It’s been more than four decades since Leigh Lawson and Twiggy first laid eyes on each other.
Yet after 42 years of marriage, the couple are stronger than ever, and there’s a very surprising reason.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Leigh, 83, revealed the fact that he and his supermodel wife, 75, are still working to this day has ensured their love story continues.
‘I think it’s quite important to keep busy, I think that helps in your relationships,’ Leigh explained. ‘We get on really well and we spend almost all of our time together.
‘We enjoy each other’s company and work on on projects together. We’ve just had a wonderful success with the musical based on Twiggy’s life, Close-Up.’
Leigh has just released a book of autobiographical poetry, Now and Then, and revealed that his wife is also keen to keep working.
Twiggy’s husband Leigh Lawson, 83, has revealed the secret to his enduring marriage with the model, 75, and why refusing to retire has brought them closer than ever
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Leigh revealed the fact that he and his supermodel wife are still working to this day has ensured their love story continues (pictured in 2024)
‘I can’t see her retiring’, he shared. She’s a ball of energy. In January she was offered the cover of Vogue twice – for Vogue Portugal and Vogue Greece.
‘I’m just so proud of her. She’s 75 and still getting booked by Vogue and she’s just come back from doing Germany’s Next Top Model.
‘The last 42 years of marriage have gone so quickly. When you’re happy, time goes quickly.’
While the pair’s love story is one for the ages, they were both previously married before.
Leigh split from his wife Mondy in 1976 while Twiggy was widowed in 1983 when her husband, Michael Witney died from a heart attack.
‘I think luck plays a big part’ Leigh said of their marriage working out. ‘I wonder if we would have lasted as long if we’d met when we were younger.
‘I was in my 40s when we met so I must have done something right to get a second chance. I also think there’s more respect and you’re much more prepared to make a compromise when you’re a bit older as well.
‘You’re more prepared to make compliments and I think probably the glue that holds it all together is humour. We make each other laugh a lot.’
Leigh shared: ‘We enjoy each other’s company and work on on projects together. We’ve just just had a wonderful success with the musical based on Twiggy’s life, Close-Up’
He said of his wife: ‘I’m just so proud of her. She’s 75 and still getting booked by Vogue and she’s just come back from doing Germany’s Next Top Model’
Twiggy and Leigh met in the eighties after being introduced by mutual friend, actor Robert Powell, who took them out for dinner.
‘I went along and we met and got on fine over dinner,’ Leigh recalls. ‘But she now ribs me by saying “you didn’t ask for my phone number though, did you?” I didn’t because I knew I could get it from Robert!’
Yet Twiggy was determined and Leigh revealed that two days later, the supermodel showed up at his house.
‘I went out to get my morning paper and a big beautiful blonde in a big blue Jaguar drew up and said “hello, do you want a cup of tea?”‘ Leigh laughed.
‘So that was that. Who would’ve thought in the whole of London that she lived around the corner. So she pulled me off the streets basically!
‘I’m happy to say that we didn’t need a dating app. My heart goes out to young people today. How do you flirt? Everything’s politically incorrect.
‘I still make blunders now and my kids say “you can’t say that anymore”. You can’t tell somebody that they look attractive or they’re beautiful and I just don’t know how you do it!’
As one of the leading models of the sixties, Twiggy has had countless men tell her she’s beautiful, with Leigh one of them.
He shared: ‘I found my wife really attractive and very desirable when I met her. You wouldn’t want to marry someone that you didn’t fancy!
‘But when I first met her. I just thought what a really nice lady. And I still feel that way. She’s just a really nice person and kind.
‘And I do truly realise now, after 40 years of marriage, how important it was that you get on as friends and are with somebody that you enjoy being with.’
Twiggy and Leigh met in the eighties after being introduced by mutual friend, actor Robert Powell, who took them out for dinner
Leigh made his name as an actor in the seventies, starring in shows such as Travelling Man and Silent Witness as well as films Sister Moon and Tess.
Yet over the years Leigh was also a keen poet and he has now compiled his favourite poems into a new book, Now and Then.
‘I love what words can do,’ he explained. ‘The power of the written word and the spoken word has always appealed to me and was a big influence on why I became an actor.
‘I’m not very keen on you know when you need a dictionary to understand what’s being said or a degree in Greek mythology to understand the references and stuff.
‘But to say certain things, I find poetry very expressive and it’s a sort of therapy. It’s good for your soul.
‘I think that there have been times in my life when I’ve turned to poetry and it has been extremely good and helped me through crisis and problems.’
On why he decided to release the book now, he revealed he had been inspired by an old friend, the late composer, lyricist and author, Leslie Bricusse.
Leigh explained that after Leslie’s death he read one of his books in which there was an anecdote about meeting director Billy Wilder who on his 92nd birthday, when asked if he had any regrets said: ‘I think I wasted my eighties.’
‘I’m happy to say that we didn’t need a dating app. My heart goes out to young people today. How do you flirt? Everything’s politically incorrect’, Leigh mused
‘I know it sounds a little bit theatrical but I took it as a message from Leslie to me,’ Leigh explained.
‘We’re all living longer and it’s a time when you can fulfil your dreams and do things that you maybe didn’t have a chance to do before or have the confidence to do.
‘Because one of the nice things about getting older is you don’t really care as much what other people think!’
Leigh Lawson’s book of autobiographical poetry, Now and Then, is available from Waterstones and other good books stores.
