Brad Pitt‘s sexiness is so ingrained in American culture that we’re surprised he didn’t take first place in our poll. Ever since his surge to stardom in 1991’s Thelma & Louise, Brad Pitt has been at the top of many married couples’ lists of “celebrity exemptions” (you know the ones-if you ever had the chance, you’d get to, and it wouldn’t hurt your marriage).
Though he’s now a married man himself, Pitt‘s as sexy in the eyes of his admiring public as he ever was: mere months after marrying Friends star Jennifer Aniston in July 2000, he was named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.”
And no wonder. With that golden boy thing he’s got going on he’s absolutely beautiful-piercing blue eyes, soft golden skin, a perfect smile, and a chest that’s enough to make your heart stop. (If you want to see it for yourself, watch Snatch. And Fight Club. And Thelma & Louise.)
We all know he’s hot. The question is whether or not his appeal goes beyond his looks. Because, folks, all superficial sexiness aside, this is a man who says the best thing about being married is that he’s allowed to fart in bed. And we don’t believe there could be a less seductive comment. Funny? Yes. True? Probably. Sexy? Absolutely not.
But a comment like that has a strange appeal coming from Brad’s mouth, because it makes it clear that Pitt, if nothing else, is not afraid to be a man, and that can be a very sexy thing. If you need more evidence of his manhood than Pitt‘s recent choices of knock-down, manly, fighting roles in Snatch and Fight Club, here are a few real-world examples of Brad Pitt‘s manliness:
1. He’s reportedly a frustrated musician.
Anyone who’s ever dated a frustrated musician knows that this moniker is not about any undying love of music. It is a mark of masculinity that implies that the person who shoulders it has sensibility of a rock star, although fate has stopped him from fulfilling the role, either through a denial of talent or of opportunity. This is not an unsexy attribute. In fact, it’s dangerous. Your mother wouldn’t want you to date this guy.
2. He’s not afraid to fight his own battles.
Pitt had a run-in with boxer Mike Tyson over then-girlfriend Robin Givens. He also narrowly missed starting a riot at the London premiere of Snatch, where he argued with police officers who wouldn’t let him sign autographs in the crowd. Again, danger is the key word here-and the fact that he may channel all that energy into, well, other efforts.
3. He may see acting as a less-than-manly profession.
Like Mickey Rourke before him, Pitt sometimes shuns the glamour of the work he does, and downplays his career as an actor-with-a-capital-A. “I’m here for entertainment, basically, when you whittle everything away,” he told Time magazine in an October 1997 interview. “I’m a grown man who puts on makeup.”
Sexiest Role:
As the drifter/thief J.D. in Thelma & Louise, Brad broke Geena Davis’ heart, and captured ours in the process. Plus you get to see his butt.
Best Quote:
OK, it’s not very sexy, but we can’t resist giving you the whole darn thing. When asked what he thought of marriage, Pitt said, “It’s fantastic, I love it…. Being married means I can fart and eat ice cream in bed.”
Sexiest Scene:
There are too many great ones to pick just one. This guy can make any part sizzle. Rent A River Runs through It for his softer side, Thelma & Louise for the young rebel side, and Fight Club for lots of chest and muscle action.
Physical Feature We Love:
His classically sculpted cheeks. Ahem.
In His Future:
Pitt is slated to star with Robert Redford (quite the heartthrob himself) in the upcoming Spy Game, scheduled for release in July. He’ll also share the screen with another star on Hollywood.com’s list, George Clooney, in the Steven Soderbergh-directed Ocean’s Eleven in December of this year.
