Amber Anderson
British model turned actress
Ellis discovered Amber in the Sugar Magazine competition.
Her first campaign for Burberry put her on the modelling map and stared alongside Josh Whitehouse in the Steve McQueen-directed short film for the Mr Burberry fragrance.
An emerging actress, Amber has starred in a whole host of indie films and even had a role in the fit-boy filled Riot Club. Starred alongside Rowan Atkinson in TV film Maigret's Dead Man as Francine, a dancer in 1950s Paris and as supermodel Ciara Porter in the HBO/BBC adaptation of JK Rowling's pseudonym-written thriller series, Cormoran Strike.
Sunday Times Style 'Tomorrows girl .. The Model JK Rowling tips for TV Stardom'
THE TIMES
'Eagle eyed Ellis'
VOGUE
'The Rainforest Foundation'
Jasmine Guinness, model agent Ellis and Erin O'Connor
THE TIMES
'On the trail of the beautiful'
'Ellis has an eye for talent and huge energy'
'FACE OF THE FUTURE' TOPSHOP MODEL SEARCH
Ellis was particularly proud with the collaboration with Topshop & their model search 'Face Of The Future'. A nationwide search promoted throughout the Topshop stores with a final fashion show held at their Oxford Circus Flagship store.
Ellis was the first model agent to have exclusive access to scout in the flagship store in Oxford Circus & nationwide and thus provided the agency with a huge roster of male and female talent.
THE TELEGRAPH
'Scout Mistress'
Indeed, Ellis has a reputation for launching some of the most unconventionally attractive models in the world.'
THE TELEGRAPH
'Scout Mistress'
Indeed, Ellis has a reputation for launching some of the most unconventionally attractive models in the world.'
THE TELEGRAPH
'Meet the model maker'
Runner, Agent, Scout, Director of Scouting & Events
Ellis joined Models One in 1986 as a 'Girl Friday' and found her path from the off … discovering, nurturing and developing the new talent within the agency and working alongside the up and coming photographers, make up artists, stylists and creative crew of the day. In 1990 I set up the first New Faces Division in Europe. The Telegraph described Ellis as a 'Bona fide Expert on beauty'
THE MODEL AGENT TV SHOW
Ellis worked on a 6 part series for RTE called 'The Agent'. Previously inspired by one of her greatest discoveries Erin O'Connor, it was always a dream of Ellis' to find another Irish supermodel. With her creative finesse Ellis played a key part in the production of the series as well as being 'The Agent'. Each episode shows Ellis' spirited personality and confidence as well as proving the compassionate attitude she is renowned for. Scouring the length and breath of Ireland to find 12 potential models. Mentoring the group of girls taking them to Paris, London & New York on various assignments. From the 12 finalists discovered 6 of the girls went on to model professionally.
CARRIE-ANN BURTON
Carrie Anne Burton, 19, won the final of RTE's The Model Agent. She was chosen from thousands of hopefuls. Carrie Ann is represented by Tess Management and has gone on to have a fantastic modelling career.
MISS WORLD SUN CITY
Ellis was a judge with Miss World in 2001 in South Africa. Tagabani Darego from Nigeria won that year, she became the first black African to win the Miss World crown.
THE MODEL AGENT - TV
Ellis worked on a 6 part series for RTE called 'The Agent'. Previously inspired by one of her greatest discoveries Erin O'Connor, it was always a dream of Ellis' to find another Irish supermodel. With her creative finesse Ellis played a key part in the production of the series as well as being 'The Agent'. Each episode shows Ellis' spirited personality and confidence as well as proving the compassionate attitude she is renowned for. Scouring the length and breath of Ireland to find 12 potential models. Mentoring the group of girls taking them to Paris, London & New York on various assignments. From the 12 finalists discovered 6 of the girls went on to model professionally.
MEETING WITH A MODEL MAKER
'Ellis is a whirl of welcoming smiles. Petite and overtly friendly, she's everything that you wouldn't expect from a die-hard model agent. You'd expect her to be hard-faced and even aloof. Instead, she's open and affable. Most of all, she's got this mothering instinct that puts you instantly at ease.'
