Culture & Entertainment

15 leading men and the reasons we love them

Canadian Living
Culture & Entertainment

15 leading men and the reasons we love them

Today, we're turning things over to a special guest post by our intern, Linda Cotrina: Who doesn’t love a good leading man? From tall, dark and handsome types like George Clooney to contemporary heartthrobs like Leonardo DiCaprio, we’ve rounded up a list of loveable leading men, and the reasons why they make us swoon. (You'll be swooning after this too!) And while you're at it, be sure to check out our 15 favourite leading ladies, as well! 1. Ryan Gosling Here’s a national treasure to be admired! Who doesn't love this Canadian gem? Ever since Ryan Gosling appeared in The Notebook (2004), both men and women have swooned over him – and with good reason! Not only is he extremely handsome and charming, but he's also a talented actor, having first attracted serious critical attention for his performance as a Jewish neo-Nazi in The Believer (2001). There's no doubt that he deserves to start off our list. Watch him in: Blue Valentine (2010); Drive (2011); The Ides of March (2011) 2. Leonardo DiCaprio This actor rose to heartthrob status and crept into our hearts with his portrayal of Jack Dawson in James Cameron's Titanic (1997). Since then, DiCaprio has taken on a number of memorable roles that have proven his versatility as an actor in movies such as Gangs of New York (2002), The Great Gatsby (2013), and most recently The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor and landed an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. For you Leo, our hearts will go on. Watch him in: Catch Me If You Can (2002); The Departed (2006); Blood Diamond (2006); Shutter Island (2010); Inception (2010); J. Edgar (2011); Django Unchained (2012) 3. Ryan Reynolds This Canadian hunk was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010, and without question. He may not be an Oscar-nominated actor, but he has certainly proven his versatility in the industry. Reynolds can move between silly, slapstick roles (see: Van Wilder, 2002) and more action packed dramas (see: Green Lantern, 2011) with ease. Good-looking, funny, talented, and with rock-hard abs? What more could a woman ask for? Watch him in: Waiting (2005); Buried (2010); Green Lantern (2011); Ted (2012) 4. Idris Elba Idris Elba only recently came to attention as someone to watch, for both his acting talent and his undeniable charm and good looks. His big break happened when he landed a starring role on the popular American crime drama TV series, The Wire (2002-2008). Since then, he has also starred in various blockbusters, with his most recent claim to fame – his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in 2013. The British actor also graced the cover of GQ's October 2013 issue with sizzling allure and a validation in any actor's career that they are, indeed, hot stuff. Watch him in: Prometheus (2012); Pacific Rim (2013) 5. Michael Fassbender (pictured above) This Irish-German actor first caught the attention of women as Stelios in the Hollywood blockbuster, 300 (2006). Since then, he's been heating up the silver screen with notable roles in X-Men: First Class (2011), Prometheus (2012) and for his Oscar-nominated performance in Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave (2013). Voted number eight on Empire's 2013 list of the 50 Sexiest Male Movie Stars, Fassbender is, without a doubt, sizzling! Watch him in: Shame (2011); A Dangerous Method (2011); The Counselor (2013) 6. Hugh Jackman Charismatic. Charming. Handsome. This Australian hunk is known for his ability to walk into a room and command the attention of every single person with just his personality – and his dashing good looks, of course! He served as one of the better hosts at the 2009 Oscars, showcasing his musical theatre talent and diverse performance skills. No wonder he was chosen as People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2008. The epitome of a gentleman, Hugh Jackman, there’s no other like you. Watch him in: X-Men (2000); The Prestige (2006); Les Misérables (2012) 7. George Clooney This two-time People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive has classic movie-star good looks and the acting chops to go with them. He has presence; charisma and can pull off a tux like no other in Hollywood. Sure, he hasn’t settled down, yet. However, Clooney's dating history validates that he is one of the most desirable men in Hollywood, as women of all ages swoon after him. Watch him in: Oceans Eleven (2001); Oceans Twelve (2004); Syriana (2005); Ocean's Thirteen (2007); Up in the Air (2009); Gravity (2013) 8. Bradley Cooper Easy on the eyes, Bradley Cooper won