angela-model-feature

MODEL

TO ACTRESS

TO PUBLISHER

Television series ‘The Professionals’

Hawaii (Maui)

I suppose it was always obvious, a sort TV SERIES
of right-in-front of your face type article,
that has been there for so long they hadn’t MINDER
even thought of it. So you can imagine
my delight when this, with two other KENYA
feature ideas I had submitted for editorial
approval, were all given the green light
– a sort of ‘go ahead but be
careful’ type sanction.
Fromauniqueinsiderperspective, writer
Alex T Chambers, interviews Celebrity’s My main occupation is that
of a provincial newspaper
Angela Ross about her life as a former journalist,Alex Chambers,
successful model and actress. but I have also done some
part-time modelling over
recent years. So in a way,
I had already (sort of) been
following the modelling
footsteps one of Celebrity’s publishers,
Angela, a former London model. So while
in Mallorca on my last trip I decided to
contact them and see if they would be
interested in a few story ideas that I had
been working on.

Whist I have been treading the catwalks
and doing photo shoots in Manchester I
had become increasingly interested in the
heritage of this profession, so knowing a
little of Angela’s earlier career by the odd
snippet in Celebrity, I decided to get in
touch with her, someone who had redefined
what it is to have been a model, actress
and now a business woman. Through her
eyes, I wanted to know how the modelling
scene has changed, or even how it hasn’t,
is it possibly still the same after all these
years, with no changes at all?
To me, no one in our industry better
personifies a career trajectory thanAngela,
she seems to have always been in full
control of her career path – taking it from
a simple appearance in fashion editorials
with the Local Manchester Evening News,
to being one of the very top models in
Manchester. Then subsequently moving

Continued overleaf -

Celebrity Features Angela freely admits that there was no period in her modelling
and acting career where she actually struggled to make her
to London, and literally, travelling the world on major label mark. The Evening News fashion spreads featuring Angela
and brand name assignments. soon brought interest from other Manchester photographers,
and invitations to call in at the big studios for castings soon
She was brought up in the North East of England, and like started arriving. She was new, a fresh faced blonde and she
me, in her early teens never seemed to have entertained any had the perfect figure – the work began pouring in.
fantasies at all of modelling. Her moment really came when a well known London
photographer requested to see her with the view to her joining
But in her case, fate took a hand when a friend working three other models for a four day shoot. Angela talks of not
at Granada Television offices told her they were looking being over keen on travelling all the way to London just on
for a new face, someone to represent Granada at events. the whim of a photographer who had seen her photograph,
They were holding an open casting. It wasn’t to be a beauty and may, or may not want her for his shoot. What Angela
contest, they didn’t want swimsuit girls or known models, didn’t know at the time was that the booking was with three
but someone new and fresh. It was to be more a personality of London’s top established models, and the shoot was in
piece, where a few selected girls would be given a film unit Switzerland for a leading drink brands national campaign.
with the chance to produce a three-minute piece – simply Suddenly the world changed, pure glamour, chauffeured
presenting themselves - and also it had to be someone who cars, and a private jet to Switzerland. Working with top
the camera loved (an old expression, but this is still very professionals, being treated as a star, one of a select group
much poignant today). being given full VIP treatment where ever they went – she
Angela was put forward, subsequently short-listed, and a
week later she was given her film crew – the final result
was that she was chosen by the studio producers and the
Woman’s Editor of the Manchester Evening News (Winny

