in boyfriend jeans, a T-shirt and some Church's Oxfords any day.

When you need a red carpet dress, who do you turn to?

Alaïa, The Row, Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang and Givenchy. I gravitate towards luxurious pieces that are bold and modern. I love an outfit all the more if it has been made with a conscience.

What kick-started your modeling career?

Tom Ford, along with Carine Roitfeld, were both instrumental in
the early stages of my career. Tom saw something in me and took a chance – I'm so grateful for his incredible mentorship and belief.

Why did you make the move into acting?

I wanted to pursue acting even as a little girl. I'd done a couple of smaller projects, but when the chance came to act in The Good Shepherd in 2006 with Matt Damon and Robert De Niro, I jumped at it.

Where's home?

I live in New York and love it, but I'll always think of Ethiopia as home.

Where do you escape to when you have time off?

When I want to go somewhere warm, the Four Seasons Nevis

[in the West Indies] is breathtaking. Paris is also incredible at any time of year and, of course, Ethiopia.

All I want for the holidays is...

Donations to the Liya Kebede Foundation. Just $1 provides a woman with a dose of medicine that can stop a haemorrhage – the leading cause of maternal death around the world.

What's next?

I recently shot a movie called The Best Offer with Geoffrey Rush and Jim Sturgess, which centers on art auctions. We're also hard at work on the next Lemlem collection.