THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A host of British celebrities, who were wowed by the exotic destinations of Kerala while holidaying here, have beckoned their followers on social networking sites to visit the state and savour its ethereal beauty. British actor Sadie Frost leads the list. ‘’It has been amazing. Kerala backwaters has been one of the best experiences of my life,’’ Frost tweeted.
In another message, the ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ and ‘Shopping’ star urged her friends back in Britain to ‘’get yourselves over to Kerala soon.’’ Frost, who runs fashion label Frost French, wrote: ‘’It is so peaceful and relaxing.’’
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II’ actor Bill Nighy’s daughter Mary Nighy, an actor and filmmaker, is also among international celebrities who have given the thumbs up sign to Kerala.
Indian-origin British actor-singer Preeya Kalidas tweeted during her holidays that God’s Own Country is culturally so diverse. ‘’Kerala is so beautiful,’’ wrote Kalidas, who acted in the popular British soap opera ‘EastEnders’ and A R Rahman’s ‘Bombay Dreams’.
Another British actor of Indian descend, Shobna Gulati, the star of television serial ‘Coronation Street’, went to Kochi and Kumarakom for her vacation.
“Many international celebrities selected Kerala as their destination for holidaying,” said Kerala Tourism Director Rani George.
“We are glad that Kerala offers them just what they need: beautiful and peaceful destinations. Kerala has consolidated its place on the world tourism map as a must see destination,” she added.
Pakistani writer Fatima Bhutto, the granddaughter of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was another high profile visitor to Kerala, a few months ago. Other celebrities who visited the state in the last two years included British rock star Sting and Irish singer and anti-poverty activist Bob Geldof.
In November last year, Rolling Stones lead vocalist Mick Jagger’s daughter Jade Jagger, a celebrated fashion designer, stayed in a houseboat in Alappuzha, besides going to Kollam.
The parents of South Africa World Cup 2010 Golden Boot winning German footballer Thomas Mueller, who played for his club Bayern Munich in a friendly match against India in New Delhi, spent more than a week in Kerala in August last year. Gerhard Mueller and wife Claudia witnessed the famous Nehru Trophy snake boat race, besides going to Munnar and Kumarakom.
Also on the visitors’ list were Norwegian-born British television presenter Mariella Frostrup, once voted the sexiest female voice on TV, and British fashion designer Meg Matthews, the former wife of Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher.