Girl About Town
GENLUX Magazine, Spring 2010

GIRL ABOUT TOWN
PRODUCER AND STAR OF THE CHICK-LIT PIC FASTIONISTAS, KIRSTEN LEA LETS GENLUX RIFLE THROUGH HER LUGGAGE.

She made her Hollywood debut in The Soloist, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx. Next, look for British starlet Kirsten Lea in Fashionistas, about a young designer who schemes against her evil boss by creating a fictitious new designer.

What are you working on? I'm an executive producer on two films. Fashionistas and Hell Fire Club, and I have an exciting acting role in the latter. I'm also co-executive producer of "Hollyscoop", an entertainment TV show that airs on select CW stations and around the world.

If you could take only one of your co-stars on vacation with you, who would it be and why? He's not a co-star, but it would be Ryan Seacrest. I have huge admiration for his work ethic and self-discipline. Plus, he knows about fashion, so there would be plenty to chat about by the pool!

What's your favorite place to escape to? The Grand Hotel at Villa Feltrinelli in Italy. It has the most amazing view of Lake Garda and the mountains. They also lay out pillowcases with my initials on them when I visit.

What would you pack? T-shirts and sportswear by Escada Sports. CHANEL sunglasses are essential. I often wear my hair tied up in a Hermès scarf when I'm sunbathing, and I always take my Missoni bikini. For bedtime, a couple of satin and lace slips by La Perla. And perfume - my favorite right now is for Her by Narciso Rodriguez.

What three items could you not leave behind? My eye mask, Hermès cashmere blanket, and cashmere socks.

How do you go from day to night without taking your entire closet with you? I haven't figured that one out yet. If I have a lot of luggage, I'll FedEx it to the hotel before I leave.

What shoes do you pack? I love CHANEL's pink clear sandals; they're very comfortable and super-cute. for more elegant sandals, Giuseppe Zanotti. My favorite evening shoes are by Rene Caovilla.

What handbags? Prada

What's your favorite item this early spring season? I'm ordering Christian Dior and CHANEL outfits directly from the runway. At the moment, I love Oscar de la Renta.

Fashion Film Alert
Grazia Daily, Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Ooh, we haven't been this excited in a long, long time. What with the new SATC sequel confirmed (hurrah!) and the release of Isla Fisher's Confessions Of A Shopaholic scribbled into our diaries (it's 20 February, btw), news of a brand, spanking new fashwan romcom is music to our ears. Fashionistas – based on Lynn Messina's book and set to be directed by Donald Petrie of How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days fame – is The Devil Wears Prada meets The Secret Of My Success, according to upcoming Brit Kirsten Lea, one of its stars. Plus, Kirsten has also revealed that she's being showered with fashion freebies thanks to her new role, and is currently in Paris for fittings at Armani and Dior for the BAFTAs. And it's only her second Hollywood flick. Jealous? Us?

Kirsten Lea: 'everyone wants a bit of glamour'
Grazia Daily, Friday, February 27, 2009

Outside the Jenny Packham show at London Fashion Week we bumped into Kirsten Lea, the star of the newest fashion film. So obviously we quizzed her on what we can expect from Fashionistas. The movie – based on Lynn Messina's book and directed by Donald Petrie of How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days fame – is apparently The Devil Wears Prada meets The Secret Of My Success. But what about the fashion? Though Kirsten was front row at the Armani and Dior couture shows in Paris last month and Jenny Packham this Fashion Week to do ‘research' for the film, she insists she hasn't turned into a fashionista herself quite yet. ‘My style's quite classic. I loved Jenny Packham's beautiful evening dresses for example and was glad that this season she did elegant styles that cover the upper arms.' Fashionistas is not out until next year but it sounds like it's something to look forward to. After all, as Kirsten says, ‘I think everyone wants a bit of glamour at the moment.' We couldn't agree more...

Fashion Scoops
WWD, Tuesday, January 27, 2009

British actress Kirsten Lea, meanwhile, said she’s relishing being showered with fashion freebies thanks to her upcoming role in the romantic comedy “Fashionistas,’ directed by Donald Petrie of “How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days” fame. “It’s ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ meets ‘The Secret of My Success,’” said Lea, adding the movie, due to start shooting in New York this spring, has caught the attention of labels like Jimmy Choo for product placement opportunities. Lea is in Paris for fittings at Armani and Dior for the BAFTA awards while she hopes “The Soloist,” her Hollywood debut, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, will be an Oscar contender next year.

Kirsten Lea's Oscar role
Daily Mail, Monday, June 30, 2008

YOU certainly have to admire the chutzpah of comely actress Kirsten Lea, telling the director of her latest film, er, how to direct.

The 27-year-old starlet is making her Tinseltown debut in The Soloist starring Robert Downey Junior and Jamie Foxx.

Kirsten plays an awards presenter in the film, based on the true story of a journalist who helps a down-and-out musician achieve fame.

But after her first take, Kirsten, who had been to the Oscars ceremony earlier this year, advised Downey and British director Joe Wright that the presentation process didn't ring true.

Nervously, she explained what she felt should happen. 'Everything went silent and I was wanting the ground to swallow me up,' she says

Happily they agreed. No doubt, they wanna make her a star.

Helmer styles 'Fashionistas'
Daily Variety, Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Donald Petrie has signed on to direct and produce romantic comedy "Fashionistas" for CP Prods.' Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie along with LoveLea Films.

Project was previously set up at Paramount and will now be produced independently. Production is expected to start later this year.

Based on Lynn Messina's debut novel, "Fashionistas" follows a young woman working at a design house who plots to take down her ruthless boss by inventing a fictitious designer.

Kirsten Lea will exec produce as president of LoveLea Films. Phil Viardo is also exec producing.

Peters and Petrie are reteaming six years after working on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days". Petrie recently completed "My Life in Ruins" with Nia Vardalos.

"Fashionistas" is walking down a different runway.

Set up at Paramount Pictures four years ago, the chick-lit comedy project, based on Lynn Messina's debut novel, now has attached Donald Petrie to direct and produce independently. Original producers Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie of CP Prods., which is based at Paramount, brought on Petrie and Kirsten Lea's LoveLea Films to co-produce outside of the studio.

Lea will executive produce under LoveLea Films along with Phil Viardo.

With its echoes of the successfully translated "The Devil Wears Prada", "Fashionistas" traces the career of a young designer working at a design firm who plots to take down her ruthless boss by inventing a fictitious must-have designer.

"As 'Sex and the City' and 'Mamma Mia' have proved, there is a real hunger for female-driven comedies." Peters said. "'Fashionistas' is the perfect marriage of humor and flirtation set in the exciting world of fashion and designers."

Petrie, repped by WMA, just finished filming "My Life in Ruins" for Fox Searchlight. He worked with Peters on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days", and his filmography includes "Mystic Pizza" and "Miss Congeniality".