News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Home » Blogs » browne's blog » Are these the most beautiful faces of 2008?

Are these the most beautiful faces of 2008?

by
browne

A group of judges over at the movie website TCCandler.com recently posted a list of what they consider to be the 100 Most Beautiful (female) Faces of 2008. Being a generous sort, I thought I'd provide you with the link so you can go and see whether or not you agree with their choices.

The list makes an interesting comparison to our own AfterEllen.com Hot 100 last year. Although not primarily oriented toward gay women like the AfterEllen.com list was, website owner Candler makes a point of proclaiming toward the bottom of the page that "This is not your standard Maxim or FHM or People list," and that the choices are "certainly not based purely on public popularity." He also claims that "It is not based on the 'sexiest,' 'hottest' or 'best body'" (though, since he adds that it is "only about beautiful celebrity faces," I guess we shouldn't get too excited about men judging women based on talent just yet).

Nigella Lawson

With that said, I did find the list more unusual and interesting than the ones typically published by Maxim. For a start, the women aren't all actresses and pop stars and models. There's also a tennis player (Ana Ivanovic), a film critic (Christy Lemire), a couple of chefs (Nigella Lawson and Giada de Laurentiis), a figure skater (Kiira Korpi) and a newscaster (Melissa Theuriau). I must say I'd never heard of Theuriau (or indeed most of those others), but given the accompanying picture, I can certainly see why she was chosen:

Melissa Theuriau

As a Brit, it's nice to see some English actresses on the list who are certainly beautiful and talented, even if they haven't yet made the crossover to mainstream Hollywood stardom. My longtime favorite Romola Garai is one of them, as is the lovely Emilia Fox:

Emilia Fox

As a brunette, it's also pretty great to see that the top six are all dark-haired lasses. While I personally wouldn't choose Natalie Portman as No. 1, I'm certainly not going to argue with Rachel Weisz at No. 2, or Kate Beckinsale at No. 3. (I'll just ignore the fact that Beckinsale happens to have blond highlights in the particular picture they've posted.)

Rachel Weisz (left) and Kate Beckinsale

One disappointment, though, is that there aren't any openly gay or bisexual women on the list (though there are several that may be of particular interest to lesbians, such as Ellen Page, Kristen Stewart, Mia Kirshner, and Julia and Lena of t.A.T.u.).

Ellen Page

A runners-up list at the bottom of the page shows that Angelina Jolie, Anne Heche, Jodie Foster, Portia de Rossi and Saffron Burrows were all under consideration, but none of them made it through to the top 100. Well, that's what happens when you let straight men vote.

Kerry Washington

For a list with international pretensions, it's also noticeable that the vast majority of the top 100 are white women. Kerry Washington, Padma Lakshmi, Thandie Newton, Wei Tang and Vanessa Minnillo all make an appearance — as do some names that were new to me, such as Reiko Aylesworth, Layla Kayleigh, Reon Kadena and K.D. Aubert. But for a list that bills itself as "the 100 Most Beautiful Famous Faces From Around the World," nine non-white women out of 100 seems like a pretty low score.

Wei Tang

What do you think of the list? Are there names you would add or leave out? And is Natalie Portman your No. 1?

  • browne's blog
  • Login or register to post comments
    • Submitted by
    browne
    on April 15, 2008 - 9:00am.
    TAGS :: 
    imthey's picture

    Interesting...

    Submitted by
    imthey (440 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 9:15am.

    I do enjoy the choices they picked, simply because a great many of these women aren't the standard choices we see from the typical men's magazines... they actually include a nice variety of women. 

    I also like that there were several names that I too was unfamiliar with.

    Then again it's all subjective and each of us clearly has our own definition of what we feel is "attractive" so I don't think that there will ever be a list where each and every person on said list (nor the order in which they appear) will be agreed upon by all.

     

    (Self Appointed) "#1 Bridget McManus Fan"

    I M THEY ("Think Sideways")

    NorthernStar's picture

    They forgot Sophia Myles

    Submitted by
    NorthernStar (158 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 9:13am.

    (from Moonlight) and of course my beloved Renee O'Connor and Eliza Dushku.

    I absolutely love Julianne Nicholson and glad they included her.

    I disagree about Lohan, Aguilerra, Portman, Weitz, and Kathrine McPhee. Nothing unique about them.

    browne's picture

    Sophia Myles...

    Submitted by
    browne (269 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 9:55am.
    ... is actually on the list, at number 35.
    TheWeyrd1's picture

    AskMen.com also has a list up right now

    Submitted by
    TheWeyrd1 (419 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 9:46am.
    I started a forum topic yesterday here that includes a link to the list starting with their number one. This list had a few women of color in the top 10, and if you take out the models (if you're like me, you're saying who's this?), there are several women that have made the AE list. Of course, with the models it's just another GUY's version of what's hot in the world of women...lol
    netgirl1983's picture

    Dutchie!

    Submitted by
    Chantal (300 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 9:42am.

    There's a dutch women in there too. Carice van Houten. nr 34

    There's even a Dutch woman in the runner-up section, Esmee Denters 

     Some are very worthy of the top 100, but soe could have been replaced by some of the runner-ups. I guess it is just all about personal 'flavour'

    The Way The Cookie Crumbles

    No Borders Allowed
    onedimpledcheek's picture

    Wow.

    Submitted by
    onedimpledcheek (40 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 10:33am.

    I really question some of the placement.

    Since when is Rachel Bilson hotter than Scarlett Jo?

    And Hayden Panettiere isn't prettier than Elisha Cuthbert.

    As for the rest...

    I dunno if I would have picked Natalie Portman for the top spot. Nonetheless, I find her to be unbelievably beautiful. I agree with Rachel Weisz as number 2. She's just...unreal.

