Jump to content

Elizabeth Hurley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Elizabeth Hurley
Hurley in 2017
Born
Elizabeth Jane Hurley

(1965-06-10)10 June 1965(age 59)
Basingstoke,Hampshire,England
Alma materLondon Studio Centre
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1987–present
Spouse
Arun Nayar
​
​
(m.2007;div.2011)​
Partners
ChildrenDamian Hurley
Signature

Elizabeth Jane Hurley(born 10 June 1965) is an English actress and model.

As an actress, Hurley's best-known film roles have been asVanessa KensingtoninAustin Powers: International Man of Mystery(1997) and as theDevilinBedazzled(2000).[1]Hurley's television roles include theE!original seriesThe Royals(2015–2018) and portrayingMorgan le FayinRunaways(2019), based on theMarvel Comicsseries of the same name.She portrayedDiana Payneon thefifth seasonofThe CW's original seriesGossip Girl(2011).

Hurley's first role in a big budget film was inPassenger 57(1992). In 1994, Hurley accompaniedHugh Grantto the London premiere of his filmFour Weddings and a Funeral,[2]in a plungingblack Versace dress held together with gold safety pins,which gained her instant media attention.[3][4]

Hurley has been associated with the cosmetics companyEstée Laudersince the company gave Hurley her first modelling job at the age of 29.[5]They have featured her as a representative and model for their products, especially perfumes such as Sensuous, Intuition, and Pleasures, since 1995.[6]Hurley owns a beachwear line.[7]

Early life[edit]

Elizabeth Hurley was born on 10 June 1965 inBasingstoke,Hampshire, as the younger daughter of Angela Mary (néeTitt) and Roy Leonard Hurley.[8]Her father was a major in theRoyal Army Educational Corps;[9][10]her mother was a teacher at Kempshott Junior School.[8]She has an older sister, Kate, and a younger brother, Michael.[11]

Hurley attendedHarriet Costello School,[12]amixedsecondary in Basingstoke, and, while in her teens, she became involved withpunk fashion,dyeing her hair pink and piercing her nose.[1]"When I was 16 – this was about 1981, 1982 – the thing to be in Basingstoke, the suburb I grew up in, was punk," she explained.[13]She reportedly associated withNew Age travellersin her youth.[14]Aspiring to be a dancer as a young girl, she enrolled inballetclasses. Hurley continued in the sixth form and took A-levels in English, Sociology and Psychology[15]in 1983 before studying dance and theatre at theLondon Studio Centre.[16]

Career[edit]

Film[edit]

Hurley made her first film appearance inAria(1987).[8]She subsequently appeared in the moviesPassenger 57,EDtv,Bedazzled,Serving SaraandDangerous Ground.In 1997, she co-starred withMike Myersin the spy spoofAustin Powers: International Man of Mystery.[1]

When Hugh Grant founded and became the director of Simian Films in 1994, Hurley was credited as one of the producers for the company's two Grant vehicles,Extreme Measures(1996) andMickey Blue Eyes(1999).[17]In 2000, she was publicly criticised for breaking a five-month acting strike to film an Estée Lauder advertisement, for which she was fined $100,000 (£70,000 in 2000) by theScreen Actors Guildand labelled "Elizabeth Scably" by protestors.[18][19]

Television[edit]

Hurley at the launch of Estee Lauder's new fragrance, Sensuous, in July 2008

In 1988, Hurley appeared briefly in a speaking part as a schoolgirl in "Last Seen Wearing", an episode of the detective seriesInspector Morse,which was partly filmed atReading Blue Coat School,[20]Sonning,Berkshire. In the same year she played Rosie Japhet in an episode ofRumpole of the Bailey( "Rumpole and the Barrow Boy" ). In late 1988, Hurley portrayed the title character in a four-part television drama,Christabel.After appearing inJohn Cleese'sThe Human Face(2001), she hosted the inaugural series of the British reality showProject CatwalkonSky 1in 2006. Hurley was criticised as a presenter by Marcelle D'Argy Smith, a former editor ofCosmopolitanmagazine, who said: "Liz Hurley has no fashion experience whatsoever. She wore a dress and has appeared at premieres."GQ'sDylan Jonesdefended her as someone "immersed in the fashion world as a celebrity."[21]She was dropped after one series because her bosses reportedly believed she was too wooden.[22]

