcast on Comedy Central during the early 1990s. Some sources cite appearances in Captain Beaky specials, BBC.
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Awards Presentations
- Presenter, The 46th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1974
- Presenter, British Screen Awards, BBC, 1975
- Presenter, The 56th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1984
- Presenter, BAFTA Awards, Independent Television, 1988
- Presenter, Evening Standard Film Awards, Independent Television, 1989
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Episodic
- Panelist, Juke Box Jury, BBC, 1967
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24 Hours, BBC, 1967, 1969
- Herself, "Twiggy," This Is Your Life, Independent Television, 1969
- Herself, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1971
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Cilla, Independent Television, 1974
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Personal Choice, BBC, 1974
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Parkinson, BBC, 1974, 1976, 1980, Independent Television, 2005
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The Likes of ... Twiggy, BBC, 1975
- Florence Cook, "Victorian Scandals," Frontiers of Science (also known as Frontiers of Science: Victorian Scandals), Granada Television,1976
- Herself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1976
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The Basil Brush Show, Independent Television, 1976
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Nationwide, BBC, 1976
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Musikladen, [West Germany (now Germany)], 1976, 1977
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Top of the Pops (also known as All New Top of the Pops andTOTP), BBC, multiple episodes in 1976, 1977, 1978
- Herself, Dinah! (also known as Dinah! & Friends), syndicated, 1977
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David Essex, Independent Television, 1977
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Russell Harty, Independent Television, 1977
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Supersonic, Independent Television, two episodes in 1977
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Swap Shop, BBC, 1977
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The Val Doonican Music Show, BBC, 1977, 1978
- Herself, America 2-Night, syndicated, 1978
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The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour, NBC, 1978
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Max with Love, Independent Television, 1979
- Music performer, Na sowas!, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (Germany),1985
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Wogan, BBC, 1985, 1986
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Aspel & Co., Independent Television, 1985, 1987, 1988
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Des O'Connor Tonight, Independent Television, 1985, 1998
- Herself, Good Morning Britain (also known as TV-am), Independent Television, c. 1985, 1989
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Joan Rivers: Can We Talk?, BBC-2, 1986
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Sunday, Sunday, Independent Television, 1989
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The Clive James Interview, BBC-2, 1991
- Felicity, "The New Arrival," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's "Tales from the Crypt"), HBO, 1992
- Jocelyn Sheffield, "Stop the Wedding, I Want to Get Off," The Nanny, CBS, 1994
- (As Twiggy Lawson) Lady Janet Whitly, "A Winter's Tale," Heartbeat, Independent Television, 1994
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Barrymore, BBC-2, 1995
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Showstoppers, BBC-2, 1995
- Squidge, Stick with Me Kid, The Disney Channel, 1996
- Herself, Angels de nit, TV3 (Televisio de Catalunya in Spain), 1996
- Herself, So Graham Norton, Channel 4 (England), 1999
- Herself, "Menopause," Absolutely Fabulous, BBC-2 and Comedy Central, 2001
- Herself, "Parralox," Absolutely Fabulous, BBC-2 and Comedy Central, 2001
- Herself, Celebrity, Ready, Steady, Cook, BBC, 2001
- Herself, Open House (also known as Open House with Gloria Hunniford), Channel 5 (England), 2001
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Star Lives, Independent Television, 2001
- Herself, Today with Des and Mel, Independent Television, 2003
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Heaven & Earth, BBC, 2003
- Herself, Breakfast, BBC, 2005
- Herself, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS, 2005
- Appeared in The Hollywood Fashion Machine, American Movie Classics.
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Pilots
- Princess Georgina "Georgy" De La Rue, Princesses, CBS, 1991
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Other
- Appeared in Go Go Go Said the Bird. Appeared in news broadcasts aswell as in footage broadcast on various channels.