GRAZIA MAGAZINE
'The worlds most stylish house party'
'Legendary model scout Fiona Ellis used the event to celebrate her 20-year partnership with model agent Tori Edwards. The pair are responsible for the careers of Lizzy Jagger and Erin O'Connor, who made a speech in their honour.'
DANCE DIVISION
Ellis saw an obvious fusion between dance and modelling and set up a dance division with in Independent. She was allowed access to the most respected dance schools and companies in the UK. Working with the Central School of Performing Arts, English National School, Ballet Rambert, Arts Educational and the renowned Royal Ballet School and Royal Ballet Company.
Ellis enjoyed watching the emerging talent from the dance schools and at the tender age of 14, and her first signing to the division, a young dancer by the name of Sergei Polunin caught her eye. Sergei was from the Ukraine and became known as the James Dean of Ballet, who at 21 years old became the youngest principal dancer in the history of the English Royal Ballet.
CHANNEL 4 BIG BREAKFAST
'FIND ME A MODEL'
In 1995 Ellis approached Channel 4 with the idea of running a new and exciting model competition. It took 2 years for Channel 4 to finally agree. Ellis helped form the hugely successful show "FIND ME A MODEL", which was the first of its kind on morning TV.
Discovering such talent as Tom Hardy in 1998 and 21 years of age, he won 'Find Me A Model'. Modeling gave him a great platform to follow his true passion of becoming an actor and he has become undoubtedly one of the best British actors of his generation.
LIVING etc
'Model agent Ellis has a rare talent for uncovering the beautiful and the unique'
THE INDEPENDENT
'On the look out for glamour'
'She has been responsible for discovering the world's top models.'
'From Her Perch'
From her perch on the new faces board, she saw the modelling industry evolve. Television, press and model searches & events had become paramount to the agencies success and Ellis was instrumental in creating new & exciting opportunities
Ellis loved to share her expertise, being such a vivacious character and undeniably a people person, lead to the beginning of a lucrative TV career.
She began on CNN as an industry spokesperson, appeared in "The Model, The Poster & 3000 women', as well as 'The Worlds Greatest Supermodel', (both produced by Shine) and 'This Model Life' by award winning director Jane Treays. A regular on GMTV 'This Morning' with Judy & Richard and on the sofa with Lorraine Kelly where she launched a model search to find to find a mature model.
Her opinions were shared on E Entertainment, discussing the models, actresses & celebrities of today.
'Eagle eyed Ellis' as she was referred to in The Times, also supplied her eye and expertise to Coleen on her new ITV series 'Coleens Real Women'.
HARPERS BAZAAR
'Fashionable life'
'To say that Ellis has a good eye is a bit of an understatement. Ellis (as she's known) is renowned as one of the best model scouts in the business.'
ALEK WEK
Oprah Winfrey told Alek, "If you had been on magazine covers when I was growing up, I would have had a different concept of who I was."
Alek Wek is one of a kind. Hailing from Sudan's ancient Dinka tribe. 'She was never going to be just another model' says Ellis, who discovered Alek. The timing of Ellis' find couldn't have been better. Fashion's movers and shakers were craving something new, away from the stereotypical Barbie doll.
HARPERS BAZAAR
'Fashionable life'
'To say that Ellis has a good eye is a bit of an understatement. Ellis (as she's known) is renowned as one of the best model scouts in the business.'
ALEK WEK
Oprah Winfrey told Alek, "If you had been on magazine covers when I was growing up, I would have had a different concept of who I was."
Alek Wek is one of a kind. Hailing from Sudan's ancient Dinka tribe. 'She was never going to be just another model' says Ellis, who discovered Alek. The timing of Ellis' find couldn't have been better. Fashion's movers and shakers were craving something new, away from the stereotypical Barbie doll.
