Lily Cole Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lily Luahana Cole |
| Date of Birth | December 27, 1987 |
| Age | 37 years old (as of 2025) |
| Place of Birth | Torquay, Devon, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | Welsh descent (maternal side) |
| Height | 5’10” (178 cm) |
| Hair Color | Red (distinctive feature) |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Profession | Model, Actress, Entrepreneur, Activist, Author |
| Years Active | 2002–present |
| Education | – Latymer Upper School – Cambridge University (First Class BA in History of Art, 2011) |
| Parents | – Mother: Patience Owen (artist and writer) – Father: Chris Cole (fisherman and boat builder) |
| Siblings | One sister |
| Relationship Status | In a relationship with Kwame Ferreira |
| Children | One daughter: Wylde Cole Ferreira (born September 11, 2015) |
| Partner | Kwame Ferreira (entrepreneur) |
| Previous Relationships | Enrique Murciano (American actor, 2008-2011) |
| Net Worth | Estimated over £11 million (as of 2009) |
| Modeling Agency | Storm Models (signed 2003) |
Career Highlights
| Field | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|
| Modeling | – Discovered at age 14 in Soho (2002) – “Model of the Year” at British Fashion Awards (2004) – Youngest model on British Vogue cover (age 16) – Listed in Vogue Paris Top 30 Models of the 2000s (2009) – Walked for: Chanel, Versace, Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton – Campaigns for: Longchamp, Rimmel, Cacharel, Anna Sui |
| Acting | – Debut: Age 6 – Breakthrough: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) – Notable Films: Snow White and the Huntsman, St Trinian’s, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie – Theater: Globe Theatre, The Old Vic Theatre – TV: Upstart Crow (2018) |
| Directing | – Wild Rubber (2012) – First short film – Balls (2018) – Co-writer and co-producer – Six-part TV series on contemporary art for Sky Arts |
| Entrepreneurship | – Founded Impossible.com (2013), now Impossible People – Innovation group and incubator – Focus on environmental solutions |
| Writing | – Impossible Utopias (2014) – Who Cares Wins (interviews with Paul McCartney, Elon Musk, etc.) |
| Activism | – Patron: Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) – Patron: Trees for Cities – Worked with WWF – Stopped modeling for De Beers (2005) over ethical concerns |
Awards & Recognition
| Year | Award/Honor |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Model of the Year – British Fashion Awards |
| 2009 | Listed in Vogue Paris Top 30 Models of the 2000s |
| 2016 | Appointed Fellow of the Foundling Museum, London |
| N/A | Honorary Doctor of Letters – Glasgow Caledonian University |
Speaking Engagements & Affiliations
| Platform/Institution | Role |
|---|---|
| Davos | Speaker |
| Google’s Zeitgeist | Speaker |
| Wired Conference | Speaker |
| Web Summit | Speaker |
| Berkman Center, Harvard University | Affiliate |
Lifestyle & Values
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Diet | Vegetarian (from age 10), pescatarian, now mostly vegan |
| Activism Focus | Environmental conservation, sustainability, ethical fashion |
| Notable Campaigns | Sustainable laundry practices, De Beers boycott (2005) |
| Philosophy | Gift economy, social innovation, environmental justice |
Special Appearances
| Event | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 London Olympics | 2012 | Closing Ceremony – wore British designer fashions |
| Paris Fashion Week | 2010/2011 | Opened Hermès winter collection |
| London Fashion Week | 2024 | Return to modeling for sustainable brand Completedworks |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Official Website | Impossible.com / Impossible People |
| Professional Focus | Environmental advocacy, social entrepreneurship |
Lily Cole: The Multi-Talented British Icon Redefining Success
Introduction
In the world of fashion and entertainment, few figures have managed to transcend their initial success quite like Lily Cole. This British icon has seamlessly transitioned from one of the most recognizable faces in modeling to a respected actress, entrepreneur, and environmental advocate. Born on December 27, 1987, in Torquay, Devon, England, she has built a remarkable career that defies conventional categorization.
Early Life and Education
Growing up in England, Lily Cole was raised primarily by her mother, Patience Owen, an artist and writer of Welsh descent. After her father Chris Cole, a fisherman and boat builder, left when she was an infant, the family—including her sister—eventually relocated to London. Despite the challenges of her early family life, she excelled academically at Latymer Upper School, achieving top grades in English, Politics, Drama, History, and Philosophy and Ethics.
