Twiggy Lawson - The Official Site

With such a varied career, you might expect Twiggy, 54, to have an equally wide taste in music. The model, actress and TV presenter has found time to record six albums (the latest Midnight Blue is out now). But she admits she has one musical passion: Country 'n' Western.
"I could have chosen 10 Country CDs," she says "but I thought it would be better to have a variety! I've been a fan since 1967 when I first went to America, where it's huge of course. Then I visited Nashville and fell madly in love with it - the voices and the lyrics. I can't bear heavy metal or rap, but that's probably my age.

THE JEEVAS: 1234 (2002)

My husband, the actor Leigh Lawson used to live with Hayley Mills, whose son Crispian from her previous marriage (to director Roy Boutling) was in Kula Shaker. He's now in The Jeevas. He calls Leigh 'Dad' and we all get on very well. For his 11th birthday, Leigh bought him a pink guitar. He now plays brilliantly. My favourite track on this album is Once Upon A Time In America.

BELLE & SEBASTIAN: If You're Feeling Sinister (2000)

My 24 year old daughter Carly introduced me to Belle & Sebastian. She buys me CDs of new artists she thinks I'll like - I'd miss out otherwise, as I listen to Radio 4 most of the time. This band are very under produced, like kids sitting in a room with a guitar and going off key a bit.

THE CORRS: Forgiven Not Forgotten (1996)

This is my most mainstream choice. I love Irish music, like The Fureys, and I'm also a huge fan of this band. I think they're so beautiful, and I love Andrea's voice.

JONI MITCHELL: Ladies Of The Canyon (1970)

Joni's music is love of my life. There was a time when I used to know every lyric - I was obsessed. I met her 15 years ago in LA through Jane Asher's brother Peter, who managed Joni for a long time. She was very nice but I was amazed to find she chain smoked. When I played the Albert Hall on my one and only concert tour in the late Seventies, I did Joni's song For Free, which is really tricky.

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER: Come On Come (1992)

One of my mates in American once said 'You've got to listen to this Country singer'. She does some rocky songs but I tend to go for the more melodic tuneful ones. I love every track on this album. Other Country artists I enjoy are Dolly Parton and Nanci Griffith.

NAT 'KING' COLE: Greatest Love Songs (1982)

I love the songs of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin etc. Nat 'King' Cole had one of the best voices ever; it was like velvet. This is the most romantic music you can listen to and both Leigh and I adore it. When Carly was about nine, she said, "Put Moaning Lisa on". She still loves this stuff too. Note to all parents: play your children wonderful music and they will grow up loving it - you don't have to have moronic teenagers who only play head-banging rock!

NORAH JONES: Come Away With Me (2002)

I think this was the best album of last year. Norah Jones can sing and write wonderfully. I love it when somebody beautiful is incredibly talented because people in this country think pretty people are thick and can't do anything.

VARIOUS ARTISTS: Nine - Original Broadway Cast Recording (1982)

This is the best Broadway show I've ever seen. In 1983, I went to Broadway to do My One And Only with Tommy Tune and this was the show he had done previously. It blew me away. Maury Yeston is a wonderful writer. He's writing something for me and Tommy at the moment but whether it will ever appear remains to be seen.

THE BEATLES: 1967 - 1970 (1973)

I had to put a Beatles album in; they influenced our lives so much. I met Paul in 1968 when Ken Russell invited us both to lunch. I didn't think I could sit at a table with him because he was my absolute hero. But we got on really well and became good friends and still are. It's so bloody British the way people are giving him stick these days - he's a national treasure.

RAVI SHANKAR: In Celebration (1995)

This is lovely to fall asleep to, although my husband prefers Gregorian chants which give me the willies. Ravi Shankar is a genius.