Model-turned-actress Michelle De Swarte stars in the new BBC comedy drama Spent – following queen Mia as she finds herself suddenly and unexpectedly reckoning with life on the breadline. Airing on BBC2 and iPlayer, its six episodes see Mia attempt to adjust to a life in poverty when her catwalk career comes crashing down around her. Rapidly approaching the wrong side of 40, Mia’s career is over and she’s left both destitute and homeless – resorting to sofa surfing to keep herself off the streets.
The show show also stars Juliet Cowan as mum Chrissy, alongside former Coronation Street actor Delroy Brown and Bad Girls’ Victoria Alcock. It was written by Michelle, 43, and is loosely based on her own career in the fashion industry – and subsequent downfall. Who is Michelle De Swarte, and how closely does Spent resemble her own life? Before creating Spent, Michelle made her acting debut in the Netflix sitcom The Dutchess, opposite its creator and star, Katherine Ryan .
Michelle played Bev, Katherine’s best friend and business partner, and appeared in all six episodes of the series. She then went on to star as Natasha in Sky Atlantic’s comedy horror series The Baby , playing the terrified mum of the sinister and domineering baby of the title. Her other TV appearances include the ITV2 programme The Fashion Show, which she hosted along with Abbey Clancey and George Lamb, which aired in 2008.
Since then she has appeared in the jungle spin-off I’m A Celebrity Get Me o.