In 2011, Hurley filmed a guest star role in the series pilot ofNBC'sWonder Womanas the villainVeronica Cale.[23]The network decided not to pick up the series. In July 2011, it was announced that Hurley would join thefifth seasonofGossip Girlfor a multi-episode arc. Her character,Diana Payne,was described by the series' executive producers as "a sexy, smart, self-made media mogul and all-around force to be reckoned with", whose "entrance on theUpper East Sidewill change the lives of all our characters—including, and especially, Gossip Girl herself. "[24]In September 2013, she was cast in one ofE!'s first two scripted pilots,The Royals,[25]which was picked up in March 2014 and aired in 2015.[26]The drama series, revolving around a fictionalBritish Royal Familyand set in modern London, stars Hurley as the matriarch Queen Helena.[26][27]Hurley playedMarvel ComicsvillainMorgan le Fayin the final season of the Hulu showRunaways,released in 2019.[28]In 2021, Hurley appeared as a guest judge in thesecond seriesofRuPaul's Drag Race UK.[29]

Fashion[edit]

Hurley with fashion designerValentino Garavaniat the 2007 Cannes Film Festival

In 1995, Hurley was introduced as anEstée Lauderspokesmodel.[5][1]She later recounted, "I was far from an ingénue, having had my first modelling job at 29."[5]Hurley has featured in ads for Lauder's 'Pleasures', 'Beautiful', 'Dazzling', 'Tuscany per Donna', and 'Sensuous' fragrances as well as participated in campaigns for the company's other cosmetics.[30]She was replaced as the face of Estée Lauder byCarolyn Murphyin 2001. She continues to work with the company non-exclusively, signing a contract for the 16th year with Lauder in 2010.[6]In 2005, she modelled for Saloni, Liverpool Department Stores of Mexico, and Lancel. She was part of the seasonal advertising campaigns forJordache,Shiatzy Chen,Got Milk?,Patrick Cox,MQ Clothiers of Sweden, and Lancel in 2006[31][32]andMonsoonin 2007.[33]In 2008, Hurley was unveiled as the seasonal campaign face forBlackglamamink. Hurley has appeared three times on the cover of BritishVogue.[34]She is signed to TESS Management in London.[35]

In April 2005, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, her beachwear line that she models every summer, was launched atHarrodsin the UK.[7]It debuted later that year in selectSaks Fifth Avenuestores in the United States and other European countries.[36][37]In May 2008, Hurley designed and modelled a capsule collection of 12 swimsuits for the Spanish clothing brandMango.[38]

Charity[edit]

Hurley has been active in Estée Lauder'sbreast cancerawareness campaign, as part of which the company created an "Elizabeth Pink" lipstick whose sales benefitthe Breast Cancer Research Foundation.[39]Hurley's grandmother died of breast cancer.[40]

Hurley supportedThe Prince's Trustby co-presenting the 2003 Fashion Rocks event in its aid[41]and helping launch the Get Into Cooking youth initiative in 2004.[42]She has helped raise funds for End Hunger Network,[43]ARK children's charity,[44]and theShaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre.[45]

She is a patron of theElton John AIDS Foundation.[46]She is a patron of the City Veterans Network, a charity based in theCity of Londonthat links former members of the Armed Forces to opportunities for rehabilitation and employment.[47]

Political views[edit]

In June 2016, Hurley expressed her support for the United Kingdom leaving theEuropean Unionand urged the public to vote in the2016 European Union membership referendum.[48]

Personal life[edit]

Hurley with her then-husbandArun Nayarat theAmpney CrucisVillage Fete in 2008

Hurley was a relatively unknown actress when she metHugh Grantin 1987 while working on a Spanish production calledRemando Al Viento.In the 1990s, Hurley became known mostly as Grant's girlfriend.[49]

In 1994, as Grant became the focus of international media attention due to the success of his filmFour Weddings and a Funeral,[2]Hurley accompanied him to the film's London premiere in ablack Versace dress,which gained her instant media attention.[3][4]

While dating Hurley, Grant gained notoriety for soliciting the services of a sex worker in 1995. Hurley stood by Grant and accompanied him to the premiere of his filmNine Months.[1]After thirteen years together, Hurley and Grant announced an "amicable" split in May 2000.[49][50][51]

On 4 April 2002, Hurley gave birth to a son,Damian Charles Hurley.[52]The baby's father, American businessmanSteve Bing,denied paternity by claiming that he and Hurley had a brief, non-exclusive relationship in 2001. ADNAtest established Bing as Damian's father.[53][54]Grant is one of Damian's godfathers.[55]Hurley is godmother toPatsy Kensit's andLiam Gallagher's son Lennon and two ofDavidandVictoria Beckham's sons Brooklyn and Romeo.[56]

