Naomi Campbell (born May 22, 1970) is an English 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. She has also appeared in music videos for artists such as Michael Jackson and Jay-Z. In late 2004 she had a high profile relationship with Usher although as of 2005 their relationship appears to be over.

Campbell was selected by 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 favor 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)

External links

Naomi Campbell's official website