People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive title in 2011, but there's more to this actor than just his perfect smile and mesmerizing blue eyes. He happens to know how to cook up a storm and can speak French fluently. Oh, mon dieu! His most recent role in American Hustle (2013) earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting actor and his unforgettable performance as Pat Jr., a man coping with bi-polar disorder, in Silver Linings Playbook (2012), showcased his talent and versatility as an actor. Go Bradley! Watch him in: The Hangover (2009); He's Just Not That Into You (2009); Limitless (2011) 9. Tom Hanks One of the most loveable actors in Hollywood, Tom Hanks is unquestionably and unconventionally handsome. He has warmed our hearts with one-of-a-kind performances time and time again, with his most memorable role as Chuck Noland in Castaway (2000). “Wilson! Wilson!” Who could forget that heart-wrenching scene in Castaway as his character, painfully cries out to the infamous volleyball as it faced its inevitable fate. We love you Tom! Watch him in: Philadelphia (1993); Sleepless in Seattle (1993); You've Got Mail (1998); The Green Mile (1999); Catch Me If You Can (2002); Captain Phillips (2013) 10. Liam Neeson Debonair. That's the first word that comes to mind when we hear Liam Neeson’s name. This rugged, Irish-born actor rose to prominence with his starring role in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993). Since then, he has charmed audiences with roles in Taken (2008), Taken 2 (2012) and 2012's The Grey, where audiences were really able to appreciate his talents... along with his rugged good looks, of course. Watch him in: Love Actually (2003); Kingdom of Heaven (2005); Taken (2008) 11. Colin Firth This famous actor has that English gentleman charm that makes women go weak at the knees. Having appeared in the TV mini series of Pride and Prejudice (1995) as the handsome, intelligent and wealthy Mr. Darcy, and in the popular Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Firth has secured his spot on many women's  'hot' list. What makes him even more desirable is that in spite of being a talented actor and one of Hollywood's leading men, he remains incredibly humble and down-to-earth. Oh, Colin -- so charming! Watch him in: Love Actually (2003); Mamma Mia! (2008); The King's Speech (2010) 12. Johnny Depp Johnny Depp is not your typical Hollywood stereotype. He's quirky and unconventional and it shows through some of the roles he has taken on in the past. Yes, his fashion sometimes resembles that of a pirate, but we’re perfectly okay with that. Why? Because he can pull it off and still look cool and mysteriously sexy, that’s why! (Or maybe he has just bewitched us!) Watch him in: Edward Scissorhands (1990); Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Alice in Wonderland (2010) 13. Matthew McConaughey Matthew McConaughey is the perfect southern gentleman. Known for his roles in romantic comedies such as The Wedding Planner (2001) and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), McConaughey has transformed his career from resident chick-flick heartthrob to one of the most versatile actors in the game. His most recent role in Dallas Buyers Club (2013) earned him a Golden Globe win for Best Actor and an Oscar nomination for Best Lead Actor, proving that there's more to this Texan than his killer smile and chiseled physique. Not that we're complaining. Watch him in: Dazed and Confused (1993); Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994); Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009); Magic Mike (2012) 14. Daniel Craig Rugged. Sophisticated. Daniel Craig's success in the James Bond movies raised his desirability and put him up there with the many attractive leading men in Hollywood. His square jawline, muscular figure, soothing British accent and perfect physique are difficult to ignore. I don't think anyone is ignoring those features anyway. Watch him in: Casino Royale (2006); The Golden Compass (2007); The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)  15. Richard Gere Richard Gere was the resident Hollywood heartthrob of the late 70s and early 80s, but continues to be on most women's list of attractive actors. This Pretty Woman (1990) star was voted People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1999, and although he has been keeping a low profile, his charm and presence cannot be denied. Watch him in: Runaway Bride (1999); The Mothman Prophecies (2002); Unfaithful (2002); Chicago (2002) Image courtesy of: Georges Biard, via Wikimedia Commons

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15 leading men and the reasons we love them

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