In late 2002, Hurley began dating Indian businessperson Arun Nayar.[57]They married in 2007. Hurley lived on a 400-acre (1.6 km2) organic farm inBarnsley, Gloucestershire,with her son and husband.[58]

In December 2010, Hurley announced that she and Nayar had separated several months earlier.[59]Hurley filed for divorce on 2 April 2011, citing Nayar's "unreasonable behaviour" as the cause,[60]grounds for divorce under English law. The divorce was granted on 15 June 2011.[61]

Hurley with then-fiancéShane Warnein 2012

In late 2011, three months after her divorce, Hurley became engaged toShane Warne,a former Australian cricketer.[62]In 2012, Hurley and Warne bought the Grade II–listed mansion Donnington Hall, nearLedbury,Herefordshire, as their main home.[63]In December 2013,Hellomagazine reported that the couple had decided to split.[64]Warne died on 4 March 2022. Hurley paid tribute to her ex-fiancé.[65]

In March 2018, her nephew Miles Hurley was stabbed repeatedly in the back by a group of men inWandsworth,south London.[66]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Aria Marietta Segment "Die tote Stadt"
1988 Rowing with the Wind Claire Clairmont
1990 Kill Cruise Lou
1992 The Long Winter Emma Stapleton
Passenger 57 Sabrina Ritchie
1994 Beyond Bedlam Stephanie Lyell
1995 Mad Dogs and Englishmen Antonia Dyer
1997 Dangerous Ground Karen
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Vanessa Kensington
1998 Permanent Midnight Sandra Stahl
1999 My Favorite Martian Brace Channing
EDtv Jill
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Vanessa Kensington
2000 The Weight of Water Adaline Gunn
Bedazzled The Devil
2001 Double Whammy Dr. Ann Beamer
2002 Dawg Anna Lockheart
Serving Sara Sara Moore
2004 Method Rebecca Also executive producer
2010 Made in Romania herself
2014 Viktor Alexandra Ivanov
2018 Phoenix Wilder and the Great Elephant Adventure Aunt Sarah
2020 Then Came You Clare
2021 Father Christmas Is Back Joanna Christmas
2022 Christmas in Paradise Joanna Christmas
Christmas in the Caribbean Rachel
2023 The Piper Liz Haines
2024 Strictly Confidential Lily Also producer[67]

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Inspector Morse Julia Episode: "Last Seen Wearing"
Christabel Christabel Bielenberg Miniseries;5 episodes
Rumpole of the Bailey Rosie Japhet Episode: "Rumpole and the Barrow Boy"
1989 Act of Will Christina Miniseries
1990 Frederick Forsyth Presents Julia Latham Episode: "Death Has a Bad Reputation"
1991 The Orchid House Natalie Miniseries; episode: "Natalie"
1992 The Good Guys Candida Ashton Episode: "Relative Values"
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Vicky Prentiss Episode: "Love's Sweet Song"
1994 Sharpe Lady Farthingdale Episode:"Sharpe's Enemy"
1995 The Shamrock Conspiracy Cecilia Harrison Television film
1996 Harrison: Cry of the City
Samson and Delilah Delilah
2001 The Human Face Various Documentary miniseries; 3 episodes
2011 Wonder Woman Veronica Cale Television film
2011–2012 Gossip Girl Diana Payne Recurring role, 14 episodes
2014 The Tomorrow People A.L.I.C.E. Voice; 2 episodes
2015–2018 The Royals Queen Helena Main role, 40 episodes
2019 Runaways Morgan le Fay 8 episodes[68]
2021 Welcome to Georgia Georgia TV film
2024 Germany's Next Topmodel Herself Guest judge; 2 episodes

Theatre[edit]

  • The Cherry Orchard – A Jubilee(Russian & Soviet Arts Festival)
  • The Man Most Likely To(Middle East tour)

References[edit]

