Vancouver Fashion eZine - Online Fashion Magazine | Featured Model

Though humble and seemingly shy, the young model for Richard's International Model Management walked into the room and there was something that drew attention towards him besides his striking good looks. His charisma. Born in the city of Newcastle, England, 22-year old Charlie Carrick is a man of many talents.

The aspiring actor ventured across the pond in pursuit of his dream job as an actor at the early age of 18 after graduating from high school. That September, he left behind all family and friends to make the move to Vancouver to attend Vancouver Film School. "I just wanted to move away from England really." Explained Carrick, "The grass is always greener on the other side."

Full of adventure and dedication, Carrick graduated from VFS in 2006, where he received his diploma in acting. He then went back to travel around the UK and Europe for a while with his girlfriend Maija. "I really love to travel. Asia is somewhere I've never been and hope to go, I've been around Europe a lot already so I'd like to go somewhere new."

It was by random chance he began modeling. At just 15, while he was still back home in Newcastle, a representative approached him, handing him a card for a local agency, which he ignored. When it happened again at a bus stop upon his arrival in Vancouver he decided it could be wonderful opportunity.

"When I first came here, someone gave me a card for Richard's Models, so I went to the agency, and they said they'd like to sign me but I accidentally took my contact sheet home and didn't realize until three days later, so they never called," admitted Carrick coyly. Once he finished school a year and a half later, and went back to the agency with the misplaced contact sheet and they were more than thrilled to see him again, exclaiming, "It's the lost son!" He then signed on with Richard's models, at the age of 20.

When asked what the most difficult part of being in the industry was he confessed, "I'm shy so I'm poor at networking." Many people in Vancouver are very savvy about looking after their own career and self-promotion. "That's been the most difficult part for me." The industry also requires a lot of waiting around and patience, which can also become a challenge for new faces in the fashion world.

He then explains how plenty of times photographers and producers give the models room to experiment with what they're wearing and how the shoots and shows are put together, making it an enjoyable industry. "It's a creative process; it's fun to be involved in something where you have input and it's a pretty easy job that can be a lot of fun, you get to meet a lot of cool people."

He's recently done a creative a shoot with celebrity photographer Greg Gorman. As well, he's done a few runway shows including Brian Jesel's BMW show and another at the Red Robinson Show Theater as well as Kwantlen College's 2008 fashion student's graduation show.

As for his acting career, at first it was his priority over modeling, but it's been moving at a much slower pace than expected. "I was originally more focused on being an actor, but now I'm really open to anything."

He's just recently booked a play at The Arts Club in Granville Island, which will be held September thru October called, `The History Boys.'

Carrick also works at a restaurant on Davie Street called Gigi's, an old school Spaghetti House. "It's like a mom and pop sort of thing where I bus, serve and bartend all at once, sort of doing everything!"

When he's not modeling, acting, or traveling, he plays soccer year-round, for the Vancouver Metro League team called the `Green Devils'. "I've been playing soccer since I was three. There's a lot of people from different nationalities on my team so its good way of meeting people and it's a nice break to hang out with people who have regular lives and regular jobs, where nobody talks about themselves or the industry."

On the topic of his newfound home of Vancouver, "There's nothing to do outside in London or Newcastle, you can't go to the beach, for a hike or climb a mountain, that's what I love about Vancouver. Once you live in a place like this it's hard to go back." You'll catch him soaking up the sun on Wreck or Jericho beach, and walking his dog Tilly at the park.

Once his play finishes in October, he's planning on traveling more extensively and would also like to get back into acting classes. "If I wasn't acting and modeling it would be nice to study something totally different for a while, like a History or English major."

"I really like Vancouver right now, but I'd like to live in a few different places. I'd like to live in a big city at least once like London or New York, or a country where they speak another language, like Paris so I could learn the language.

This well-rounded, charismatic young man is on track to do big things and head to big places.