Ellison: 'Lads' mags hinder movie success'

Jennifer Ellison has revealed that her history of posing for lads' mags could have damaged her chances of launching a movie career.

The actress appeared as Meg Giry in the 2004 film version of The Phantom of the Opera and is currently promoting her latest movie The Cottage. However, she has claimed that it is not always so easy for models in the UK to find success on the big screen.

"It's funny, because in the UK casting agencies can be a bit sniffy. In America, actresses do shoots like that all the time," Jennifer told the Daily Star. "But I'm doing extremely well off the back of it and I'm not embarrassed about it.

"I got asked to do all these shoots. The first one was when I was 15 and it was such a success I kept on doing them."

Ellison recently announced that she had found love with a new man.