Name: Kiera Chaplin
Age: 22
Nationality: American
Claim to fame: Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter hoping to start a film career of her own

IT always helps to have a famous last name, especially if the name is popular in the showbiz world. Kiera Chaplin, the granddaughter of iconic actor Charlie Chaplin is all set to become a movie star as she has bagged the title role of the movie Lady Godiva: Back in the Saddle. Due for release next year, the shooting is starting soon and the producers hope that Kiera’s famous surname will give a boost to the independent film.

Born in Ireland and brought up in Switzerland, Kiera is the Chairman of Limelight Films Inc, a company set up by her grandfather. And this is not the first time that the little princess is facing the camera — she has featured in films, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oliver Parker and Amy McPherson Story. However, those were bit roles and this is her first title role in a movie and she hopes to show that she has inherited at least some of her grandfather’s talent. After the 1960s, this is the first movie that is being made on Lady Godiva, the wife of Earl of Mercia, who is reported to have lived in the 11th century. According to a legend, she rode in the raw through the streets of Coventry as a result of which her husband abolished all taxes in the area. The new movie is, however, set in the present day and is a comedy.

Kiera grew up knowing that she had to be a part of the showbiz glamour which is why at 16 she moved to Paris and began modelling, She was soon working with famous photographers and gracing the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Soon she headed for the recording studio and released a single Feeling You. It seems Kiera has had a finger or two in every showbiz pie — she was chosen to direct a commercial for Morgan’s clothing line that turned out to be pretty impressive for a debutante.

Moving on, she launched her nostalgic fashion line last spring to honour her legendary grandfather, Charlie. She introduced a line of T-shirts with his name and important dates from his legendary life and even modelled them herself. When asked if she is just using the Chaplin name to draw the limelight, the young lady was quick to dismiss the allegation and stressed that she was just trying to pay a tribute to him and keep his legend alive rather than exploit it. This is her real chance to let her talent speak for herself, and until then she will have to face such criticism. S. Arshad Kamal