Interview with a Hand Model

From over in the UK we read an interview with Suki Webster, comedian and professional hand model:

It was during one of her first [comedy] improvisation shows that a fellow cast member, who was also a professional manicurist, noticed Webster's hands.

"When she told me I should be a professional hand model, I thought it was a joke," she says... Nonetheless, when she came across an advert for an agency... she called them up.

"They said they weren't really looking for hands at the moment, but invited me in for a chat. I told them that my hands would be coming with me, so they might as well take a look."

The budding comedienne found the whole exercise so ridiculous that she donned a skin-tight black catsuit, the spikiest pair of knee length boots she could find and elbow-length silk gloves. "Would you like to see them?" she purred seductively as she peeled off the fingers. The agent audibly gulped and simply said: "You are going to make a lot of money."

I put down my chopsticks (we've moved onto sushi) and ask for a good look. There's no denying their fabulousness: they're long and slim, moisturised and manicured. But what's this? They're also showing the kiss of London sun. "No, I'm not really supposed to sun-bathe, but I never really take it that seriously. It's only money." She looks aghast when I ask if she sleeps with gloves on - a Good Housekeeping tip I once read - and says she only ever wears them when doing the garden or washing up. "I'll go out and chuck a Frisbee and break several nails. It's too ridiculous a job not to," she says.

We also learn that Suki has, uh, large hands:

"[The girl in the chocolate ad] was terribly pretty..." says Webster. "But I guess she must have had stubby little hands. I had to reach up behind her and hold up the chocolate bar."

Sometimes, though, Webster's hands can be a little too good. "Photographs can prefer slightly smaller hands when doing chocolate bars, as it makes the product look bigger."

And this bit does make me smile:

I wonder - quite sensibly, I feel - if she's ever been stalked by a hand fetishist. "I did get chatting to somebody once in a pub and told him I was a hand model. He was like: 'Oh my God - show me your hands!' It turned out he had a real thing for hands and had videoed several of my adverts. Every time I went back to that pub he'd ask to see them and paw them. It was a bit odd."

A small but "handy" photo of Suki Webster can be found here.