Michelle de Swarte has lived more lives than most people could imagine. She has been a model, a cleaner, a stand-up comedian, a cat sitter and a critically acclaimed actress. Therefore, her journey from the catwalks of New York to creating her own BBC series is one of the most remarkable stories in British entertainment .
Named one of Variety’s 10 Brits to Watch for 2025, Michelle has turned her struggles with homelessness, addiction and financial ruin into brilliant comedy. As a result, she has become one of the most exciting voices in British television .
Who Is Michelle de Swarte?
Michelle de Swarte was born in South London on October 23, 1980 . She grew up in Brixton on a council estate, raised by a single mother. Her grandmother lived nearby and there were very few men in her life, just her younger brother .
She left school at 14 before taking her GCSEs. At 19, while working at SegaWorld in the Trocadero Centre at Piccadilly Circus, a model scout spotted her. She soon moved to New York, where she modelled for Burberry, Missoni, Tommy Hilfiger and Cartier. Her face appeared in spreads for Harper’s Bazaar, Italian Vanity Fair and V Magazine .
Her career as a runway model ended abruptly after she fell over twice on the Gucci runway. She moved back to London and turned to stand-up comedy and acting in the mid-2000s .
Like Skye Newman, Michelle has turned her unusual life experiences into compelling artistic material.
The Jeffrey Epstein Encounter
After 9/11, Michelle and a group of fellow models were stranded in New York. An unknown man offered to fly them out to join the runways in Milan. But he wanted to meet them first. His name was Jeffrey Epstein.
Michelle met the late financier and convicted sex offender briefly at his Upper East Side mansion. She got a bad feeling and declined his offer of a free ride. “I’ve fared better than most, I’ll say that,” she says now. “I’m lucky that my experience was very much on the periphery, and I wasn’t affected by it too much” .
The encounter does not even make it into her semi-autobiographical BBC series Spent. She reckons only about “20 per cent” of the show is true.
Modelling, Racism and the Terry Richardson Incident
Being a Black model in the Noughties was not easy. Michelle has experienced a lot of racism in the industry. She has also been the beneficiary of its colourism, often chosen over darker-skinned models because of the lightness of her skin.
“It was about my proximity to whiteness,” she says. “They didn’t want to use someone who was of a darker hue than myself.” In Spent, her character scoffs over a casting call for an “ethnically ambiguous” model – not white, but not too Black.
The industry also had a huge MeToo problem. Michelle was once sent home from a shoot by former star fashion photographer Terry Richardson because she called him a pervert. Multiple models have accused Richardson of sexual misconduct over the years, allegations he has denied .
Like Andoni Iraola faced challenges in football, Michelle faced systemic racism and exploitation in the fashion industry.
Homelessness and the Road to Comedy
Michelle spent time in Women’s Aid shelters for victims of domestic abuse – once as a child, and then again when she was older. “Through my own relationship in my late teens, I ended up back there myself,” she says .
When her modelling income dried up, she entered what she calls the “twilight years of modelling” at around 30. She turned to stand-up comedy. “Clearly, I was partying a lot at the time, because how delusional do you have to be to think that you can transition from modelling to stand-up?” she laughs .
In 2019, she decided to head back to London from LA. “I moved back here because I’d been homeless for a couple of years – but in the sense of doing cat sitting and staying on people’s sofas. I wasn’t being completely honest with myself about how bad things had got. But I knew that the gig was up” .
Michelle de Swarte Net Worth
Michelle de Swarte net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million. Her income comes from her stand-up comedy tours, acting roles, and her work as a writer and executive producer on Spent .
Her 2026 tour, The Afters, is selling out venues across the UK including London’s Hackney Empire, Bristol Old Vic and Nottingham Playhouse .
Michelle de Swarte Partner: Is She Married?
Michelle is bisexual and has dated both men and women. However, she keeps her personal relationships private. As of 2026, she appears to be single and focused on her career .
In the past, she has been linked to filmmaker Daryl Dyer, though neither confirmed a serious relationship. She has also spoken about dysfunctional relationships on her Apple podcast “Who Hurt You” with Sofie .
The Baby: HBO’s Horror-Comedy
In 2022, Michelle landed her first leading role in the HBO/Sky horror-comedy series The Baby. She played Natasha, a 38-year-old woman who never wanted children and suddenly finds herself trapped with a murderous toddler .
The eight-episode limited series premiered on April 24, 2022. The show explored the societal pressures of motherhood without any romanticism. “There is no romanticism around it, that’s where the comedy is,” Michelle explained .
Her character Natasha was a lot like her – no children and in her 40s. The role earned her widespread recognition and critical acclaim .
Spent: Her Own BBC Series
In 2024, Michelle created, wrote, executive produced and starred in her own BBC Two comedy drama series Spent. The show follows Mia, a model forced to return to London from New York after she ages out of the industry, runs out of money and files for bankruptcy .
Katherine Ryan, who had previously cast Michelle in her Netflix series The Duchess, helped kickstart her acting career. “Katherine really empowered me,” Michelle says, “in a time where I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m about to turn 40. I’m living in a box room. In Plaistow. How the f*** has this happened?'” .
The show earned Michelle nominations for an RTS Award and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award in 2025. It has been renewed for a second series .
Upcoming Tour: The Afters 2026
Michelle is currently touring her stand-up show The Afters across the UK. The show features her trademark razor-sharp wit and no-holds-barred storytelling about life after the party .
She covers topics including life before social media, trying to scrape the barrel of youth, how to know when too much filler is too much, and when is a good time to pregame perimenopause .
Upcoming dates include London’s Hackney Empire (May 28-30), Swindon, Brighton, Bristol, Nottingham and Southend-on-Sea .
Awards and Recognition
Michelle was named one of Variety’s 10 Brits to Watch for 2025. She has been nominated for a Chortle Award for Breakthrough Act (2026), an RTS Award for Comedy Performance (Female) and a BPG Breakthrough Award (2025) .
She has appeared on Live at the Apollo, The Last Leg, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Would I Lie To You? and The Graham Norton Show .
What’s Next for Michelle de Swarte?
With a second series of Spent in development and her nationwide tour selling out, Michelle’s star continues to rise. She is also set to appear in the upcoming comedy series Schooled in 2026 .
From homelessness to Hollywood, her journey is far from over. As she puts it: “I think there’s something funny in that. When you choose to use your beauty as your currency, it can be a hard transition out of that. Basing your identity on how you look is… well, it’s a head-f***.” .
FAQs
How old is Michelle de Swarte?
She was born on October 23, 1980, and is 45 years old.
What is Michelle de Swarte net worth?
Her net worth is estimated between $1 million and $5 million.
Who is Michelle de Swarte’s partner?
She is bisexual and keeps her personal relationships private. She is currently believed to be single.
What TV shows has Michelle de Swarte been in?
She stars in The Baby (HBO/Sky), Spent (BBC Two), The Duchess (Netflix), and has appeared on Live at the Apollo, The Last Leg and Would I Lie To You?
What is Michelle de Swarte’s background?
She was a model for Burberry, Gucci and Versace before becoming a stand-up comedian and actress. She was raised on a council estate in Brixton and left school at 14.
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