Top 5 Most Attractive Movie Performances/Characters

by Rusty

MALE
1) Jude Law in Alfie
2) Brad Pitt in Fight Club
3) Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones series
4) Peirce Brosnan in The Thomas Crown Affair
5) George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven

FEMALE
1) Audrey Tautou in Amelie
2) Uma Thurman in the Kill Bill series
3) Kiera Knightly in Pride and Prejudice
4) Cameron Diaz in Charlie’s Angels
5) Gwyneth Paltrow in The Talented Mr. Ripley

31 Comments

  1. This was much more difficult than I thought it would be because there is a big difference between the attracitveness of a person and that of their role and how they performed it. I know I’m missing some too.

    Comment by Rusty — August 30, 2006 @ 1:53 pm

  2. Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall.

    Comment by Susan M — August 30, 2006 @ 2:16 pm

  3. … of the past 15 years.

    No Audrey Hepburn? For shame.

    Comment by Bryce I — August 30, 2006 @ 2:20 pm

  4. The only AH movie I’ve seen is Breakfast at Tiffany’s and I don’t remember it very well. I definitely considered her though.

    Comment by Rusty — August 30, 2006 @ 2:42 pm

  5. I’m going classic:

    1. Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep
    2. Ava Gardner in The Killers (1946 version)
    3. Rita Hayworth in Gilda
    4. Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice
    5. Sophia Loren (I actually haven’t seen any of the movies she made when she was at her peak but I’ve gotta mention her anyway)

    Comment by Brian V — August 30, 2006 @ 2:59 pm

  6. what brian V said.

    Comment by Supergenius — August 30, 2006 @ 3:29 pm

  7. Grace Kelly-Rear Window
    Jean Seberg-Breathless
    Aishwarya Rai-Bride and Prejudice
    Jennifer Connelly-Dark City
    Franka Potente-Run Lola Run
    -
    William Powell-The Thin Man
    Takeshi Kaneshiro-Chungking Express
    Russell Crowe-L.A. Confidential
    Roger Livesy-I Know Where I’m Going
    Harrison Ford-Indiana Jones
    -

    Comment by hplc — August 30, 2006 @ 4:03 pm

  8. Sheesh, I need to see more old movies.

    Comment by Rusty — August 30, 2006 @ 5:30 pm

  9. Jennifer Connelly! Nice.

    Comment by Brian V — August 30, 2006 @ 6:16 pm

  10. I consulted with my wife and we came up with these guys:
    Orlando Bloom in Lord of the Rings
    Johnny Depp in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
    Thomas Kretschmann in King Kong (Capt. Engelhorn)
    Matthew Macfadyen in 2005’s Pride & Prejudice (Darcy)
    tie: Harrison Ford in Star Wars, Christian Bale in Batman, Lawrence Olivier in Rebecca.

    Nicole Kidman in Batman Forever or The Others
    Grace Kelly in Rear Window
    Scarlett Johannson in Girl with a Pearl Earring
    Olivia Williams in Emma
    Kate Beckinsale in Emma

    My wife insists on Angelina Jolie and Bryce Howard. I like Howard, not Jolie.

    I would include Natalie Portman, but Queen Amidala kinda sucks. Also, Halle Berry is gorgeous but I’ve never liked a character of hers.

    Comment by Tom — August 30, 2006 @ 10:11 pm

  11. Nicole Kidman was outstanding in Batman Returns. But what about Kim Basinger in Batman? I think my puberty accelerated after watching that.

    I’m not a fan of the post-Mask Cameron Diaz. Way too skinny.

    I’ve also never been attracted to Uma THurman. Too gawky.

    There’s something about Scarlett Johannson’s voice that turns me off.

    Natalie Portman is like 5-2.

    I’ll second Jennifer Connelly and Grace Kelly. But if we’re going old school, you have to include Raquel Welch. 100 Rifles anyone?

