The Beautiful Ones...

by Julie Ann Walker

My husband and I have had the conversation many times about the difference between attractiveness and beauty.  A person can have charisma, sex-appeal, that certain je ne sais quois that makes them exceedingly yummy even though, from a strictly aesthetic perspective, they aren't all that, well, pretty.  Yet, because of all the aforementioned things, they are still exceedingly "attractive."  And then there are folks whose physical features are pure perfection.  Their faces carved in such flawless proportions that looking at them almost hurts, like gazing into a setting sun without the benefit of UV-blocking sunglasses.  You know, the "beautiful" ones.

The other day, Mr. Walker and I were making a list of "attractive" actresses.  Women whose particular brand of va-va-voom overcomes any flaws in their appearance.  This morning I decided to go the other route and share with you my top ten list of actors who I think are absolutely, hands down, the most beautiful men to have ever graced the silver screen.

Without further ado... 

        

10.) Laurence Olivier

Forget the pencil-thin mustache, how about those cheekbones?

9.) Paul Newman

Blue, blue eyes like the sea. Um, yes please!

8.) Antonio Banderas

Hubba, hubba! Wet or dry, he's the epitome of dark, swarthy deliciousness!

7.) Sean Connery

That jawline.  Those eyebrows. The dimples.  Enough said... 

6.) Billy Zane

This man's eyelashes fill me with jealousy. So thick. So dark. And then there's the beard stubble.

5.) Idris Elba

Holy hotness! Black eyes that see into my soul. And a goatee to swoon over.

4.) Chris Hemsworth

That furrowed brow, those squinty, stared-at-a-thousand-horizons eyes. And, again, the beard stubble. (I'm sensing a facial hair theme here. *wink*)

3.) Brad Pitt

Blue eyes. A button nose. A flirty smirk. Brad Pitt takes "cute" to a whole new level.

2.) Tom Hardy

Those lips! Those lips! Mama mia, those lips!

1.) Marlon Brando

Where to begin? How about everywhere and everything! Marlon Brando is pure perfection.

So what do you think of my list?  And who did I leave out?

UNLIMITED DRIVEOnly a crisis could persuade Delilah Fairchild to abandon her beloved biker bar, let alone ask Black Knights Inc. operator Bryan “Mac” McMillan for help. But her uncle has vanished into thin air, and sexy, surly Mac has the connections to help her find him. What the big, blue-eyed Texan has against her is a mystery… but when the bullets start to fly, Mac becomes her only hope of survival, and her only chance of finding her uncle alive.

UNSTOPPABLE PASSION
Mac knows a thing or two about beautiful women- mainly that they can’t be trusted. Throw in a ticking clock, a deadly homegrown terrorist, and some missing nuclear weapons, and a man just might find himself on the wrong end of the gun. But facing down danger with Delilah is one passion-filled thrill ride…

Hell For Leather is available May 6th! Pre-order your copy today!

Julie Ann Walker is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of the Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense series. She is prone to spouting movie quotes and song lyrics. She'll never say no to sharing a glass of wine or going for a long walk. She prefers impromptu travel over the scheduled kind, and she takes her coffee with milk. You can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.