Shropshire Star

Cynthia Nixon walks well-trodden path from stardom to politics

The Sex And The City star is not the first actor to seek political office.

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Cynthia Nixon (Ian West/PA)

Sex And The City star Cynthia Nixon has held her first rally in her bid to become governor of New York.

The actress, who has echoed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in her call for a New York “for the many, not just the few” is not the first celebrity to make a foray into the world of politics.

Here are some of the others who swapped stardom for public life.

Donald Trump

Taoiseach visits United States of America
US President Donald Trump (Niall Carson/PA)

He made his name for himself in New York property and became a media personality and regular on the US news, particularly as a perpetrator of the “birther” conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was not born in America.

He reportedly contemplated running for office numerous times before eventually winning against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarznegger in London
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Richard Lewis)

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan during visit to London
Ronald Reagan (PA)

He was even president of the Screen Actors Guild before he entered politics, serving as Governor of California from 1967 to 1975 and president from 1981 to 1989.

Shirley Temple

Politics – Republican National Committee Speaking Tour – Shirley Temple – Cafe Royal, London
Shirley Temple (PA)

She began her diplomatic career in 1969 when she was appointed to represent the United States at a session of the United Nations General Assembly and was named United States ambassador to Ghana and to Czechoslovakia, and also served as Chief of Protocol of the United States.

Stacey Dash

The 18th Annual Sir Elton John Oscar Party – Los Angeles
Stacey Dash (PA)

She has filed paperwork to run as a Republican in California’s 44th congressional district.

Sonny Bono

Sonny and Cher (PA)

He also appeared in films like Hairspray and Airplane II: The Sequel before he was elected to the US House of Representatives for California from 1995 until he was killed in a skiing accident in 1998.

Fred Thompson

Cameron talks with US Senator
Fred Thompson with former Prime Minister (Fiona Hanson/PA)

Glenda Jackson

Olivier Awards 2017 – London
Glenda Jackson (Chris J Ratclife/PA)

She stood down in the 2015 general election and returned to the stage for an award-winning performance as King Lear at The Old Vic after a 23-year absence.

She is now on Broadway with Oscar nominee Laurie Metcalf and The Newsroom star Alison Pill in Three Tall Women.

Dave Rowntree

2010 General Election campaign Apr 25th
Dave Rowntree (Lewis Whyld/PA)

He had already unsuccessfully run to be a Labour MP in the 2010 election.

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