    Comment by Tim J. — August 30, 2006 @ 10:23 pm

  12. Hey. I’m 5-2.

    Comment by Susan M — August 30, 2006 @ 10:42 pm

  13. Uhhhh…..and you look just like Natalie Portman.:)

    Comment by Tim J. — August 30, 2006 @ 11:11 pm

  14. Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca
    Jennifer Connelly in A Beautiful Mind
    Bryce Dallas Howard in The Village
    Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider
    Olivia Williams in Emma

    Orlando Bloom in Lord of the Rings
    Thomas Kretshmann in King Kong
    Christian Bale in Batman Begins
    Johnny Depp in What’s eating Gilbert Grape
    Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It

    Comment by Summer — August 31, 2006 @ 6:41 am

  15. I agree with so many here.

    Johnny Depp - What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
    Harrison Ford - Indiana Jones
    Orlando Bloom Viggo Mortensen - LOTR
    Tobey Maguire - Spiderman
    Keanu Reeves - Speed

    Runners up - Brad Pitt in Seven
    Marcello Mastroianni - La Dolce Vita

    Rita Hayworth - Gilda
    Ingrid Bergman - Notorious
    Audrey Tautou - Amelie
    Jean Seaberg - Breathless
    Frances McDormand - Laurel Canyon

    Comment by meems — August 31, 2006 @ 8:42 am

  16. Nice save, Tim.

    Re: Portman, height doesn’t matter. I’ve never understood why there’s such a premium on tallness.

    I’m with you on Diaz and Thurman.

    Comment by Tom — August 31, 2006 @ 8:44 am

  17. Rachel Ward in The Thorn Birds.

    I can fully empathize with Father de Briccasart for his sins of the flesh. Heck, I think I even envy him.

    Comment by Mark IV — August 31, 2006 @ 9:02 am

  18. Height doesn’t really matter per se, but there is a point when someone can be too short (for me at least–sorry Susan, we’ll just never make it together).

    I guess Portman was first cast in Claire Dane’s role in Romeo and Juliet but due to her height they had to make a change. They said it would have looked like DiCaprio was kissing a 12-year old.

    meems,
    My wife loves Viggo! She would drop me in a heartbeat for him.

    Comment by Tim J. — August 31, 2006 @ 10:11 am

  19. Daniel Day-Lewis in Last of the Mohicans…guh!
    Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Velvet Goldmine
    Ethan Hawke in Before Sunrise
    Clive Owen in Closer–dirty, dirty dog.. yet hot.
    Michael Pitt in Hedwig and the Angry Inch

    Madeleine Stowe in Last of the Mohicans
    Kate Winslet in Titanic
    Minnie Driver in Good Will Hunting

    Comment by Wendy — August 31, 2006 @ 10:13 am

  20. That’s ok Tim. I’m actually afraid of tall people, myself.

    Comment by Susan M — August 31, 2006 @ 11:19 am

  21. As well you should be, what with accidentally getting kicked in the forehead all the time. :)

    Comment by Tim J. — August 31, 2006 @ 11:38 am

  22. Or getting beer spit all over me at shows.

    Comment by Susan M — August 31, 2006 @ 11:54 am

  23. Rusty, other than Indiana Jones, have you ever watched a movie before 1990? Just wondering. (I’m kidding! Kinda.)

    Here are some names I’m just throwing out for consideration:

    Actresses:
    Eva Marie Saint - On the Waterfront
    Lauren Bacall - To Have and Have Not
    Maggie Chueng - In the Mood for Love
    Kate Beckinsale - The Last Days of Disco
    Irene Jacob/Julie Delpy/Juliette Binoche - Red/White/Blue

    Actors:
    Sean Connery - Goldfinger
    Gabriel Byrne - Miller’s Crossing
    Clark Gable - Gone with the Wind
    Robert Redford/Paul Newman - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

    Comment by BTD Greg — August 31, 2006 @ 12:53 pm

  24. Also, Takeshi Kaneshiro - House of Flying Daggers

    Comment by BTD Greg — August 31, 2006 @ 12:56 pm

  25. Tim,
    Dude, my wife is 5″2′ (and I’m 6″1′), ain’t nothin’ wrong wid it.

    BTD Greg,
    Nope.