  1. ^abcde"Liz Hurley: Life in the spotlight".BBC. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  2. ^abFarndale, Nigel.Movie Connections: Four Weddings and a Funeral.The Sunday Telegraph,page 39. 16 September 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  3. ^ab"Liz Hurley expecting baby".BBC News.8 November 2001.Retrieved11 August2010.
  4. ^ab"Remember when Liz Hurley wore 'that' dress?".CNN.7 March 2020.Retrieved12 August2020.
  5. ^abc"Estée Lauder Lauds Elizabeth Hurley".Fashion Week Daily.4 November 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 21 October 2009.Retrieved11 August2010.
  6. ^abMurphy sidelines Hurley at LauderArchived24 May 2008 at theWayback Machine– CNN. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  7. ^ab"The naked ambition of Liz Hurley".timesonline.co.uk.Retrieved5 March2014.
  8. ^abcElizabeth HurleyArchived19 May 2007 at theWayback Machine– thebiographychannel.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  9. ^The London Gazette, Supplement 44791, pg 1803, 14 February 1969
  10. ^"Calcutta: Nation".The Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2007.
  11. ^"Elizabeth Hurley Biography".netglimse.com.2009. Archived fromthe originalon 2 February 2011.Retrieved23 January2011.
  12. ^"Elizabeth Hurley - Fashion Designer".Fashionmodeldirectory.com.Retrieved5 March2014.
  13. ^When Sell-outs reach their sell-by date– herald.ie. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  14. ^"Elizabeth Hurley".Gossip Rocks. 10 June 1965. Archived fromthe originalon 11 July 2011.Retrieved11 August2010.
  15. ^Tresidder, Jodie (1997).Hugh Grant: The Unauthorised Biography(New ed.). Virgin Books. p. 56.ISBN9780753500699.
  16. ^Elizabeth Hurley– Allmovie. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  17. ^Marx, Andy. "Grant inks two-year deal at Castle Rock".Variety.8 July 1994. Retrieved 10 September 2007.
  18. ^Emily Farache (18 December 2000)."SAG Hurls $100G Fine at Hurley".E! Online.Archived fromthe originalon 18 December 2008.Retrieved3 June2015.
  19. ^"Hurley fined for strike-breaking ad".BBC News.18 December 2000.Retrieved24 August2008.Actress Liz Hurley has been ordered to pay a £70,000 fine by a US acting union for filming an advert during a strike.
  20. ^""Inspector Morse" Last Seen Wearing (TV Episode 1988) - Filming & production ".IMDb.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2022.[user-generated source]
  21. ^Johnson, Andrew (29 January 2006)."The Frocky Horror show: The dress pins are out for Liz Hurley's TV fashion show".The Independent.
  22. ^"Kelly Gets Fashion Nod".Sky Showbiz.8 June 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 20 October 2009.Retrieved14 June2008.
  23. ^Andreeva, Nellie (3 March 2011)."Elizabeth Hurley & Tracie Thoms Join NBC's 'Wonder Woman'".Deadline Hollywood.PMC.Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2011.Retrieved3 March2011.
  24. ^Ausiello, Michael(5 July 2011)."Exclusive:Gossip GirlTargets Elizabeth Hurley ".TVLine.Retrieved20 May2014.
  25. ^Andreeva, Nellie (4 September 2013)."Elizabeth Hurley To Topline E! Pilot 'The Royals'".Deadline Hollywood.PMC.Retrieved20 May2014.
  26. ^abLittleton, Cynthia (6 March 2014)."E! Orders Elizabeth Hurley's 'The Royals' as First Scripted Series".Variety.PMC.Retrieved20 May2014.
  27. ^Andreeva, Nellie (6 March 2014)."E! Orders Drama 'The Royals' As First Scripted Series".Deadline Hollywood.PMC.Retrieved20 May2014.
  28. ^Bucksbaum, Sydney (10 December 2019)."Elizabeth Hurley says her Marvel's Runaways villain is her darkest role yet: 'What's not to love?'".Entertainment Weekly.Retrieved20 December2019.
  29. ^"First celebrity judges Ru-vealed for second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Elizabeth Hurley, Lorraine Kelly, Sheridan Smith, MNEK and Jourdan Dunn".BBC.16 December 2020.
  30. ^Elizabeth Hurley– Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  31. ^Williams, Lowri (8 April 2006)."Elizabeth Hurley Is The New Face Of Lancel".entertainment wise.Archived fromthe originalon 6 September 2014.Retrieved22 May2013.
  32. ^Hellmich, Nanci (8 March 2006)."Got milk — and got controversy".USA Today.Retrieved22 May2013.
  33. ^Wallop, Harry (13 March 2007)."Monsoon warning after warehouse adds woes".The Daily Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 11 January 2022.Retrieved22 May2013.
