Until recently Ebony Gilbert was turning the heads of readers of the Daily Star. She was a Page 3 girl. But she gave it all up in 2000 (pleasing her dad who was happier when she kept her clothes on). Now the Nottingham model is embarking on a career as an actor and TV presenter. And she could have found herself a lucrative franchise. As fans of Ian Fleming's James Bond prepare for the 20th official film in the series, Ebony's about to make her second spoof 007 movie. A few years ago she had a minor role in Never Say Never Mind - a parody featuring the Swedish Bikini Team as beautiful, highly trained agents who fight the forces of evil using high-tech gizmos and combat techniques. She played Helga (and had a voice coach to give her that Scandinavian lilt). It became a bit of a cult favourite and when the producers started casting for a follow-up Ebony was approached to take on a bigger role. Rehearsals for Moonbreaker are due to start in January 2003. Hopefully it'll be the start of a glittering career. Not that Ebony's doing too badly at the moment. She's already appeared on the BBC's Liquid News, TFI Friday and the Rory Bremner Show. She's also presented a beauty show on cable TV in America. Since becoming a teenager Ebony's rarely been out of the spotlight. She was a model at 13 appearing in children's magazines like Just 17. But by 16 she was told she was too small to be a model (she's just 5' 3"). She went back to college in Nottingham but couldn't adapt and a year later decided to become a Page 3 model. She has mixed views about her six months in the tabloids although it did achieve what she hoped it would - get her noticed. Without Page 3 Ebony doesn't believe she'd have received the breaks which have helped her become an actor. See our Ebony Gilbert photo gallery. | 