VISIT One ofAngela’s model agency cards Launched as the George Best model

MALTA

Walsh) as their new face. Besides television work from didn’t even dare think so far as to believe she had finally
Granada, this also formed a bond between herself and the arrived, that she had made it to the top. Everything was ‘more
Manchester Evening News, where Angela started to appear is more’ – from make-up, to hair, to cloths and accessories,
almost every week on their fashion pages. fashion assistants, make-up artists, stylists, every need was
This consequently attracted the attention of the Manchester pampered for.
based model agency, Pamela Holt. Within weeks Angela Inevitably the regular travelling from Manchester to London
found herself signed up by the agency and taking part in a was taking it’s toll, and Angela finally decided to make the
hectic modelling course. move, re-locating to North London on a permanent basis.
“It was different then” Angela explains, “to be a model Here she was immediately snapped up by one of the top
was a far more a hard working career than it is now, there London agencies, ‘Top Models’, (next to Tottenham Court
was no X Factor, or reality show style short cuts, no way of Road, central London), where Angela soon found that the
becoming an instantly known face or celebrity. You had to castings were for the top jobs, exotic locations, and the jet
train, to learn to walk, even how to get out of a car – elegantly set life style.
and without showing your panties (although these days She also found that the London modelling social scene was
you would probably get more points for showing them!!). much stronger, much more demanding and more vibrant
This was the days when a model had to ensure that gloves, than the provinces, “Here you have to learn to limit yourself,
handbags and shoes all matched. Also it was important I was never a party girl” admits Angela, “Modelling is what
knowing the correct make-up for the different photo shoots, I did, not what I was! Of course there was the obvious
having the wardrobe that the photographer had requested, nights at premiers, openings of top restaurants. There were
the whole process of learning never really stopped”. always the trendy nightclubs like Tramp, The Playboy, or

Annabel’s, all who quickly opened their doors to the known Celebrity Features
models whose names were always on their VIP list. “
Angela continues, “One of my earliest jobs from the London his manager – that’s how life was in our world.”
agency was for the Israeli Tourist Board. I remember being
invited to the casting, which I assumed would be a private Ken and Rod became friends, with Ken working with Rod
affair, but when I arrived I found there were over thirty girls both in Paris, Hollywood, and doing his publicity pictures
in this huge room. Two hours later I found myself walking on tour all around America
out into the street, thinking that I hadn’t stood a chance next
to those flash London girls. “Actress Susan George, Vicki Michelle (‘Allo ‘Allo!), and
Next day the phone rang, it was the agency telling me that I’d other models like Jilly Johnston were my close friends,
been offered the assignment. This was absolutely amazing, but even my limited partying would include people like
a week later I boarded a private jet and was flown to Israel, Christopher Reeves (Superman), Dudley Moore, Ringo Star
once there having a photo-shoot at each of the famous and many, many more musicians and film stars who you
locations. The Golden Dome in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, would normally only see on the silver screen.”
Eilat’s beautiful beaches, and the amazing architectural
ruins in some of its most beautiful cities. It was for a huge Angela soon became one of those names on the valued VIP
world-wide campaign and the photo-shoots went on and lists, this even more relevant after being chosen by football-
on, whilst the schedule and the travelling was exhausting, it legend George Best as one the of three models he would
was also a time I truly fell in love with the country and it’s exclusively use to launch his own fashion line. This was
people, one of the most enjoyable assignments, one that I big news in the national press, with photographs of her now
will never forget”. appearing worldwide
Have things changed for models now I ask, “The expected
social side of a model’s life today probably hasn’t changed
very much, the pressure to socialise, to attend parties after a

Abecita of Sweden...

Front page news of Angela’s wedding London Transport bus poster

There was even a short spell when Angela appeared in the shoot is no doubt still there. I always remember the pressure
Sun Newspaper, they booking her for fashion spreads and from clients, the photographers, and even on occasions
their Page Three. She was hugely popular with the Sun, your own agency - all wanting you to fulfil some supposed
but these were different times, much more status and with obligation to progress your career. There were a few of us
the paper having massive financial budgets. She found who would always turn these offers down, it didn’t stand
herself working with many other top models such as Linda well with some photographers but those were not the people
Lusardi and Nina Carter. Angela adds, “However my career I wanted to work with anyway. So I stood my ground,
was getting more hectic and demanding, I was constantly obviously attending the more formal corporate evening
travelling all over the world. Then next I had to sign some parties or after shoot celebrations, but at least working this
exclusivity contracts with some big advertisers, so the way you gained the right sort of reputation – as a professional
newspaper part of my career came to a natural end, it had working model”.
been short, but fun.” When asked what was the number-one mistake she sees
To illustrate what life was like as a model in London,Angela models make today, she replies; “not sticking to their first
tells me about one evening when she was at Morton’s, (the instincts, you can trust people - but you can also be seriously
very exclusive private club in Berkley Square, Mayfair), and let down. It happens to us all, especially for an unsuspecting
how she met one of her favourite male singers there. “ I was new girl, she can be a very venerable and a trusting target,
with Ken who I thought was not giving me his full attention, even amongst other models it can be very cut-throat industry.
he was chatting away to this guy and they were totally It’s all too easy to be flattered and encouraged and to be one
engrossed in ‘men talk’, so leaning around, and about to say of the crowd. I always said, an early night (alone) is the best
something sarcastic, I found that he was deep in conversation thing for your career.
with his newly found friends, ‘super star’ Rod Stewart and When partying, stick within your own social circle, (although