What makes her story even more impressive is her commitment to education alongside her burgeoning modeling career. She earned a First Class BA in History of Art from Cambridge University in 2011, proving that beauty and brains are not mutually exclusive.
The Modeling Career That Changed Everything
Discovery and Meteoric Rise
The story of how Lily Cole model career began reads like a fairy tale. At just 14 years old, while out with friends in Soho, she was discovered and subsequently signed with Storm Models in 2003 after being approached by Benjamin Hart. Her unique look—characterized by striking red hair and porcelain skin—immediately caught the attention of the fashion industry’s elite.
Within months of her discovery, she was photographed by the legendary Steven Meisel for Italian Vogue in 2003, a collaboration that would cement her status as a rising star. By 2004, she had already been named “Model of the Year” at the British Fashion Awards, and she became the youngest person to appear on the cover of British Vogue at just 16 years old.
Career Highlights and Industry Recognition
Throughout the 2000s, Lily Cole became synonymous with high fashion. Vogue Paris recognized her influence by listing her as one of the top 30 models of the decade in December 2009. Her distinctive red hair became her signature, attracting significant media attention and setting her apart in an industry often dominated by conventional beauty standards.
She collaborated with some of the most prominent photographers in the world, including Steven Meisel, Nick Knight, Juergen Teller, Irving Penn, and Tim Walker. Each collaboration showcased different facets of her versatility and photogenic appeal.
Major Brands and Campaigns
The fashion houses that sought to work with her read like a who’s who of luxury fashion: Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier, Moschino, and Versace. Her advertising campaigns included prestigious brands such as Longchamp, Anna Sui, Rimmel, and Cacharel.
Her editorial work was equally impressive, gracing the covers of multiple editions of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Playboy France, and i-D magazine. Each appearance reinforced her status as one of the most sought-after models of her generation.
Runway Domination
On the runway, Lily Cole model presence was equally commanding. She walked for the biggest names in fashion, including shows for Chanel, DKNY, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, Alexander McQueen, and John Galliano. A particular highlight came when she opened Hermès’s winter 2010/2011 collection at Paris Fashion Week, a testament to her standing in the industry.
Perhaps one of the most memorable moments in her modeling career came during the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, where she participated wearing British designer fashions, celebrating her home country on a global stage.
Transition to Acting
Early Beginnings
While many know her primarily as a supermodel, few realize that she began working as an actress at the tender age of 6. After a hiatus, she returned to film at 16 in Marilyn Manson’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Her early film work included a role in St Trinian’s (2007), but it was just the beginning of what would become a substantial acting portfolio.
The Breakthrough: Doctor Parnassus
Her first leading role came in 2009 when she played Valentina in Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. The role was significant enough that she postponed her studies at Cambridge by a year to work on the film. This decision demonstrated her serious commitment to acting and willingness to take creative risks.
Expanding Her Acting Portfolio
Over the years, she has built an impressive filmography that includes Snow White and the Huntsman, The Moth Diaries, There Be Dragons (directed by Roland Joffé), Rage (directed by Sally Potter), and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. She has worked with renowned directors including Sally Potter, Shekhar Kapur, Roland Joffe, Mary Harron, and Rian Johnson.
Her theatrical work has been equally noteworthy, with performances at prestigious venues like the Globe Theatre and The Old Vic Theatre. On television, she appeared in Upstart Crow in 2018, showcasing her range across different mediums.
Behind the Camera
Not content with just being in front of the camera, she directed her first short film, Wild Rubber, in 2012. She later co-wrote and co-produced Balls (2018), a short film exploring connections between the Foundling Hospital and Wuthering Heights. Additionally, she wrote and presented a six-part TV series on contemporary art for Sky Arts, demonstrating her intellectual engagement with the arts beyond performance.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Impossible.com: A Vision for Change
In 2013, she founded Impossible.com, initially conceived as a gift economy social network and later evolved into an innovation group and incubator now known as Impossible People. The platform works with global solutionists to address pressing environmental issues, reflecting her commitment to using technology and business for positive social impact.
Thought Leadership
Her entrepreneurial ventures have positioned her as a thought leader in the intersection of technology, sustainability, and social innovation. She has spoken at some of the world’s most prestigious forums, including Davos, Google’s Zeitgeist, Wired, and Web Summit. She was also an affiliate at the Berkman Center at Harvard University, further cementing her intellectual credentials.
