Lee Williams (actor)


Lee Williams is a Welsh actor and former model from Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales. Williams was the face of French Connection TV, Calvin Klein jeans, Sisley, and has worked as a model for designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Calvin Klein.

Early life

Lee Williams was born in Bangor. His early he life he lived in Holyhead with his father Peter Durkan and his mother Elaine He then went to a comprehensive school in Warrington in England. He enrolled to study fine art and fashion at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Fashion in London, he eventually dropped out in his 2nd year when he was nineteen and began working for Vivienne Westwood, where he helped in her designer shows in Paris; it was here that the photographer Steven Meisel encouraged Lee to pursue modeling.

Modelling

Williams worked as a model for two and a half years at the time when the heroin chic look was in popular demand and was being popularised by Kate Moss, and used in Calvin Klein advertisements. He was tall, skinny had long hair and looked androgynous; a perfect candidate to model. Williams worked in many big magazines and was used as a model for The Face, I-D, Arena, Vogue, Elle, L'uomo. He also worked with top photographers such as Mario Testino, Bruce Weber and David Bailey. He did campaigns for Calvin Klein and fashion shows for Versace and Dolce and Gabbana. During his modelling career he lived in Japan, New York City and Paris. He is on the cover of Suede's album 'Coming Up', photographed by Nick Knight.

Acting

Williams was encouraged by his drama teacher to pursue acting, but instead chose to attend an art school in London, putting acting on hold. He auditioned for the role of Tom Riddle in the film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets but lost out to Christian Coulson in the final stages. He has had several parts in films and television programmes. In 2011, he played Titus Price in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Anna of the Five Towns on BBC Radio 4. Williams lives in London.

Filmography