  34. ^"Elizabeth Hurley"Archived4 August 2012 at theWayback Machine.Vogue.Retrieved 17 June 2007.
  35. ^Hurley.TESS Management.Archived12 January 2012 at theWayback Machine
  36. ^Elizabeth Hurley– hellomagazine.com. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  37. ^"'Hugh and I speak every single day'".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  38. ^"Elizabeth Hurley for Mango"Archived19 December 2008 at theWayback Machine.ItalianWorldFashion.com. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  39. ^Elizabeth HurleyArchived10 November 2006 at theWayback Machine– womencelebs.com. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  40. ^Famous Faces Speak OutArchived29 March 2007 at theWayback Machine– lifetimetv.com. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  41. ^Fashion RocksArchived12 June 2008 at theWayback Machine– princeofwales.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  42. ^HRH launches the Get into Cooking initiative from The Prince's TrustArchived20 October 2009 at theWayback Machine– princeofwales.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  43. ^Celebrities who careArchived6 July 2008 at theWayback Machine– endhunger.com. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  44. ^"Stars come out for Ark charity event".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  45. ^"Elizabeth Hurley visits SKMCH&RC".shaukatkhanum.org.pk.Archived fromthe originalon 13 October 2007.Retrieved5 November2007.
  46. ^"Elton John AIDS Foundation patrons".Ejaf.com.Retrieved5 March2014.
  47. ^Cash, William (16 November 2016)."City Veterans' Network honours Poppy Day".SpearsWM.
  48. ^Powell, Emma (22 June 2016)."Elizabeth Hurley strips off to throw support behind Brexit".London Evening Standard.Retrieved25 September2018.
  49. ^abMaev Kennedy (19 September 2007)."People".The Guardian.London.Retrieved11 August2010.
  50. ^"Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley announce split".The Associated Press. 23 May 2000. Retrieved 17 February 2007.
  51. ^Ferla, Ruth. (4 October 2005)."Elizabeth Hurley: The Swimsuit Issue".The New York Times.Retrieved 9 November 2007.
  52. ^"Timeline: The Bing and Hurley affair".BBC News.30 June 2002.Retrieved31 March2007.
  53. ^Blackstock, Colin (20 June 2002)."Hurley's baby is Bing's, DNA shows".The Guardian.Retrieved4 October2023.
  54. ^"Bing is Hurley baby's father".BBC News, Entertainment.19 June 2002.Retrieved16 June2008.
  55. ^"Liz Hurley's son finally permitted to watch godfather Hugh Grant's movie".Yahoo news.24 March 2012.Retrieved24 March2012.
  56. ^"Elizabeth Hurley".thebiographychannel.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2007.Retrieved18 June2007.
  57. ^Adams, Guy (3 March 2007)."Arun Nayar: Mr. Liz Hurley".The Independent.London. Archived fromthe originalon 17 August 2007.Retrieved29 July2007.
  58. ^"Elizabeth Hurley cooking up new recipes".The Daily Telegraph,31 May 2008.
  59. ^"Arun and I separated months ago: Elizabeth Hurley".
  60. ^"Elizabeth Hurley Files for Divorce: Report".People.
  61. ^Collett-White, Mike (15 June 2011)."British actress Elizabeth Hurley divorces".Reuters.Retrieved15 June2011.
  62. ^"Elizabeth Hurley engaged to cricket star Shane Warne".Reuters Canada.3 October 2011.Retrieved4 October2011.
  63. ^David, Mark (18 October 2012)."Liz Hurley and Shane Warne Snatch Up Country Spread".Variety.Retrieved3 November2018.
  64. ^"Elizabeth Hurley and Shane Warne quietly decide to split".Hello.16 December 2013.Retrieved20 May2014.
  65. ^"Shane Warne: Hurley pays tribute to 'beloved lionheart'".BBC News.5 March 2022.Retrieved6 March2022.
  66. ^"Elizabeth Hurley's nephew stabbed in Wandsworth".BBC News.10 March 2018.Retrieved19 October2018.
  67. ^Benjamin VanHoose (28 February 2024)."Elizabeth Hurley Sizzles in Son Damian Hurley's First Movie Strictly Confidential".People.com.People.
  68. ^Boucher, Geoff (6 June 2019)."Marvel's 'Runaways' Adds Elizabeth Hurley As Morgan LeFay".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved5 June2019.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toElizabeth Hurley.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elizabeth_Hurley&oldid=1229335141"