Writer Sian Dhu takes a look at Hollywood’s finest who, despite dubious good looks (or, in some cases, what can only be described as ‘a seriously rude head’) still hit it big with the ladies. We’ve discovered the secret: It’s all in the voice people!
Sure, I’m a little behind the times, but I finally saw the The Sapphires the other day. Aside from enjoying a decent Aussie film, I also found myself ashamedly leaving the cinema with a crush on the sweaty, pasty character Dave Lovelace played by Chris O’Dowd.
Why?! I ask myself. This guy is far from attractive: He’s too tall, he’s hunched, he has chubby cheeks, he’s got awkward hair that can’t decide if it wants to be straight or curly…though far from ugly, he sure ain’t your typical pretty boy. But I’m not the only one: O’Dowd was hailed as one of Hollywood’s leading men almost overnight with the 2011 release of Bridesmaids in which he played Kirsten Wigg’s love interest. With his underwhelming appearance, what is it that makes him loved by the ladies world over?
Ah-huh! It’s his voice! Cute Irish sheep-herder accent; can’t go wrong! This got me thinking…who are some of the famous male actors out there with dubious good looks but sexy voices? I came up with a few. Feel free to add yours!
Alan Rickman
(Harry Potter, Love Actually)
This guy just looks plain scary. But his smooth, evil tones can’t be beat.
He also works a ‘pause’ in a sentence like no other actor in history. What a sexy champ.
Liam Neeson
(Taken, The Grey, Love Actually)
He’s as old as my Dad but I would go there! His gravelly rumble sets my heart racing.
Bill Nighy
(Shaun of the Dead, The Boat That Rocked, Love Actually)
Ancient and scrawny, but his uber cool husky voice makes him possibly the world’s
sexiest Grandad. Like Rickman, he utilizes pacing in dialogue to spine-tingling effect.
Colin Firth
(Bridget Jones’ Diary, Love Actually…why does this film keep popping up in this list?)
MMm-mm! These royal tones make you forget he looks like an accountant with a silver spoon up his rear. Yummy!
John Malkovich
(Being John Malkovich, Con Air)
Blad….Short…. Kind of scary looking, and our first American to make the list.
Welcome Johnny!
Anthony Hopkins
(Thor, Meet Joe Black, Silence of the Lambs)
Possibly the smoothest voice in history. I want this guy to voice my sat-nav!
Morgan Freeman
(The Bucket List, Shawshank Redemption)
Ok, am I being mean labeling Morgan Freeman as average looking? He can be dashing.
I’m certainly not a fan of the whole white Einstein hairstyle he’s rocking at the moment so that warrants his inclusion.
Besides, how can you go past that oh-so-smooth utterly recognisable voice? Listening to him is like slipping into a hot bubble bath. Tasty stuff.
So they are my choices. Now the only question is… who have I missed?
