Elle Macpherson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elle Macpherson
Macpherson in Sydney in 2011
Born	Eleanor Nancy Gow (1964-03-29) 29 March 1964 (age 61) Killara, New South Wales, Australia
Spouse(s)	Gilles Bensimon (m. 1986; div. 1989) Jeffrey Soffer (m. 2013; sep. 2017)
Partner(s)	Arpad Busson (1996–2005) Andrew Wakefield (2017–2019)
Children	2
Relatives	Mimi Macpherson (sister)
Modelling information
Hair colour	Light brown
Eye colour	Brown
Agency	d'management group (Milan) Kruger Cowne (London, Los Angeles, Nice, Hong Kong)

Eleanor Nancy Macpherson (born March 29, 1964) is an Australian model, businesswoman, television host, and actress. She became famous for appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue five times, which is a record.

This success led to Time magazine giving her the nickname "The Body" in 1989. She has started several successful companies. These include a lingerie line called Elle Macpherson Intimates and a skincare line called The Body. She was also the host of the TV show Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model and an executive producer and host on NBC's Fashion Star.

As an actress, Macpherson has appeared in movies like Sirens (1994), The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996), and Batman & Robin (1997). She also had a memorable role on the TV show Friends.

Early Life and Family

Elle Macpherson was born Eleanor Nancy Gow in Killara, New South Wales, Australia. Her father, Peter Gow, was a sound engineer and president of a rugby team. Her mother, Frances, was a nurse. Macpherson has Scottish roots.

Her parents divorced when she was 10. She moved with her mother, brother, and sister. When her mother remarried, a mistake was made at her new school. Her last name was changed from Gow to Macpherson, which was her stepfather's last name.

Macpherson grew up in a suburb of Sydney and went to Killara High School. Her sister, Mimi Macpherson, is also a businesswoman and works to protect the environment.

Career Journey

Becoming a Famous Model

Macpherson planned to study law at the University of Sydney. To earn money for her books, she went to the United States for a year to work as a model. Her career took off in 1982 after she appeared in a TV commercial for the soft drink Tab. This commercial made her famous in Australia as a "girl next door" type.

Macpherson in 1987

Throughout the 1980s, Macpherson became a huge star. She was on the covers of many famous magazines, including Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan. She appeared in every issue of Elle magazine for six years in a row.

She became even more famous by appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was on the cover a record five times: in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, and 2006.

Macpherson also walked the runway for top fashion designers like Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, and Christian Dior. She appeared in ads for major brands like H&M, Victoria's Secret, and Revlon.

In 1999, the country of Antigua and Barbuda put her face on a series of postage stamps. She was the first model to ever appear on a country's official stamps. In 2000, she was part of the closing ceremony of the Sydney Summer Olympics.

Successful Business Ventures

Macpherson in September 2008 at Fashion Fest

In the 1980s, Macpherson was part of a new group of models called "supermodels," along with others like Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell. In 1989, Time magazine called her "The Body" because of her athletic look. She used this famous nickname to help build her business empire.

In 1994, she started her own company, Elle Macpherson Inc. This allowed her to manage her own projects. She created a popular series of calendars and workout videos.

In 1990, she launched a lingerie line called 'Elle Macpherson Intimates'. It became the best-selling lingerie line in Great Britain and Australia. This was one of the first times a model had partnered with a fashion brand in this way. Macpherson was very involved in the company, helping to design the products and run the business.

Later, she created a line of beauty products called "Elle Macpherson – The Body." In 2014, she co-founded a wellness company called WelleCo. Its main product is a health supplement called The Super Elixir.

For her business success, Macpherson has won several awards. These include Glamour Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005 and Lingerie Designer of the Year in 2008.

Acting and Hosting Career

Macpherson (centre) modelling for Virgin Australia in October 2011

Macpherson's first major movie role was in the 1994 film Sirens, starring Hugh Grant. She also appeared in other movies, including Batman & Robin with George Clooney and The Edge with Anthony Hopkins.

From 1999 to 2000, she had a recurring role on the popular TV show Friends. She played Janine Lecroix, who was Joey's roommate and girlfriend for five episodes.

In 2010, Macpherson became the host and an executive producer for Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model. She also hosted and produced the American reality show Fashion Star, where new designers competed for a chance to have their clothing sold in major stores.

Personal Life

In the early 1980s, Macpherson dated musician Billy Joel. He wrote the songs "This Night" and "And So It Goes" about their relationship.

In 1986, she married French photographer Gilles Bensimon. They divorced three years later.

From 1996 to 2005, she was in a relationship with financier Arpad Busson. They have two sons together.

Macpherson married billionaire Jeffrey Soffer in 2013. They divorced in 2017. That same year, Macpherson was diagnosed with breast cancer and successfully received treatment.

Charity Work

Macpherson is involved in a lot of charity work. She is an ambassador for Product Red, which raises money to fight AIDS in Africa. She is also an ambassador for UNICEF, an organization that helps children around the world.

In her home country of Australia, she works with the Smile Foundation. This charity helps families of children with rare diseases. She has also helped raise money for other causes, such as helping victims of floods in the United Kingdom.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Elle Macpherson para niños

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