Effortlessly glamorous and refreshingly down-to-earth, it's hard to believe that Dame Twiggy has been world-famous since becoming the face of a generation at 16. She's starred in films, had hit records, appeared on Broadway and become a Dame.
In an exclusive interview in Good Housekeeping’s September issue, she opened up about work, family life and upcoming West End show, Close Up: The Twiggy Musical, a musical based on her life, written and directed by Ben Elton.
'I only get involved with projects that really spark something in me, with people I love and want to work with,' she says.
'Ben Elton is an old friend and I love him to bits. He’s a huge talent – so clever and such a sweet man. The musical came about when we were having dinner about six years ago and he said, half-jokingly, "I should do your story! It’s an amazing story set in an amazing period – I should write it."'
Twiggy, whose story will also be told in a new documentary directed by Sadie Frost, revealed that she never had a plan for her career.
'I’ve spent my life doing things that I didn’t plan to do. I didn’t plan to model. I definitely didn’t plan to do a musical film with Ken Russell. And I certainly didn’t plan to star on Broadway in a big musical. I must be mad!' she says.
Now 73, Twiggy lives in London with her husband, Leigh Lawson, and has a daughter, Carly, stepson, Jason, and five grandchildren. She admitted that the secret to her successful marriage largely comes down to luck.
'You never know when you meet somebody how it’s all going to turn out or what life is going to throw at you,' she says.
'We’ve both been through things that didn’t work out for various reasons and when you’ve had that experience, you’re a little gentler when you meet someone else.'
As for how she still looks so amazing, she explained that yoga has been a huge benefit to her.
'I badly put my back out 10 years ago – I bent down for something and it went into a spasm. I spent the week in bed and it really scared me,' she says.
'I went to a wonderful osteopath who recommended Pilates, which I started when I felt better, and it’s the best thing I have ever done in my life. I wish I had started earlier. It has changed my life. I do it once a week for an hour with a wonderful teacher and I always say to her, "Rachel you’ve changed my life!"'
Close-Up: The Twiggy Musical will premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory on 18 September. For tickets, visit menierchocolatefactory.com. Tea With Twiggy is available on all major podcast providers
Read the full interview with Twiggy in the September 2023 issue of Good Housekeeping, on sale 3rdAugust 2023. It is available in all supermarkets and online at MagsDirect.
