MODEL and actress Lauren Maddox has strong views on the sort of project she will work on.
She is committed to humanitarian projects and raising awareness about the psyche and other difficult subjects, so it is impressive that her burgeoning career has still led to her sharing screen time with Hollywood stars James McAvoy and Ezra Miller.
As the face of the fair-trade and ethical Top Tea, Lauren - who has lived around south east London since graduating from university - will soon be fronting adverts on TV, buses, billboards and the underground.
Being a Top Tea ambassador paved the way for her appearance as an expert on the latest episode of Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model (on Sky Living) tonight.
She said: “I was very, very pleased to be asked to do it.
“The models were doing an underwater tank shoot and they had long floating dresses and make up and they were photographed underwater.
“I was assessing the models with Tyson (Beckford, judge).
“Tyson is a very nice person. I had a lot in common with him. We got to discuss things.
“It was quite difficult for a lot of them who couldn’t swim so it was tense for them. There were a few tears.
“Tyson dealt with it very well.
“The refreshing taste of the tea which we were focussing on, some of them pulled it off very well.”
While she is about to be seen everywhere for her modelling work, she said she prefers acting and has recently completed a small part in the adaptation of Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh’s Filth, which stars Jamie Bell and James McAvoy.
Lauren said: “It is not one of the main roles but it is with very good people.
“I have about three or four main scenes with James McAvoy. He was so nice. Normally he has to be put on a box because he is quite small so he was teasing me saying ‘you better take those high heels off. They’ve got some Ugg boots to give you.”
Her next film will be filmed in America and she will appearing alongside Naomi Harris and Tim Robbins.
She is applying for a three year Visa to work in America but said she wants to stay in London.
She said: “This side of London appeals to me so much because there are a lot of artistic people around here. It is very up-and-coming. It is central but is central but away from other areas I don’t want to be in.
“There are loads of parks and greenery as well. I can also get the boast easily and I love going to Greenwich.”
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