About Mary Portas
Mary Margaret Portas is an English retail consultant and broadcaster who hosts retail- and business-related television shows. Portas was appoined by David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, to lead a review into the future of Britain's high streets. The store stocks her first fashion collection, called 'Mary Portas', as well as other product collaborations including a footwear collection with Clark's. At 18 Portas turned down a place she had won at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to look after her younger brother. Her next role brought Portas her first taste of fame and public acclaim, as creative director of Harvey Nichols. Portas's first television appearance was as a guest on Richard & Judy in 2005, where she was spotted by television producer Patricia Llewellyn who then signed Portas to production company Optomen Television.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.