ERIN O'CONNOR & KAREN ELSON
Discovering supermodel Erin O'Connor & Karen Elson - described by Karl Lagerfeld as the resolutely model look of women at the end of this millennium.
JADE PARFITT
Ellis discovered Jade in the competition on the UK TV show 'This Morning', in which she won and quickly went on to shoot with international photographers such as Craig McDean, David Sims & Steven Meisel.
RED MAGAZINE
'Face Values'
As the director of ICM Models, Ellis, works with the world's most beautiful women.
RED MAGAZINE
'Face Values'
As the director of ICM Models, Fiona Ellis, works with the world's most beautiful women.
DAPHNE SELFE
Ellis was commissioned to do a casting for British Vogue to find 5 fabulous women over 50. This was a very exciting project working with the hugely talented photographer Nick Knight & British Vogue.
One of the women Ellis discovered on this journey was 70-year-old Daphne Selfe, whom Models 1 signed immediately. Daphne went on to have a remarkable career, photographed by the likes of Mario Testino and David Bailey, modelling for campaign's such as Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Nivea and Olay as well as numerous international magazines. Daphne is still modelling now in her late 80's has published a book called 'The Way We Wore'
ELLE MAGAZINE
'Elle's 100 names in fashion'
With in a short period Ellis eye had become a key player in redefining the conventional philosophy of beauty and named alongside Kate Moss, Mario Testino and Vivienne Westwood in Elle's 100 names in fashion.
THE OBSERVER MAGAZINE
'Model Maker'
'Ellis is uniquely earnest about scouting. She's an alpha scout, an industry celebrity with a 17 year history and a reputation for subverting tradional notions of loveliness.'
'She has changed lives and she's glad'
THE OBSERVER MAGAZINE
'Model Maker'
'Ellis is uniquely earnest about scouting. She's an alpha scout, an industry celebrity with a 17 year history and a reputation for subverting tradional notions of loveliness.'
'She has changed lives and she's glad'
THE OBSERVER MAGAZINE
'Model Maker'
'Ellis is uniquely earnest about scouting. She's an alpha scout, an industry celebrity with a 17 year history and a reputation for subverting tradional notions of loveliness.'
'She has changed lives and she's glad'
ICM MODELS / INDEPENDENT
Co Founder & Director Independent (formerly ICM)
In 2003 the model's subsidiary of Independent (formally ICM) was formed. Ellis's eye for scouting and developing new talent, combined with Tori Edward's expertise in managing the girls, established them as one of the highest profile agencies in the world. Looking after stellar names such as 'Helena Christensen, Jerry Hall, Claudia Schiffer, Erin O'Connor, Natalia Vodianove, Elizabeth Hurley, Lizzy & Georgia Jagger, Carmen Kass & Iman as well as a vast array of fresh faces'.
THE TIMES MAGAZINE
'What makes Ellis so good is that she is down to earth and people trust her. She makes no guarantees and sells no dreams'.
So, who is Ellis?
Talent spotter? Model maker? Entrepreneur? Designer? Media personality?
Truth is, she is all of the above -and more. Long considered fashion royalty, Ellis has a track record spanning more than 30 years in the business. Her legendary eye for talent has helped make the careers of, among others, Alek Wek, Erin O'Connor and Karen Elson.
She set up and ran the New Faces division for Models One, before going on to co-found Independent - two of the biggest agency names in British fashion. During those heady years, Ellis represented who's who of high-profile talent, including Natalia Vodianova, Georgia May Jagger, Carmen Kass, Claudia Schiffer and Helena Christensen.
Her stellar CV and industry kudos led to her TV career, which started with Ellis being called on as an expert commentator on CNN, This Morning and GMTV. She went on to have a central role in several documentaries and reality shows about the modelling business. Along the way, she has been profiled in pretty much every well-known glossy mag and newspaper you care to mention, from Grazia to Harpers Bazaar, The Times to The Telegraph.
After taking time out to launch her successful interiors business, she is now back on the beat, scouting new faces for fashion and beauty campaigns, as well as a roster of respected agencies.