Potter star Katie works her magic with style judges

Published on Sunday 23 September 2007 00:04

AS CHO CHANG, she captured the heart of Harry Potter after beating 4,000 other hopefuls to the prestigious role.

As Katie Leung, she is an aspiring Scottish actress who is being courted by some of the world's biggest fashion houses.

Now the 20-year-old from Motherwell is in line for new acclaim: as the most stylish Scotswoman of 2007.

But if she wants to follow in the footsteps of model Lauren Tempany and jazz singer Nikki King (the 2005 and 2006 winners), Leung will have to outshine a list of formidable competitors. They include Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen and actress Laura Fraser as well as Hannah McGill, director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and artist Gay Grossart.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in Glasgow on October 26. Scotland on Sunday has been given an exclusive preview of the nominations and can also reveal that the shortlist was selected by a panel headed by the Australian supermodel Elle McPherson.

The judges were asked to look for men and women "whose truly inspirational personal style is an important factor in their celebrity".

The most stylish Scotsman may also come from the big screen with James McAvoy, star of The Last King Of Scotland and Atonement, up against Rome's Kevin McKidd.

They face competition from Britain's most expensive goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, the 24-year-old who recently transferred from Hearts to Sunderland; Mutley, the cultural entrepreneur from Glasgow; and comic book and screen writer Grant Morrison.

The Scottish Tastemaker of the Year nominations include a magazine, a record company and an arts director. Style and music journal Clash is based in Dundee but circulates in 28 countries, while Soma Records is an electronic dance music label with a global following.

Meanwhile, Vicky Featherstone is credited with bringing new life, audiences and interest to theatre as the artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland.

Other awards up for grabs include most stylish restaurant, bar, hotel, cafe, entertainment venue, boutique, fashion designer and musician. One surprise nomination in the retailing section is Topshop, mainly because of the coup in attracting the Kate Moss Collection.

Katie Leung is described as "making fashion waves thanks to her youthful and quirky style." Meanwhile, Laura Fraser, the 31-year-old actress from Glasgow who was Bafta-nominated last year for her role in The Flying Scotsman, is praised for her "enigmatic sensuality." Her personal style is "quietly bohemian, bordering on grunge, unaffected and utterly real."

McGill, 30, is described as the film festival's dynamic new artistic director. Her "signature smear of dark lipstick" and ability to "work a pencil skirt with aplomb" reflects the style of the coolest screen stars.

If Gordon wins, it will be two-in-a-row for footballers after the triumph last year of Steven Pressley. "This dark and handsome 24-year-old certainly knows his Prada from everyone else's Primark," says his citation.

He is up against the "rugged and intense masculinity" of Kevin McKidd.

James McAvoy, however is likely to be the favourite. His citation says: "This 28-year-old Scotstoun-born actor exhibits an admirable sense of distinctive yet effortless style in his downtime. Sharply-suited and booted, however, he cuts an especially dashing figure on any red carpet occasion."

Image consultants said the lists represented a good range of talent. Martin Hunt, head of the Tartan Silk PR agency, said:

"Most stylish Scotsman for me would have to be James McAvoy. He is very contemporary and is promoting Scotland very well at the moment."

Scottish style awards: shortlists for all categories.

The awards, sponsored by Glasgow:Scotland with Style, champagne house Moet & Chandon and radio station Xfm, will be held at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow on October 26.

MOST STYLISH MALE

Craig Gordon

Kevin McKidd

Mutley

Grant Morrison

James McAvoy

MOST STYLISH FEMALE

Gay Grossart

Katie Leung

Laura Fraser

Hannah McGill

Ashley Jensen

MOST STYLISH BAND/MUSICIAN

Dot Allison, singer

Calvin Harris, performer and song writer The Aliens The Cuban Brothers

KT Tunstall

SCOTTISH TASTEMAKER OF THE YEAR

Clash Magazine

Soma Records

Vicky Featherstone

MOST STYLISH BAR

Bramble, Edinburgh

Amicus Apple, Edinburgh

Ivy, Glasgow

Great Scots bar, Cameron House, Loch Lomond Gandolfi Bar, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH BOUTIQUE

Boudiche, Edinburgh

Brigitte, Glasgow

Arkangel, Edinburgh

Peter Johnson, Edinburgh

Brazen, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH HOTEL

Dakota Forth Bridges

Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow Kinnaird, Perthshire The Lodge, Jura Boath House, Nairn

MOST STYLISH RESTAURANT

Restaurant Martin Wishart

Abstract, Edinburgh

Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles

The Bistro, Hotel du Vin, Glasgow

Gandolfi Fish, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH CAFE

The Cupping Salon at Fifi &Ally, Glasgow Kember & Jones, Glasgow Tinderbox, Glasgow Glass & Thompson, Edinburgh North Star, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH FOOD/WINE RETAILER

Kember & Jones, Glasgow

Heart & Buchanan, Glasgow

Valvonna & Crolla, Edinburgh

Harvey Nichols Foodmarket, Edinburgh

Iain Mellis, Edinburgh

SCOTTISH FASHION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Christopher Kane

Jonathan Saunders

Aimee McWilliams

Vidler & Nixon

Deryck Walker

MOST STYLISH ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

Classic Grand, Glasgow

Home House, Edinburgh

Lulu, Edinburgh

The Club at One-Up, Glasgow

Sub Club, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH HIGH STREET RETAILER

Topshop

Faith

Zara

Jigsaw

New Look

MOST STYLISH LIFESTYLE/INTERIORS RETAILER

Timorous Beasties, Glasgow

Dallas & Dallas, Glasgow

Galletly & Tubbs, Glasgow

Tangram, Edinburgh

Jeffrey Interiors, Edinburgh