     

    Bleh. Who voted on these women, anyway? Kate Winslet should have been number one. She gets better looking year after year.

    baarlijan_xen's picture

    YES NATALIE DESERVES NUMBER 1!!!

    Submitted by
    baarlijan_xen (361 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 10:49am.

     

    Let's shave Katherine Heigl's head and check if she deserves being ranked higher above than Mia Kirschner or Winona Ryder... meh... too many blondes in this list.

    And Kate Winslet only number 12??? Really??? Meh again...

    But at least I'm glad I didn't find Carla Bruni in the damm list. She's absolutely everywhere!!! God am I sick of seing her face all around... If I hear that name once more I'm going to have an epileptic attack and collapse...

    ld18's picture

    Natalie Portman is a

    Submitted by
    ld18 (4 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 11:17am.
    Natalie Portman is a beautiful woman, but I wouldn't have put her at #1.  And no way would I have put Lindsay Lohan on the list at all!  Aylet Zurer was wonderful in Vantage Point and I'm glad to see her on this list.  There are several people on the runners-up list that I wouldn't have included i.e. Ashlee Simpson, Brittany Spears (didn't they see her with her head shaved?), Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Kelly Ripa, Paris Hilton, Anne Hesche--sheesh!
    cosmiccowgirl's picture

    blinded by the white

    Submitted by
    cosmiccowgirl (531 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 11:18am.
    My subject line pretty much says it all--especially since they emphasize that their list is from "all over the world." I would also think that since they're focus is beauty and not sexiness that there would be some age diversity, like the "most beautiful people" People (I think) puts out every year.
    crimson moon's picture

    meh....it's an ok list....

    Submitted by
    ~wicked~ (39 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 11:32am.

    agree with many, disagree with even more...there are soooo many other beautiful women in the world that should be on that list in place of some of the others but it's all in the 'eye of the beholder'....Natalie as #1?  although strikingly beautiful and talented, no way....

     

    www.myspace/epona_sister

    Shug's picture

    Melissa Theuriau

    Submitted by
    Shug (30 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 1:46pm.

     looks amazing...in that pic although ive never heard of her before.

    Blake Lively is a definate fox and she wa only rated #85..pah! I can't believe Angie and other hotties like Elle Macpherson Eva Mendes & Vanessa Ferltio wern't included silly boys..tut. :)

     

     

    JUST SHUG.

    redorange69's picture

    Diversity

    Submitted by
    frankie (4 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 1:46pm.
    These women are beautiful hands down, but I couldnt help but notice the lack of range. There were very few women of color and average-sized women. Of all the women in film, i was dissappointed in the over-all selection. :(
    deathbyblonde's picture

    Romola Garai...

    Submitted by
    deathbyblonde (307 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 2:27pm.

    ...should have been number 1.  I mean, just look at her face:

    I <3 her.

    Natalie Portman is very, very pretty, but I definitely don't think she has a prettie face than Rachel Weiz, or some of the other women.

    JaxHavok69's picture

    it's probably a stretch

    Submitted by
    Michelle (54 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 3:30pm.
    but natalie portman i think does end up deserving being the most beautiful woman. i just can't deny her >_< haha <3
    Brenda647's picture

    If I Had My Druthers...

    Submitted by
    Brenda647 (89 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 3:31pm.

    Nigella Lawson would be #1.  She had me drooling the first time I saw her.  She's got it all.  She's beautiful, she's lush(curvy) and her sensuality cannot be denied. Watching her cook is hot! Yummy!!!

    Peace, Joy and Love
    *B*

     

    Blasianbeatnik's picture

    In the words of Stewie,

    Submitted by
    Blasianbeatnik (108 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 3:33pm.

    "You're white as a ghost, you're haunting this {list} with your whiteness."

    Indeed.

     

    www.myspace.com/blasianbeatnik02

    jennifer from pittsburgh's picture

    Giada

    Submitted by
    jennifer from p... (1231 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 3:34pm.
    Lists are largely nonsense and this one does nothing to dissuade me from that knee jerk assumption. That being said, I love that Giada's on the list! She's my sister's straight girl crush, so I had a little squee moment.
    Niuxita's picture

    Interesting list. If we're

    Submitted by
    Niuxita (78 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 4:14pm.

    Interesting list. If we're going by most beautiful faces alone, I agree with the majority of the choices, regardless of placement. I was particularly surprised to see Giovanna Mezzogiorno listed. I really liked her in Love in Time of Cholera and found her strangely beautiful, so it was a pleasant surprise to see her here.

    As for the runners-up (runner-ups?), I squeed when I saw Cat Deeley since I have a humongous crush on her. Same for Lauren Graham, though it actually frustrated me that she didn't make the actual list, since I consider her to be one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. I also liked that somewhat unknown Latinas were considered, like Natalia Oreiro and Julie Gonzalo. Even if they didn't make the actual list, at least the makers thought to include them somewhere, so that to me is enough.

    The only choice that bothered me was Britney Spears. The rest, one way or another (the ones I knew anyway), are striking enough for me to be considered beautiful in their own way, but yeah, no list of this kind is ever going to be completely absolute or objective.

    JessFojo's picture

    Well

    Submitted by
    JessFojo (13 posts)
    on April 15, 2008 - 7:08pm.

    I agree about the lack of age/colour diversity but it's still a lovely list to look at.
    There's stacks of women on that list I've never even heard of.

    Lesbian Tees & Gifts - wearables with a lesbian flavour.


    Home » Blogs » browne's blog » Are these the most beautiful faces of 2008?

    User login

    Recent comments
    After Ellen home page on logo online