Lesley
Collier exploded onto our television screens on a glorious
day in June 2005. With a truckload of style, intelligence and a
wicked wit Lesley found her perfect arena in live television.
It Started with a Boy Called Steve
At a young age some may have
suspected that television was not the natural progression for
Lesley: “…when I was a little girl all I
wanted to be when I grew up was a boy called Steve!” Lesley’s
aspirations did evolve however, into, “a
stunt woman, teacher, soldier, actress, novelist, journalist
and MI5 spy.” And
what now? “I’m still holding out for the MI5 thing,
but if those plans fall through, I want Jonathan Ross’ job
as presenter of Film 2005.”
Lashings of Ginger Beer
The pathway to achieving Lesley’s
dream was not as sensational as her aspirations may have suggested: “Even
from a child, I have always been a bit of a swot. I still get
through books like nobody’s business and I loved writing
my own Famous Five-esque adventure stories. I have boxes at
home full of them.”
En-route to the bright lights of
television Lesley studied a degree in English at Exeter University.
Whilst at university Lesley seized a fantastic opportunity
to develop and hone her interests in the entertainment industry
when she opted to specialise in film theory: “Admittedly
I am a total film geek! It wasn’t until university
that I got the chance to appreciate the academic aspects
of film; something that I relished.”
Geek Chic
Lesley got the presenting
bug when she fronted a film review show on the student TV
station. Here the seed was planted for Lesley to forge a
career as a television presenter. Lesley was also able to
exploit her second love – clothes – by writing
for the fashion page of the university newspaper. Lesley
considers herself an uber-stylish guru of all things fashion
related (well, most of the time): “…Clothes
are my Achilles’ heel. When I’m not lusting after
the latest overpriced haute-couture pieces, I’m stalking
the high street to make the latest addition to my already
bursting wardrobe.”
Lesley Collier could just be the
sexiest and most stylish film nerd on our screens. Unless
of course you’re counting Barry Norman, and we’re
not…
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