Cara Delevingne biography
Date of birth : 1992-08-12
Date of death : -
Birthplace : London, England
Nationality : English
Category : Arts and Entertainment
Last modified : 2024-08-12
Credited as : fashion model, fashion campaign, Charles Hamar Delevingne, Poppy Delevingne, London Fashion Week, Karl Lagerfeld, Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
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Cara Delevingne: A Multifaceted Talent
Cara Delevingne is a renowned fashion model and actress from the United Kingdom, recognized as one of the top English models. She has graced numerous campaigns, including being the face of Burberry, and was ranked #25 on models.com’s list of the top 50 female models. Delevingne was also named Model of the Year at the 2012 British Fashion Awards.
A Notable Family Background
Cara Jocelyn Delevingne was born on August 12, 1992, in Hammersmith, London. She was raised in the affluent area of Belgravia. Her father, Charles Hamar Delevingne, is a property developer, and her mother, Pandora Stevens, is known for her connections in high society. Cara has two older sisters, including fellow model Poppy Delevingne, and a paternal half-brother. She has 16 godparents, including notable figures like actress Joan Collins and Sir Nicholas Coleridge, former president of Condé Nast International.
Cara’s family background is rich with history. Her maternal grandfather, Sir Jocelyn Stevens, was a publishing executive and chairman of English Heritage, known for founding the 1960s pirate radio station, Radio Caroline. Her paternal grandmother, Hon. Angela Delevingne, and her maternal grandmother, Jane Armyne Sheffield, have roots tracing back to nobility and royalty, including the House of de Vere, the Orange-Nassau family, and Anglo-Norman kings. Jane Sheffield was also a lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret.
Early Life and Education
Cara attended Bedales School in Steep, Hampshire, from 2003 to 2009. She struggled with dyspraxia, a developmental disorder that made school challenging for her. In a candid 2015 interview with Vogue, she opened up about her battle with depression at age 15, describing it as a time of severe anxiety and self-hatred. Despite these challenges, Cara found solace in creative pursuits and eventually turned to modeling and acting.
The Beginning of a Modelling Career
Cara’s first modeling job came at the age of 10 when she was featured in a Vogue Italia editorial shot by Bruce Weber. In 2009, she signed with Storm Management, and although it took some time to book a paying job, her big break came in 2012 when she was scouted by Burberry's Christopher Bailey while working part-time at a fashion website. Bailey cast her in Burberry’s spring/summer 2011 campaign, marking the beginning of her meteoric rise in the fashion industry.
Cara made her catwalk debut at the February 2011 London Fashion Week, walking for the Burberry Prorsum Autumn/Winter collection. She quickly became a regular on the runway, walking in prestigious shows during New York, London, Milan, and Paris Fashion Weeks. In 2012, she walked in over 50 shows, including high-profile brands like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, and Oscar de la Renta. Her association with Chanel led to a lasting professional relationship with Karl Lagerfeld, who praised her as “full of life, full of pep” and admired her wild yet well-brought-up demeanor.
During the 2012 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Cara walked in the “Pink is US” section and appeared during Justin Bieber’s performance of “Beauty and a Beat.” She continued to dominate the runway, walking in major shows for brands such as Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs, and Stella McCartney. Cara’s distinctive look and energetic personality made her a favorite among designers and fashion houses.
Expanding into Acting
In addition to modeling, Cara pursued acting, making her big-screen debut in 2012 alongside Keira Knightley in Anna Karenina, where she played Princess Sorokina. This experience ignited her passion for acting, and she expressed her dream to work with icons like Meryl Streep or Martin Scorsese. Cara’s acting career gained momentum as she took on roles in films such as The Face of an Angel (2014) and Paper Towns (2015), where her performance as Margo Roth Spiegelman was widely praised. Paper Towns was a box office success, and critics, including Justin Chang of Variety, lauded Cara as “the real find of the film.”
She continued to build her filmography with roles in Pan (2015), where she played a mermaid, and Suicide Squad (2016), where she portrayed the villainous Enchantress. Despite mixed reviews for Suicide Squad, Cara’s performance was noted for its intensity and commitment. In 2016, she starred in Kids in Love, a British coming-of-age drama, alongside Will Poulter and Alma Jodorowsky.
Cara took on leading roles in major productions such as Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017), directed by Luc Besson, where she starred alongside Dane DeHaan and Rihanna. The film, based on the comic book series Valérian and Laureline, showcased Cara’s versatility as an actress. She also appeared in Tulip Fever (2017) and played Kath Talent in the adaptation of Martin Amis’ novel London Fields.
Cara’s television work includes her role in the Amazon Prime Video series Carnival Row (2019), where she starred as Vignette Stonemoss, a faerie war refugee, opposite Orlando Bloom. In 2022, she joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building for its second season, further establishing her presence on screen.
Music, Writing, and Other Ventures
Cara is also musically inclined, playing the drums and guitar. In 2013, she recorded an acoustic duet cover of “Sonnentanz” with British soul and jazz singer Will Heard. Although she was offered a record deal, she turned it down to avoid changing her name. She also covered The Strangeloves' “I Want Candy” in a mini-film for the Katie Grand Loves Hogan collection.
Beyond music, Cara ventured into writing and released her first novel, Mirror, Mirror, in 2017. The young adult fiction book, co-written with British author Rowan Coleman, explores themes of identity and sexuality, reflecting Cara’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ issues.
In 2020, Cara, along with her sisters Chloe and Poppy, launched Della Vite, a line of vegan Prosecco. The brand has been well-received, further showcasing Cara’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Recent and Upcoming Projects
In December 2022, Cara starred in her own BBC Three series, Planet Sex, which explores various aspects of sexuality, including her own. The six-episode series took viewers on a global journey, offering an intimate look at diverse sexual experiences.
Looking ahead, Cara is set to make her stage debut on March 11, 2024, in the West End musical Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (Playhouse Theatre). She will take on the role of Sally Bowles, opposite Luke Treadaway as the Emcee, for a 12-week run.
Personal Life and Relationships
Cara’s close friendship with singer Rita Ora has often made headlines, with Cara affectionately referring to Rita as her “wifey.” Despite her success in the fashion industry, Cara has expressed her dislike for certain aspects of modeling, particularly wearing high heels, which she finds uncomfortable.