Continued overleaf -

Celebrity Features the normal fee plus repeats, these repeats can come in
for several years, and were very lucrative – ‘mortgage
admittedly usually other models, photographers or people in payers’ as we called them”
the industry) where you are just another person, just another Angela talks of her love in those days for Kenya, having
friend in your own intimate group, rather than someone who worked there on many occasions, “When I was arriving
can be seen as a new target on the scene”. back at Heathrow after a ten day photo-shoot at Mombassa
Angela was soon to become the face of one of the biggest Beach, Ken (then busy travelling around the world himself
names on the sporting circuit, Slazenger. Her first photo as a Fleet Street show-business photographer) collected
assignment in the exotic location of Kuala Lumpur was so me at the airport. Whilst I was enthusing about my trip,
successful that the Slazenger management and art directors Ken smiled, saying that my agency had telephoned earlier,
made the unique decision of diverting from its normal policy adding that in three days I had another seven day booking
of changing models each year, to offering Angela a three- abroad. Where is it I asked, Ken laughed - Kenya he said,
year contract. Mombassa Beach! (It was even at the same luxury beach-
Other big product names followed, she was seen to fit the side hotel).”
category which clients were looking for, the perfect blonde Angela was eventually asked to meet the creative team
- with a great figure, a healthy appeal, a fantastic smile - and of Gossard, who were launching a new underwear range.
now she was becoming regarded as an established model Within days she was signed-up as the face of Gossard,
within the group of professionals. This became more and launching the very first new design Gossard Bra.
more important when clients were throwing unlimited The advertising campaign was originally to feature huge
amounts of money in to prestigious worldwide photo- posters all around London tube stations, in every newspaper
shoots for their campaigns. Models who arrived late or with
an unprofessional attitude were quickly discounted, their
careers short lived.”

‘The Goodies’ Television Comedy Series

Morecambe and Wise Show

Angela continues, “I suppose one of the obvious changes and magazine, due to the campaigns success her face (and
is that today’s models can keep working for longer, in my body) was eventually to be on billboards all over the world.
day a thirty year old model was considered as generally No quicker had the Gossard launch ended its one-year run
becoming a little old, whereas now forty, or even fifty or than Angela found herself flying to Sweden to be the face
more, is not a problem. The interesting phenomenon is that of Abecita (yet again, another of the worlds top lingerie
models now seem to be between sixteen and sixty, and very manufactures). Another huge campaign and if possible,
much more international, with new faces coming into the even larger than Gossard. Giant billboard photographs
profession from every corner of the globe. were printed, and thirty feet long posters of Angela were
On the down side, I think its harder for models to achieve produced for the sides of double Decker-buses, (also the
success, in my days models were on every magazine same was being distributed throughout France, Germany
cover and featured in every advertisement campaign and Sweden).
for fashion, perfumes and hairdressing products. Now, Angela adds, “There were many other memorable
however, it’s nearly always a celebrity who is on the assignments, with some terrific people, such as the late Henry
front cover or promoting the products. Although I Cooper for the ‘Brut’ aftershave, advertising campaign.
always remember the saying, Front Covers Don’t Pay Another was Motor Cycle legend Barry Sheen, I had to
the Rent, which is probably true today as it was then. drive around the race circuit with him, me on the back of
The ‘big cheque’ assignments were always when you his racing-bike, trying to hang on for dear life, and I had to
became the `face-of ´ a big campaign, or especially lean out (away from the bike, the wrong way for a rider) and
television commercials. Here you either got the ‘big- smile and wave as we flashed by the photographer at over
one-off’ buy-out cheque (where the agency would agree eighty miles an hour.
a one amount fee, usually thousands) or you would get

