On the cusp of fame: Intimate portraits of celebrities including VERY racy shots of Liz Hurley and Catherine Zeta Jones before they went to Hollywood to go on sale
- More than 20 images by acclaimed British photographer John Stoddart, 57, are up for auction
- Lot includes photos of actress Tilda Swinton, actor Daniel Craig and The Rolling Stones
- Stoddart renowned for capturing stars just on the cusp of fame
- Some portraits expected to fetch over £1000 when auction ends on Friday
More than 20 images by acclaimed British photographer John Stoddart who is renowned for capturing celebrities just on the cusp of becoming huge stars, are going up for auction.
The images include photographs of a young Catherine Zeta-Jones playfully cavorting on an unmade bed at the Dorchester Hotel just before her move to Hollywood in 1991, and a close-up portrait of Daniel Craig, pre-James Bond, in 2003.
Showcasing striking images of stars including a scantily clad Liz Hurley and Tilda Swinton the photos span Stoddart's 30-year career as the go-to photographer for Hollywood's elite.
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More than 20 images by acclaimed British photographer John Stoddart, 57, renowned for capturing celebrities just on the cusp of becoming huge stars, are going up for auction. One of the more risque shots up for sale shows Liz Hurley reclining on a bed at the Dorchester in lacy lingerie and stockings, taken in 1992
In 1990's 'Elizabeth Hurley, nude' the star poses in the altogether on a designer chair, while leaning against a Greek bust
Named as one of the 100 most influential photographers of the century by Professional Photographer magazine, director Martin Scorsese and Elizabeth Hurley are both proud owners of the 57-year-old's works.
One particularly sultry shot called 'Elizabeth Hurley, nude, London 1990' shows the actress posing completely naked, sitting on a chair and leaning against the head of a large bust.
The auctioneer's estimate for the steamy image is £430 - £620.
Another of the more risque shots up for sale shows the star reclining on a bed at The Dorchester hotel in lacy lingerie and stockings.
These photos form part of a contact sheet of 16 images, showing Catherine Zeta Jones posing on a bed at The Dorchester in a black bra, a maxi skirt with a thigh high split and heels in 1991. It's been acknowledged as her defining photo session before moving to Hollywood a few months later to star in Entrapment alongside Sean Connery. The sheet is expected to fetch up to £1510.
It was taken in 1992 when the actress would have been aged around 27, two years before she made headlines by turning up to the premiered of Four Weddings And A Funeral with her then partner Hugh Grant, wearing the infamous Versace safety pin dress.
Auctioneer Jamie Beeden expects the portrait to fetch between £560 and £810 when the auction ends on Friday afternoon.
Now married to Michael Douglas with a Best Supporting Actress Oscar under her belt, Catherine Zeta Jones is Hollywood royalty, but Stoddart captured her on camera before the found worldwide fame.
A contact sheet of 16 photos shows her posing on a bed in a black bra, a maxi skirt with a thigh high split and heels.
A black and white photograph of the actress Tilda Swinton was taken in 1986 in London, the year of her first film Caravaggio in which she played the artist's girlfriend Lena. The Oscar-winning actress is seen posing barefoot on a pile of leaves against a dramatic sky backdrop, wearing an embellished military style coat
It has been acknowledged as her defining photo session before moving to Hollywood a few months later to star in Entrapment alongside Sean Connery. The compilation is expected to fetch up to £1510.
'I was good friends with Catherine when these photographs were taken in 1991,' John said. 'She was a well-known TV star but at the time really wanted to make it in Hollywood.
'So we got a room at the Dorchester hotel and took these fantastic snaps of her looking like a true movie star. Not long after, she was making movies in Hollywood.'
A black and white photograph of the actress Tilda Swinton was taken in 1986 in London, the year of her first film Caravaggio in which she played the artist's girlfriend Lena.
A portrait of Daniel Craig, expected to fetch £740, shows him in 2003 just after he'd made the leap from television into film and was poised to make his name as a heartthrob as the handyman who embarks on a relationship with an older woman in The Mother
The Oscar-winning actress is seen posing barefoot on a pile of leaves against a dramatic sky backdrop, wearing an embellished military style coat.
John Stoddart commented: 'It's a film that to this day still has a massive influence on my photography style. She had bought this outfit for just $100 in New York.'
A portrait of Daniel Craig, expected to fetch £740, shows him in 2003 just after he'd made the leap from television into film and was poised to make his name as a heartthrob as the handyman who embarks on a relationship with an older woman in The Mother.
'This pictures was taken at the Royal Court in Chelsea while he was shooting the film Layer Cake,' John recalled. 'I captured quite an intense shot of Daniel here. He’s the second Bond I’ve shot, although this was Daniel Craig pre James Bond fame.'
Action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, pictured at the Hotel Meurice in Paris in 1988. The signed portrait is expected to sell for between £430 and £620
A photo of rock n' roll legends The Rolling Stones in 1989, which is predicted to be sold for up to £1510. From left to right: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman and Ronnie Wood
John also photographed Pierce Brosnan as Bond with his Goldeneye co-star Famke Janssen.
Also included in this auction are portraits of Craig's fellow action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, pictured at the Hotel Meurice in Paris in 1988 for the cover of Arena magazine.
'When I first came to the hotel to see him he was dressed in a tracksuit, we asked him to change into a smart suit and he looked amazing,' John recalled. 'Everyone was floored, he looked very "old Hollywood". We went out for dinner afterwards and he was very charming, funny and ordered seconds of everything.'
John's portrait of rock n' roll legends The Rolling Stones is tipped as one of the more valuable items in the lot, and is expected to be sold for up to £1510.
'Working with The Rolling stones was an absolute dream of mine, they’re rock n’ roll royalty and they didn’t disappoint.
Also from the world of music there's a portrait of Iggy Pop taken in London in 1999, sitting shirtless on a bed. It's been valued at up to £810
They arrived to the shoot with about 20 people, a few dogs and bottles of vodka. We were nearly done shooting when Keith, clutching the vodka, fell over and the other guys told me: "That’s our way of saying the shoot is over John".'
Also from the world of music there's a portrait of Iggy Pop taken in London in 1999, sitting shirtless on a bed. It's been valued at up to £810.
Jamie Beeden, Catawiki's specialist art photography auctioneer, comments, 'John Stoddart is a renowned photographer who has been shooting some of the world's most iconic faces from music, fashion and the silver screen for an unprecedented 30 years.
'This impressive collection of some of his most striking images, some expected to reach over £1,000, should attract a flurry of bids upon going live.'
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