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WA supermodels Gemma Ward and Nicole Trunfio will start 2009 by getting in touch with their “hippie spirit” at a Byron Bay beach house.

The international stars, who are close friends, have hired the house to get some peace and quiet before launching into what will be a very busy year.

Ward took most of 2008 off from the catwalks and media circuit after the shock death of her friend Heath Ledger in January.

She travelled around the world, visiting India and the Himalayas.

Catwalk darling Ward confirmed she would be back modelling in 2009 after rumours she would focus solely on a movie career following her rave reviews in the award-winning WA film The Black Balloon alongside Toni Collette.

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Supermodel Gemma Ward is one of the 332 new inclusions in the 2009 edition of Who’s Who in Australia.

Miss Ward is joined by supermodel Miranda Kerr, television personality Chris Lilley, world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmour, Socceroo coach Pim Verbeek and captain Lucas Neil and new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

See a photo gallery of Perth’s Gemma Ward here

Gemma Ward is best known as the face of alien chic and for being romantically linked to the late actor Heath Ledger. Neither achievement, though, is included in her small biography.

Who’s Who in Australia contains more than 13,000 biographies. The 2009 edition, which runs to 2282 pages and 13,378 small biographies, includes 332 newcomers. Who’s Who publisher Helen Christon says they are picked for their significant contributions to Australian life.

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THE uplifting WA story The Black Balloon is the hot favourite to sweep this week’s AFI Awards, which celebrate their 50th anniversary.

The heartfelt tale of an average Aussie family struggling to cope with their autistic son is up for 11 awards, including best film, best actor (Rhys Wakefield), best supporting actress (Toni Collette) and best supporting actor (Luke Ford and Erik Thomson).

“It would be nice to win considering that and the fact we lead the nomination field. All the main actors except for Gemma (Ward) are nominated, so it will be good for them too.

“Gemma is actually in New York and will be attending the premiere of the film there with Elissa.”

The awards will be hosted by actor Stephen Curry on Saturday, December 6 at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre and broadcast on the Nine Network at 9.30pm.

Finally! Marie Claire Spain October 2008

A new pic from IMG models shot by Greg Kadel.
(Click to enlarge)

Gemma Ward Is NOT Retiring, But Still Not Walking This Season

Earlier this week reports surfaced that Gemma Ward, the baby-faced, blue-eyed, blonde-haired beauty, would be retiring from modeling to pursue her blossoming acting career. But today we have news to the contrary, straight from the model herself.

I was surprised to wake up this morning and read news of my own retirement. While I am taking some time off currently to rest and enjoy the company of friends and family, I am still very much a (excited and enthusiastic) working model and actress. I’m only 20, for God’s sakes.

Hear that? She’s only 20. Let the girl have a break! Her agency, IMG, did confirm for us, however, that she will be taking off through the end of September, which means we won’t be seeing her on the spring 2009 runways. That said, we’ll be watching carefully to see where she plants herself for her modeling reappearance. It’s bound to be something big.

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(This is really a good news to hear! We love you Gemma!)

Two similar articles in respone to the issue concerning Gemma’s rumoured retirement.
(Please no…)

Is Gemma Ward Retiring?

Don’t expect to see Gemma Ward at the shows this season. The Aussie superstar is rumored to be retiring officially from modeling to pursue her love of acting. Before you write her off as yet another model turned actress turned joke, she’s getting good reviews for her turn in The Black Balloon, alongside Toni Collette. And she was in The Strangers (we didn’t see it either). So if we have to bid adieu to one of the cutest girls on the runway, at least we’ll still (we hope) catch her on the big screen.

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Gemma Ward to officially retire from the runway?

We’ve all suspected that Gemma Ward’s days on the runway and modeling for editorials in the biggest fashion magazines in the world could be numbered. What with her fledgling acting career which includes substantial roles in The Strangers with Liv Tyler and The Black Balloon where she was even given rave reviews for her acting skills.

Now street rag, Pedestrian, are reporting that an insider source says that Gemma will “officially retire” from the runway to pursue the lure of Hollywood.

While Gemma is pursuing her dreams, why announce an official departure from the modeling world when you can command between $10,000 to $20,000 for a 10 minute fashion show appearance and a lot more for a major advertising campaign?

Would you miss Gemma if she left the fashion world to become an actress?

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