Naomi Campbell (born May 22, 1970) is a British supermodel and
actress. Born in Streatham, South London, Campbell studied at the
London Academy For Performing Arts. She has been a prominent fashion
model on the runway and in print advertising since the late 1980s. She
also posed nude for Playboy magazine and for a series of
lesbian-erotic photos with Madonna in her book Sex. She is reputed to
have a quick temper, with several tabloid stories involving violence
against her staff as well as verbal abuse.
She is also a successful singer; her album Baby Woman sold over 1
million copies worldwide (mostly in Japan), and she was featured on
Vanilla Ice's single "Cool as Ice." She had previously appeared in
George Michael's music video, Freedom '90, though she merely
lip-synched to his song along with other models rather than performing
herself. In 1995, her collaboration with Toshinobu Kubota, LA LA LA
LOVE SONG, became a hit in Japan, with the single selling more than
two million copies. She has also appeared in music videos for artists
relationship with Usher although as of 2005 their relationship appears
to be over.
Campbell was selected by People magazine as one of the 50 Most
Beautiful People in the world in 1991.
Campbell also co-authored the best-selling novel Swan and followed it
up with a photo book titled Naomi.
The Daily Mirror court case
In February 2001 pictures were published in the Daily Mirror newspaper
showing Campbell leaving a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in London. In
March of 2002 Campbell sued the paper citing a breach of
confidentiality, as she was receiving treatment for drug addiction at
the time. The Mirror claimed that the pictures were in the public
interest as Campbell had, up to that point, not been known or proved
to be a drug addict. The High Court ruled in Campbell's favour and the
Mirror was ordered to pay ?3,500 in damages (although legal costs were
thought to be around ?500,000.) In October of 2002, the Mirror won an
Appeal Court ruling that the photographs were indeed in the public
interest. Campbell was ordered to pay the costs of the Mirror's legal
fees, a cost of around ?350,000. However, in May of 2004, the Law
Lords overturned the Appeal Court ruling by a 3 to 2 majority, which
reinstated the High Court's original decision, and Campbell was
reawarded ?3,500 and the ?350,000 legal costs. The Mirror's legal cost
is thought to be over ?1,000,000. The case is also thought to be a
landmark in the rights of celebrities to privacy. Mirror editor Piers
Morgan said at the time "This is a very good day for lying
drug-abusing prima donnas who want to have their cake with the media,
and the right to then shamelessly guzzle it with their Cristal
champagne. Five senior judges found for the Mirror throughout the
various hearings in this case, four for Naomi Campbell. Yet she wins.
If ever there was a less deserving case for creating what is
effectively a back door privacy law it would be Ms Campbell, but
that's showbiz."
Filmography
* Cool as Ice (1991)
* The Night We Never Met (1993)
* Ready to Wear (1994) (Cameo)
* Unzipped (1995) (documentary)
* Miami Rhapsody (1995)
* To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
* Catwalk (1996) (documentary)
* Girl 6 (1996)
* Invasion of Privacy (1996)
* An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997)
* Beautopia (1998) (documentary)
* Trippin' (1999)
* Prisoner of Love (1999)
* Ali G Indahouse (2002) (Cameo)
* Fat Slags (2004)