From the Runway to the Big Screen: 23 Models Who Starred in Movies

With fashion month freshly behind us and Vogue World Hollywood just around the corner, it’s no wonder that models are on our minds. They’re making headlines everywhere: walking the runways, dashing between shows, filling our Instagram feeds, and appearing on our screens.

From iconic actresses to quirky bit parts, models have significantly contributed to some unforgettable films, like Emily Ratajkowski in Gone Girl, Lauren Hutton in American Gigolo, and Gisele Bündchen in The Devil Wears Prada. Moreover, several models have naturally transitioned into action roles: Grace Jones and Barbara Bach famously took on Bond Girl roles, while Devin Aoki sped through scenes in a pink convertible in the The Fast and the Furious franchise. Among our highlighted talents, you’ll also find a mother-daughter duo: Cindy Crawford appeared in the 1995 thriller Fair Game, and her daughter Kaia Gerber portrayed a cheerleader in the 2023 satire Bottoms.

To celebrate these multifaceted talents, we explore 23 remarkable models who ventured into film.

Angela Lindvall, CQ

In Roman Coppola’s 2001 debut, Lindvall features as Valentine, an actress playing a secret agent named Dragonfly, capturing the attention of director Andrezej.

Twiggy, The Boy Friend

<pMoving from modeling to film, Twiggy collaborated with Ken Russell in the 1971 adaptation of The Boy Friend, portraying Polly Browne, an assistant stage manager who takes center stage following the lead actress’s injury.

Kate Moss, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Moss, though limited in screen time, plays a pivotal role in the AbFab film: following a supposed tragedy involving the supermodel, Edina and Patsy flee to escape the fallout.

Emily Ratajkowski, Gone Girl

Emily Ratajkowski left a lasting impression as Ben Affleck’s college mistress, Andie Fitzgerald, in 2014’s Gone Girl. Since then, she’s featured in projects like Lena Dunham’s Too Much, We Are Your Friends, Entourage, and I Feel Pretty. Longtime fans may recall her role as Tasha, Gibby’s girlfriend, in iCarly.

Cindy Crawford, Fair Game

Crawford took the leading role in the 1995 thriller Fair Game, portraying Kate McQuean, a lawyer who finds herself hunted by a KGB assassin.

Kaia Gerber, Bottoms

In the 2023 satirical film Bottoms, Kaia Gerber takes on the role of Brittany, a popular cheerleader who becomes involved in a queer fight club. She also brought her talent to the stage in the production Evanston Salt Costs Climbing.

Lauren Hutton, American Gigolo

Lauren Hutton’s standout performance was in American Gigolo, where she shared the screen with Richard Gere. Her latest cameo was in Amy Schumer’s 2018 blockbuster I Feel Pretty.

Naomi Campbell, I Feel Pretty

In a supermodel ensemble casting, Campbell makes a memorable cameo in I Feel Pretty as Helen, the CFO of Lily LeClaire, where she interviews Amy Schumer’s character for a receptionist role.

Kate Upton, The Layover

Upton first hit the big screen in The Other Woman, but she took on a leading role alongside Alexandra Daddario in the 2017 sex comedy The Layover.

Gisele Bündchen, The Devil Wears Prada

No list would be complete without Gisele. She unexpectedly took on a role in the 2006 classic, portraying the Runway “clacker” Serena. Though initially hesitant to take the role, noting, “I’m not going to play a model; I do that every day,” can we anticipate her return for The Devil Wears Prada 2 set to release next year?

Brooklyn Decker, What to Expect When You’re Expecting

In this adaptation of a pregnancy guide, Decker’s comedic talents shine as Skyler, Dennis Quaid’s significantly younger wife. Decker’s first major film role emerged from the Adam Sandler comedy Just Go with It, and she’s also recognized for her part in Grace and Frankie.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Mad Max: Fury Road

Departing from her previous role in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Huntington-Whiteley joined the celebrated cast of 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road as The Splendid Angharad.

Amber Valletta, Hitch

Valletta stepped into her first significant role as Allegra Cole, a celebrity who captures Albert’s (Kevin James) heart.

Grace Jones, A View to Kill

As a standout among many models who became Bond Girls, Grace Jones portrayed May Day, a strong counterpart to Roger Moore’s James Bond.

Rebecca Romijn, X-Men 2

Long before Jennifer Lawrence donned the blue body paint for X-Men: First Class, Rebecca Romijn claimed the role of Mystique in X-Men 2. She’s since maintained her acting career with a continuing role in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Devon Aoki, 2 Fast 2 Furious

Aoki graced the screen in her role as Suki in the iconic Fast and the Furious franchise. Although her character didn’t persist in the series, the memory of Suki’s hot pink convertible and vibrant style remains cherished nearly two decades later.

Shalom Harlow, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Harlow plays one of Ben’s (Matthew McConaughey) ambitious colleagues, showcasing a wardrobe we couldn’t help but envy.

Lily Cole, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Cole’s ethereal presence lights up this fantastical narrative about a roaming theater troupe.

Elle Macpherson, The Edge

In perhaps one of film’s most unexpected couple dynamics, Macpherson plays the wife of a wealthy individual (Anthony Hopkins), who may or may not be involved with her fashionable photographer friend (Alec Baldwin).

Tyra Banks, Life Size

While Tyra Banks gained acclaim in reality television, her breakout role in Life Size, alongside a young Lindsay Lohan, is unforgettable. She returned to this beloved character for the sequel in 2018.

Barbara Bach, The Spy Who Loved Me

Another model-turned-Bond Girl, Bach portrayed Russian spy Anya Amasova in The Spy Who Loved Me. Despite the glitz and glamour, she once remarked to People that 007 was “a chauvinist pig who uses girls to shield him against bullets.”

Cara Delevingne, Paper Towns

Beyond her successful career in modeling, Delevingne has established a notable acting profile, landing the role of Margo Roth Spiegelman in the adaptation of John Green’s Paper Towns. More recently, she’s been featured in the series Only Murders in the Building.

Milla Jovovich, The Fifth Element

Jovovich returned to the acting scene as the captivating alien Leeloo in The Fifth Element. She has further strengthened her acting portfolio with significant roles in Zoolander and the Resident Evil series.