A supermodel of the 1950s, Anne Gunning, had a beautiful and expressive face. Her face remained half-smiled despite the haughty poses that the photographers of her era demanded. Her pale skin and green eyes contrasted nicely with her dark hair. Gunning began her career as an actress, but she became a top model and was photographed by some of the most famous fashion photographers of the era. In 1953, Gunning was featured on the cover of Life magazine after working as a house model for Sybil Connolly.
Early Life
Anne Gunning Parker was born in 1929. Arnold Barthrop Parker was Gunning’s father, and he was a coffee planter in Southern Rhodesia. Gunning was sent home to the UK after her parents split up, where her aunt raised her. Gunning was highly proud of being descended from the famous 18th-century beauties of the Gunning sisters. In 1949, while still at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, she won the London Films Cup for acting talent. As a result, she was signed up for a ten-year contract with Rank. The press described her as a taller version of Vivien Leigh. She appeared in several romantic comedies during her early acting career, including ‘The Gay Lady’ (1949), ‘Helter – Skelter’ (1949), and ‘The Astonished Heart’ (1950).
A Trip to India
She went to India with Norman Parkinson and Barbara Mullen in 1956. Dressed in Christian Dior, Susan Small, and Horrocks gowns, she posed among elephants, temples, and the street life of India. The colors of the series are particularly striking. She wore a pale pink coat layered over a peek of rich pink matching the guards’ uniform of City Palace of Jaipur for the photoshoot. She also wore gold Indian jewelry to match the guard’s turban. In another shot, she wore a white lace dress and stood in front of carved white marble. In a sheath dress, her slender figure echoed the columns in front of the Mylapore Temple, dressed in a red and white full-skirted gown with a canopy painted in the same colors.
Besides magazine shoots, she also had lucrative advertising contracts, including ones with Hermes and Sears. The only catwalk show she ever did was for Sybil Connolly, although she was photographed for many magazines. Gunning was afraid of tripping and falling and nervous of the huge audience watching. She regularly traveled to Paris and America for vacations and modeling.
Personal life
Gunning met the fashion designer Oleg Cassini during a trip to America, and he later became more famous for dressing Jackie O during the 1960s. They maintained a long-distance relationship. She also had a long-term relationship with British Aristocrat Colin Tennant. They both modeled for a feature for the French fashion magazine Au Jardin Des Modes.
In May 1961, Anne Gunning married the British diplomat Anthony Nutting. She became Lady Nutting when he succeeded his father as third Baronet. Gunning left the modeling career after the marriage. The couple didn’t have any children and remained married until Anne’s death. Gunning died in January 1990.
Below are some glamorous photos of Anne Gunning from her modeling career. Vote your favorites, and don’t forget to share.
