British actress, writer and former beauty Keeley Hazell has opened up about the impact of his years as a spectator, saying his experiences left him “speechless” despite making him one of the UK’s most popular figures of the 2000s.Speaking to The Guardian ahead of her Edinburgh Fringe show based on her memoir Everyone’s Seen My Tits: Stories and Reflections from an Unexpected Feminist, Hazell reflected on the ups and downs of her acting career, the exploitation she experienced as a teenager, and how writing the book helped her reclaim her voice.
‘Nonsensical art he didn’t really agree with me’
Hazell said that while her acting career brought her fame, travel and financial success, it also brought shame and social isolation.“There was joy, but also embarrassment and shame,” he said. “Topless modeling didn’t suit me as a person.”He explained that his writing became a form of healing after years of not being able to express his thoughts.“It was liberating,” he said. “I was able to give myself a voice for a time when I was speechless.”
From London Council Estate to Page 3 fame
Hazell recalled that her journey into modeling began unexpectedly when she left school at the age of 16 and worked in a hair salon. A friend encouraged her to submit photos to a similar contest, which turned out to be the Daily Star’s “Beach Babe” contest.After winning the competition, he won The Sun’s “Page 3 Idol”, launching a career that quickly changed his life.He said: “I grew up in a council house and ended up living in a luxury flat overlooking the Thames.Despite her beauty, Hazell believes she got into the business at a very young age.“I was very young, there was a lot of torture. I wasn’t mentally or emotionally prepared.”He also said that there was no protection for girls who were involved in the fashion trend at that time.“There was very little protection for women going into those industries. I didn’t know about the things I needed instead, and neither did my family.”
‘I regret not being able to control myself’
Looking back, Hazell said he still finds it hard to believe what the culture was like back then.“It was difficult growing up,” she said, referring to the topless images that are readily available in newspapers and magazines in Britain.Although he has fond memories, including traveling the world and making more money than he thought possible, he regrets not being able to take control of his career.“Most of the time I was just numb. I drank a lot of alcohol and told myself to enjoy the party,” he admitted.
Therapy helped her deal with past traumas
Hazell also spoke about the impact of the sex tape that was later sold to Sunday Sport, describing the incident in his books as “terrifying.”He said the treatment helped him a lot to overcome the problem.“Many women face some form of rape and abuse in every community; my shame must be removed,” she said.
Returning to the stage is an autobiographical show
Hazell is now preparing a one-woman play for the Edinburgh Fringe, inspired by her memoir. Production begins with her auditioning for the role of Keeley Jones, whom actress Ted Lasso says she was inspired by.Although she did not become the lead, Hazell later joined the series for which she won an Emmy in a recurring role and also worked as a staff writer.He said the show will combine comedy with deep experiences.“Horror and comedy go hand in hand,” he said. “Even in the middle and all of his PTSD, it should be a funny recap.”For Hazell, the project represents what she says is missing in her age as a beautiful model: complete ownership of her story.“It’s an amazing power to have a voice,” she said.