>didir="ltr">‘Sex in the City’ star Cynthia Dixon is making headlines worldwide as she guns for governor of New York. There’s no better time to look back at the UK celebs that swapped showbiz for political science.

Glamour model Katie Price led an eccentric campaign to win the MP seat of Stretford and Urmston back in 2001. Price promised plastic surgery, more nudist beaches, and a ban on parking tickets. “It will take a big swing but there's no bigger swinger than me”, Price said in 2001. As BBC News pointed out, Price pledged “a bigger, betta future”, but won just 713 votes.

Oscar-winning actress Glenda Jackson was more successful when venturing into politics. She was elected as a Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate in 1992. The ‘Women in Love’ star even served as a junior minister in Tony Blair’s 2007 cabinet.

Comedian Al Murray ran for election in 2015, gunning for the South Thanet seat against UKIP leader Nigel Farage. Murray only took 318 votes and lost the contest.