People Magazine came out with its annual list of world's sexiest men this week. Topping the list is Matt Damon.
Uh. No.
Nice guy. Smart guy. Really good actor. Lots of other complimentary things--he pulls off the Bourne thing very well. But sexy he is not.
I don't argue with some of their other choices. Johnny Depp has been in my top five for decades--creative and whimsical and that mouth doesn't hurt. George Clooney isn't my type, but I get why other women think he's fabulous. Patrick Dempsey? Yes. And Brad Pitt, for all his strange little problems the past few years still has one of the best faces ever and an angst, a certain passion to change the world, that takes him right over the edge. Plus he has that geeky thing with architecture. Love a man who loves buildings.
The list made me think about what makes a man sexy and how individual it all is. (Thank God). Top of my list right now is Anthony Bourdain. Tall, loose-limbed man who is a chef and a writer and a traveler? Duh. He's reckless and intense and in real life he'd be a pain, but he's really in love with life, every second of it, every facet of it, every everything, and that, my friends, is hot.
Who is at the top of your Sexiest Man Alive list? Really. Who?
I so agree on the Matt thing. He has a few hot moments in the Bourne films but he is not my idea of sexy. He is definitely not THE sexiest man in THE WORLD> Not sure I can pick one sexiest man but my top few are Johnny (particularly as Captain Jack), Patrick Dempsey (who never used to be hot but has loads of hotness now), Hugh Jackman, Nathan Fillion, George Clooney (for the eyes and the smile) and Brad Pitt (sometimes a God, sometimes ordinary). I'm also a Chris Isaak, Bono, Robbie Williams fan. Oh, and for the offbeat ones, Ioan Gruffud, Hugh Laurie (which is so weird if, like me, you grew up watching his BBC stuff where he is anything but), Billy Connolly, Daniel Craig (gosh, there's a real UK theme there). I'm sure I could keep going but I shall stop....
Posted by: Mel | November 16, 2007 at 09:25 PM
I disagree with Mel's comment that Patrick didn't used to be hot. I was an 80s girl and loved him in Can't Buy Me Love. His eyes speak so much. Oooh.
Posted by: HB | November 17, 2007 at 07:02 AM
Sam Elliott...be still my heart!
Posted by: Sharyn | November 17, 2007 at 07:40 AM
Wow, I hadn't thought of Bourdain, but you're right! I think one of the sexier qualities in a man is a strong sense of integrity and a low sense of b.s. Bourdain has that. Sean Connery will always and forever be the world's sexiest man for me, even if I don't watch his movies!
Posted by: Michele Olson | November 17, 2007 at 09:00 AM
Dempsey, Depp and Pitt all project vulnerability, and that's what I think makes them sexy. I also agree about Bourdain. I think a conversation with that man would be one of the sexiest things imaginable. That intensity!
I also just adore the Fiennes brothers. Joseph in Shakespeare in Love. Ralph as Count Laszlo de Almásy in The English Patient. Both of them. Yum.
But my all-time favorite sexy man has to be Australia's Jamie Durie.
Posted by: Therese Walsh | November 17, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Years ago in Melbourne, when I was a very young designer, I worked on a one day shoot with George Miller. Just me, George, and his sports car. He had the most incredible vitality about him, and he turned what would have been a very boring shoot into an amazing experience. And he never canned this little job the whole day. He was at this stage trying to round up financial support for 'The man from Snowy River'.
Years later I read a lengthy interview and profile on him. I will never forget the last para. He was asked if he had any advice for the folks. He replied 'go with the passion'. 'Just go with the passion'.
This is what I think is sexy. People, and especially men, who go with the passion.
Posted by: Christine | November 17, 2007 at 02:47 PM
I like all of the unexpected names I see here. So refreshing to see imperfection appreciated and all of the different qualities that make up sexiness to different people. My guys would be Skeet Ulrich, David Caruso, Michael Kitchen and Shemar Moore. Odd grouping and a large age range there I know. I appreciate Johnny Depp, Patrick Dempsey and Hugh Jackman as well, but they don't inspire stories in my mind the same way.
Posted by: Scarlet | November 17, 2007 at 02:57 PM
Richard Armitage from BBC's NORTH AND SOUTH. A new discovery, but an intriguing one. Deep voice, Scottish brogue, intense eyes. Currently can be see as the Sheriff of Nottingham on BBC TV series ROBIN HOOD.
Posted by: Rosie | November 17, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Great lists. Definitely a British theme going.
Love that, Christine--passion. Yes. That's what I tell my voice students all the time. That passion comes through in the writing.
Posted by: Barbara | November 18, 2007 at 05:06 AM
Morgan Freeman. Only about 3 decades out of my league, but man oh man. There is something very sexy about a man that centered - and, of course, there's that voice.
Posted by: Heather Lin | November 20, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Oh, Heather. Yes. You and me both. Those freckles. That voice. His beautiful hands. I don't care that he's way older than me, either.
Posted by: Barbara | November 20, 2007 at 08:33 PM
Going with the British theme-Ian McShane and Ralph Fiennes; Sean Connery forever, and back home-Johnny Depp, Patrick Dempsey, and yes, Morgan Freeman who is NOT too old for me. It's all in the eyes and the voice.
Posted by: Rosalie | November 22, 2007 at 10:17 PM
I agree that Matt Damon is not sexy. I don't even think he is overly attractive. Brad Pitt used to be hot, but he has not aged well....sorry to say. I'm glad he is doing a lot of charity work though. I agree with whoever posted the Skeet Ulrich sexiest idea. I wish People would recognize him. Patrick Dempsey is okay, but I think a little too over-hyped. I don't get the George Clooney fascination however.
Posted by: susie | December 17, 2007 at 07:33 AM
I would have removed Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp from the list and added actors who have graced not only the silver screen, but the small screen:
--James Franco
--Hugh Jackman (I just love a man who visibly loves his wife)
--Ian Somerhalder
--Richard Armitage
--Tom Welling
--Ivan Sergei
Posted by: Dani | December 02, 2009 at 07:01 AM
I forgot to add Goran Visjnic from ER.
Posted by: Dani | December 02, 2009 at 07:17 AM