    Comment by Rusty — August 31, 2006 @ 1:44 pm

  26. Maggie Chueng–how did she not end up on my list? I had Clark Gable, Eva Marie Saint, and Kate Beckinsale as alternates. Eva Marie Saint’s performance in On the Waterfront is just dreamy.

    Comment by hplc — August 31, 2006 @ 2:17 pm

  27. Eva Marie Saint is a good pick. Also, she is still gorgeous at eighty or however old she is.

    I frankly think it’s ridiculous to try to squeeze only five people into each of these categories. Movie stars are paid to be attractive and appealing in movies. But here are some I’ll throw out there anyway:

    In the man category, I’d add Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride. I don’t generally find blond men attractive at all, but I’ve had a crush on his Westley for almost two decades. Also Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice, Denzel Washington in Glory, and Naveen Andrews in The English Patient,

    Comment by Allison — August 31, 2006 @ 2:49 pm

  28. Here’s my list for today. Tomorrow I might choose an entirely different slate:

    Catherine Zeta Jones - The Mask of Zorro
    Louise Brooks - Pandora’s Box
    Monica Bellucci - Malena
    Marisa Berenson - Barry Lyndon
    Dita Parlo - L’Atalante

    Lawrence Olivier - Wuthering Heights
    Peter O’Toole - Lawrence of Arabia
    Gary Cooper - The Fountainhead
    Richard Burton - Taming of the Shrew
    Nikolai Cherkasov - Alexander Nevsky

    Comment by Bill — August 31, 2006 @ 3:38 pm

  29. Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean
    Harrison Ford - Indiana Jones
    Viggo Mortensen - LOTR
    Brad Pitt- Legends of the Fall
    Clark Gable- Gone with the Wind

    Grace Kelly- Rear Window
    Kate Winslet- Titanic
    Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast at Tiffany’s
    Jessica Tandy- Fried Green Tomatoes
    Juliette Binoche- Chocolat

    Comment by Tracy M — August 31, 2006 @ 5:19 pm

  30. Did I go a little overboard…?

    Winona Ryder in Reality Bites

    Jennifer Connelly in The Hot Spot, The Rocketeer, Inventing the Abbotts… and pretty much everything

    Kate Beckinsale in Underworld, Serendipity, etc.

    Helena Bonham Carter in A Room With A View

    Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being

    Madeline Stowe in Revenge, Last of the Mohicans, Twelve Monkeys, China Moon

    Katharine Ross in The Graduate

    Ann-Margret in Carnal Knowledge

    Cybill Shepherd in The Last Picture Show

    Penelope Cruz in Abre Los Ojos, All the Pretty Horses, Belle Epoque, etc.

    Emmanuelle Beart in Manon des Sources

    Anne Parillaud in La Femme Nikita

    Julie Delpy in Before Sunrise and Before Sunset

    Monica Bellucci in Malena

    Maria Grazia Cucinotta in Il Postino

    Comment by Matt Thurston — September 6, 2006 @ 12:08 pm

  31. Because turnaround is fair play…

    Hugh Grant in About A Boy

    Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone

    Daniel Day Lewis in Last of the Mohicans

    Russell Crowe in Master & Commander

    Kevin Costner in Bull Durham

    Harrison Ford in Witness

    George Clooney in Out of Sight, or pretty much anything post-Facts of Life

    Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It

    Robert Redford in The Sting

    Jeff Bridges in general

    Mel Gibson in Gallipoli

    Denzel Washington in general

    Matt Dillon in The Flamingo Kid

    Pierce Brosnan in The Thomas Crown Affair

    Comment by Matt Thurston — September 6, 2006 @ 1:13 pm