Morcombe and Wise was another great experience, they Celebrity Features
were so professional. Far more hard working than people
think, and everything was timed to the very second - all that Lewis Collins in a double episode of The Professionals, and
so called ad-libing was so organised - rehearsed to the last of course the unforgettable Morecombe and Wise Show.
detail. But to fellow actors they were friendly and supportive, Small parts in films then followed, but by then, as Angela
I was very nervous but they were so friendly and made me explains, her enthusiasm was failing. “It’s sometimes
feel completely at home. After the show was finally in the difficult to imagine being bored on a television or film
‘Can’ they held a ‘Wrap’ casual dinner party, were the full set, waiting for your scene, but in fact it is – terribly. Yes,
production team and all the actors were be invited – everyone if you’re the main star then it’s probably different, but for
loved them – really great guys the support parts it can be tedious, and very draining, and
Another of the many thrilling experiences that I had was after a seemingly long career in the modelling profession,
whilst working for the Kenya Tourist Board at the famous the sparkle was definitely fading, I just felt this is something
‘Tree Tops Safari Lodge’, I met the officers of the regiment I didn’t need anymore.”
of the Queens Cavalry. The officers invited me to come to “More and more I wanted to be the other side of the camera,
watch the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, and whenever I could find the time I found myself working
this when we were all to be back in London the following with Ken in our Fleet Street photo-studio. I had been given
week. assignments by several national newspapers, and found
Ten days later I was there, it was amazing and steeped in myself photographing celebrities and stars that I had earlier
tradition, it was later over ‘tea and cakes’that the talk turned worked along side. The fun was back, and more importantly
to the regiments own famous Parachute team – ‘The Guards I had at last some control over the results (a frustrating fact
Freefall Team’ - and before I knew it, not only had I had felt by many professional models).”
“Ken and I worked with many big film studios, publicity on

Television Workout - Keep fi

Our Rolls Royce Angela and Susan George

agreed to go training with them, but providing courage major films and at the Cannes Film Festival. Eventually we
did not fail me, to do the actual parachute jump - which I decided to move over to Mallorca (where we already owned
actually did, over 3000 feet above the Kent coastline! Great property) and do our own thing, a sort of rest period, and an
fun, I even managed to land in the correct ‘target field’, with early retirement - or so we thought! At first working for the
two army jeeps and the guys chasing along to collect me and local papers, and then nine years ago coming up with the
help with my parachute. Some of the officers also on their idea to set up our own version of a Hello or OK magazine
first jump didn’t make the target field, one disappearing into style publication, and here the hard work really started - with
a housing estate and crashing in a greenhouse – found later the rest as they say – is history”.
having coffee in the garden with the house owners.” So here she is, from modelling, to actress, and now she has
British Airways, plus many different tourist boards and made herself into a serious businesswoman here in Mallorca.
corporate companies used Angela as their image over the Their successful Magazine, Celebrity, reaches its nine years
years. During her modelling career she also worked on this month, and although Angela has suffered some serious
twenty four television commercials. These eventually health problems over the past year, she still manages to look
brought her to the attention of casting directors who were radiant and shows purpose in her life.
working on several new television series. Her style is casual, she is open and warm, insisting she is
Whilst this is seemingly a never ending list - naming a few not a party girl, and still feels that - an early night is the best
of the more well know series Angela appeared in - include thing for your career!
the hit series The Minder, Comedian Les Dawson Comedy
Show, the weekly drama County Court, News View, the
comedy series Our Kid. She also appeared playing opposite