Sophie Anderton, the British model and 1990s “it girl,” has reinvented her public life as the lady of a 1,400-acre estate in County Wicklow, Ireland, trading a history of high-profile parties and substance misuse for rural work and family life with her husband, Count Kazimierz Balinski-Jundzill.
Anderton, who rose to prominence after a high-profile lingerie campaign in the 1990s and later appeared on British reality television, has publicly acknowledged struggles with alcohol and drug addiction that included several stints in rehabilitation. She has said she spent about £10 million on drugs over 13 years and has described surviving that period as fortunate. The model moved from London to rural Wicklow in 2018 and married Balinski-Jundzill in a civil ceremony in Laragh in August 2021.
The couple live at Glendalough House at the centre of the Glendalough Estate, a Georgian eight-bedroom home set among mountains, pastures and woodlands that include tall redwoods, water gardens and a lake. The estate, in the hamlet of Annamoe near monastic ruins and scenic walking trails, has been used for film and television productions. Productions filmed at the property in recent years include portions of the Netflix series Wednesday and Vikings; it is currently reported to be in use for Young Washington, a period production with a cast that includes Ben Kingsley and Andy Serkis.
Since relocating, Anderton has been publicly documenting a quieter routine focused on outdoor activities, estate work and what she describes as a renewed appreciation for community and nature. She has posted social media videos of herself taking part in sheep handling and shearing for the first time and wrote that witnessing the local wool industry had given her a new sense of purpose. "Behind every skein [of wool] there is so much heart, joy, seriously hard work," she wrote, adding that seeing the industry revived on her home land made the experience "that much more special."
Locals interviewed in the area say Anderton is regularly seen walking the trails alone, riding horses and shopping locally. Terry Rooney, who lives near the estate, said residents call her "the princess" because of her looks and noted that she is "a lovely, down to earth person" who greets neighbours. Another local, Mary, said she was surprised at first to see Anderton shopping at an affordable chain in the nearby town of Newtown Mount Kennedy but added that the visits have become a familiar sight and that life in Wicklow has appeared to suit her.
Anderton first rose to public attention after a 1990s advertising campaign that elevated her profile and led to magazine covers, fashion assignments and a social life that included high-profile friendships and relationships. She appeared on several British reality programmes, including Celebrity Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity Love Island. In later interviews she has been frank about the consequences of that period, including repeated rehabilitation and therapy.
Her relationship with Balinski-Jundzill predates their marriage. The two first met when Anderton was a teenager, through mutual acquaintances, and reconnected decades later; they began dating in 2017. Balinski-Jundzill, who was born in Poland, made his fortune in the oil industry and his family acquired Glendalough House in 1986. The couple divide their time on the estate, which Balinski-Jundzill has also leveraged as a location for film production rentals.
Anderton’s move to Wicklow has brought new familial roles. She acquired four stepchildren through Balinski-Jundzill’s previous marriages and has said she has numerous godchildren; among the wedding party was actress Ella Balinska, who served as a ring bearer and who is connected to Balinski-Jundzill through a previous marriage.
In interviews since the move, Anderton has described the decision to leave the city as a significant life change. She told Hello magazine that she had been "a city girl" but found the local community welcoming and appreciated the lack of pretense. Social media posts mark holidays and ordinary moments alike, with Anderton posting about walks, sunsets and gratitude for her marriage.
Estate life has also involved practical changes. Anderton has written about physical tasks associated with sheep farming and the communal nature of local agricultural work. Neighbours say she participates in village life in low-key ways, frequenting cafés and shops in nearby Laragh and forming connections with local residents.
Anderton’s story — from high-profile modelling and tabloid visibility to public admissions of addiction, and now to a quieter, rural existence at Glendalough — reflects a long personal arc that she and associates describe as a fresh chapter. Residents and acquaintances who spoke about the couple said they were supportive of Anderton’s new lifestyle and saw the move as a turning point after earlier public struggles.
The Glendalough Estate’s continued use as a filming location means the house and grounds periodically accommodate production activity. Reports indicate that the couple have at times relocated within the estate during filming, staying in ancillary dwellings while the main house is used as a set.
Anderton’s transformation from a frequent presence on celebrity guest lists to a figure involved in hands-on estate life is chronicled in public interviews and her own social media accounts. She has framed the change as a deliberate choice to pursue health, family and the rhythms of rural work after years in the public eye.