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Stage Appearances
- Title role, Cinderella (pantomime), Casino Theatre, London, beginning 1974
- Herself, The Butterfly Ball (musical benefit), Royal Albert Hall,London, 1975
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Captain Beaky and His Musical Christmas (pantomime; also known asCaptain Beaky's Musical Christmas), Apollo Victoria Theatre, London, 1982
- Edith Herbert, My One and Only (musical; also known as My One and Only, the New Gershwin Musical), St. James Theatre, New York City, c.1983-84, also produced in Los Angeles
- Elvira, Blithe Spirit, Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, England, 1997
- Gertrude Lawrence, Noel and Gertie (musical), Bay Street Theatre,Sag Harbor, Long Island, NY, 1998
- Gertrude Lawrence, If Love Were All (musical; revised version of Noel and Gertie), Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City, 1999
- Elvira, Blithe Spirit, Bay Street Theatre, 2002
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The Play What I Wrote, Wyndham's Theatre, London, then Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, then Wyndham's Theatre again, all 2002
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Art, Bath Theatre Royal, Bath, England, 2003
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Peter Pan, Chicken Shed Theatre, Albery Theatre, London, 2004
- Good fairy, Jack and the Beanstalk (pantomime), Theatre Royal Brighton, Brighton, England, 2005-2006
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Major Tours
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My One and Only (musical; also known as My One and Only, the New Gershwin Musical), 1983
- Mrs. Warren, Mrs. Warren's Profession, English cities, 2003
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RECORDINGS
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Videos
- (In archive footage) Herself, Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets, 1985
- (In archive footage) Herself, A Bing Crosby Christmas, 1998
- Herself, The Best of So Graham Norton, United Film and TelevisionProduction, 2000
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Funny Ladies, Volume 4, 2004
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Albums
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I Need Your Hand in Mine, 1966, released under title Twiggy andthe Girlfriends, Ember Records, 1972
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Twiggy, Mercury, 1976
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Please Get My Name Right, Mercury, 1977
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Pieces of April, St. Michael, 1978
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Then He Kissed Me, Spartan Records, 1990
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London Pride: Songs of the London Stage, Varese Sarabande, 1996
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The Best of Twiggy, Spectrum Music, 1998
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Midnight Blue, Eureka, 2003
- Some sources say she recorded London Pride (Songs from the Brit Musicals), Varese Sarabande.
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Albums with Others
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The Boy Friend (original soundtrack), Columbia, 1971
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The Boy Friend (soundtrack excerpts and promotional radio interview), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1971
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Cole Porter in Paris, Bell Systems, 1973
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Captain Beaky and His Band, Polydor, 1977
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My One and Only (original Broadway cast recording), Atlantic, 1983
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The Doctor and the Devils (original soundtrack), Island Records, 1985
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The Boy Friend & Highlights from Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/EMI, 1990
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Twiggy and the Silver Screen Syncopaters, Fat Boy Records, 1995, released as Beautiful Dreams, Perfect Picnic, 1997
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A Hollywood Christmas, Varese Sarabande, 1996
- (With Twiggy Ramirez) "I Only Want to Be With You," Dead Man on Campus (soundtrack), DreamWorks, 1998
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If Love Were All (original cast recording), Varese Sarabande, 1999
- Narrator, Peter Pan (original cast recording), Chicken Shed, c. 2004
- (With Linda Thorson) A Snapshot of Swinging London, 2005
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Singles
- "Beautiful Dreams," c. 1966
- "A Room in Bloomsbury" (with Christopher Gable)/"You Are My Lucky Star"/"All I Do Is Dream of You," 1971
- "Zoo De Zoo Zong"/"Little Pleasure Acre," Bell Records, 1971
- "Here I Go Again"/"In Love Together," Mercury, 1976
- "Vanilla Olay"/"Good for You Too," Mercury, 1976
- "Please Get My Name Right," Mercury, 1977
- "Rings"/"Please Get My Name Right," Mercury, 1977
- "Tomorrow Is Another Day"/"After All These Years" (instrumental), 1977
- "A Woman in Love"/"I Lie Awake and Dream of You," 1977
- "Falling Angel," Mercury, 1978
- "Feel Emotion"/"Feel Emotion" (instrumental version), 1985
- "Feel Emotion" (extended mix), 1985
- "Diamond"/"Lies, Lies," Arista, 1986
- "Diamond" (extended mix), Arista, 1986
- "Winter Wonderland"/"Needles and Pins," 1989
- Singles also released in other countries.
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Audiobooks
- Val McDermid, "Breathtaking Ignorance," More Whodunnits, PolyGramSpoken Word, 1995
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WRITINGS
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Nonfiction
- (Some sources cite another author) Twiggy: How I Probably Just Came Along on a White Rabbit at the Right Time, and Met the Smile on the Face of theTiger, Hawthorne Books, 1968
- (With Penelope Denning) Twiggy (also known as Twiggy: An Autobiography), Hart-Davis, 1975, reissued under title Twiggy in Black and White, Simon & Schuster, 1998
- (With Angela Neustatter) Twiggy's Guide to Looking Good (also known as Open Look: Twiggy's Guide to Looking and Feeling Good), Robson Books, 1985
- Also the author of Unlimited Twiggy. Twiggy's books have been published in other languages. Affiliated with the magazine Twiggy: Her Mod ModTeen World.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
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American Decades, Gale, 1998
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St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, St. James Press, 2000
Periodicals
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Closer, October 26, 2002
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Evening Standard Hot Tickets, February 4, 2000, p. 29
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Good Housekeeping, October, 2002, pp. 162-64
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Hello!, September 8, 2005
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New York Times, June 7, 1999
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OK!, March 23, 2004, pp. 120-23
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S:2, November 30, 2003
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Time Out New York, May 13, 1999
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Top Model, July, 1997, pp. 78-81
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TV Guide, October 2, 2005, p. 18
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USA Today, July 25, 1991
Electronic
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Twiggy Lawson--The Official Site, http://www.twiggylawson.co.uk, December 8, 2005
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