Environmental and Social Activism
Conservation Commitment
Environmental advocacy has been a cornerstone of her public life. She serves as a Patron of the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and has worked significantly with WWF. In 2005, she made headlines when she announced she would no longer model for De Beers after learning about the eviction of Kalahari Bushmen from their lands in Botswana. This principled stand demonstrated her willingness to sacrifice lucrative opportunities for ethical reasons.
She is also a Patron for Trees for Cities, continuing her dedication to environmental causes.
Personal Lifestyle Choices
Her activism extends to her personal life. She became vegetarian at age 10, later transitioning to pescatarian, and now follows a mostly vegan lifestyle. Recently, she has been involved in campaigns promoting sustainable laundry practices, showing that environmental advocacy can extend to everyday domestic activities.
Academic and Literary Contributions
Published Works
In 2014, she published “Impossible Utopias,” a work that originated as her undergraduate thesis at Cambridge. The book reflects her academic rigor and commitment to exploring complex social and philosophical questions.
Her second book, “Who Cares Wins,” features interviews with notable figures including Sir Paul McCartney, Elon Musk, and Extinction Rebellion co-founder Professor Gail Bradbrook. The work explores themes of environmental sustainability and social responsibility through conversations with influential changemakers.
Academic Recognition
Her contributions to academia and the arts have been formally recognized. She holds an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Glasgow Caledonian University and was appointed Fellow of the Foundling Museum in London in 2016, acknowledging her cultural and intellectual contributions.
Personal Life
Family
Lily Cole husband is a topic that often comes up in searches, though she is not married. She is in a long-term relationship with entrepreneur Kwame Ferreira. Together, they have Lily Cole daughter, Wylde Cole Ferreira, who was born on September 11, 2015. The family maintains a relatively private life despite her public profile.
Previously, she dated American actor Enrique Murciano for two-and-a-half years before their split in 2011.
Financial Success
Lily Cole net worth has been a subject of public interest given her multi-faceted career. As of 2009, estimates suggested her wealth exceeded £11 million, a figure that has likely grown given her continued work across multiple industries. Her financial success reflects not just her modeling earnings but also her entrepreneurial ventures and diverse professional activities.
Legacy and Continuing Impact
A Multi-Dimensional Career
What sets her apart is the breadth and depth of her accomplishments. Few individuals have successfully navigated such diverse fields—from high fashion modeling to serious academic study, from acting to entrepreneurship, from environmental activism to literary pursuits. Each endeavor has been approached with genuine commitment and excellence.
Return to the Runway
In 2024, she returned to modeling for London Fashion Week, walking for sustainable fashion brand Completedworks. This return was significant not just as a comeback but as a statement about aligning her professional work with her environmental values. It demonstrated that even in an industry often criticized for its environmental impact, change is possible.
An Enduring Influence
Her distinctive appearance—that signature red hair and porcelain skin—made her unforgettable on magazine covers and runways. But her true legacy extends far beyond physical beauty. She has used her platform to advocate for environmental conservation, to promote ethical business practices, to support the arts, and to demonstrate that intelligence and beauty are complementary rather than contradictory.
She balances creative pursuits with environmental and social advocacy work, showing younger generations that success can be measured not just in professional achievements but in positive impact on the world.
Conclusion
Lily Cole represents a new paradigm of what it means to be a public figure in the 21st century. She has refused to be limited by any single label—model, actress, activist, entrepreneur, writer, or academic. Instead, she has embraced all these identities simultaneously, creating a unique professional and personal brand that transcends traditional categories.
From her discovery as a teenager in Soho to her current status as a respected voice in environmental advocacy and social innovation, her journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Whether walking the runway for sustainable fashion brands, speaking at international forums about climate change, or raising Lily Cole daughter with her partner, she continues to inspire with her commitment to making a difference.
In an era where celebrity often feels shallow and fleeting, she stands as a reminder that fame can be leveraged for meaningful purposes, that beauty and intelligence can coexist, and that success in one field doesn’t preclude achievement in others. Her story is far from finished, and the world watches with interest to see what this multi-talented British icon will accomplish next.
Also Read: Adwoa Aboah: Quick Biography
