15 celebrities who were surprisingly hot young
Let us take you through the archives to uncover some historic hotties. These enduring legends in the industry captured our hearts in later life but wait until you see them in their prime.
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1. David Attenborough
The world looked back at David Attenborough’s life on his 100th birthday, and one thing stood out: he was hot.
Archive footage from one of his earliest TV appearances shows the broadcaster sailing across Borneo shirtless – tanned, tousled, beer in hand. An undeniable catch. Who doesn’t love an adventurous man with a passion for the environment? We’ll never watch an episode of Planet Earth the same again.
2. Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci’s campy charisma, classy demeanour and impeccable taste have made him an unlikely sex symbol in his sixties. But back in the 80s, when he still had hair and opted for a tight white vest instead of a linen shirt, he had a whole different appeal.
A rare celebrity who has transcended from one kind of heartthrob to another – there’s a case to say he’s only got better with age.
3. Laurence Fishburne
Watching him play a 420-year-old vampire in The Witcher, it’s hard to imagine Laurence Fishburne as a heartthrob, but he once sizzled on screen in a string of iconic 90s movies.
Whether he was the smouldering undercover cop tasked in Deep Cover, the wise, protective father in Boyz n The Hood (aka Furious Styles – a name only he could pull off), or the mysterious, trench-coat-wearing mentor in The Matrix, Fishburne brought an intense sex appeal to all of them.
4. Louis Theroux
Back in his Weird Weekends days, a gangly, fresh-faced Louis Theroux took the 90s soft boy allure to a whole new level.
Dressed in chunky knits and wire-frame glasses, he had an attractive awkwardness and a disarming charm that worked on both his subjects and viewers at home. Add in his fearless ability to throw himself into wild situations, and you’ve got a uniquely irresistible combination: the ultimate “hot nerd” who likes to live life on the edge.
5. Ian McKellen
Gandalf was arguably hot (don’t tell me you didn’t swoon at “you shall not pass”?!) – but young Ian McKellen was hotter.
Though it feels like he’s been a distinguished Hollywood elder forever, in his early years, he was a dashing young actor making a name for himself on the stage. With his chiselled cheekbones and messy curls rivalling the elfin good looks of Orlando Bloom.
6. Willem Dafoe
Though Willem Dafoe’s distinctive face has often landed him the weirder roles – from Sam Raimi’s unhinged Green Goblin to Robert Eggers’ cruel, menacing lighthouse keeper – his sharp, intense features were fiercely hot in his younger days.
When he’s not pushing his face to its extremes (his capacity for eye-bulging and terrifyingly wide smiles is seriously impressive), that same striking look is far more mesmerising than menacing.
7. Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson was a hottie before Hollywood even knew his name. He found fame in later life, breaking into the industry in his forties after working with Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino. As a young activist and New York theatre actor in his twenties, Jackson was an unknown heartthrob.
8. Captain Tom Moore
We all know him as the 100-year-old British Army Officer who raised money for the NHS at the height of the pandemic. But this man had lived a whole century before his fundraising days – and as a young officer fighting in the Second World War, Captain Tom was quite the looker.
9. Christopher Walken
Though it may not be mainstream to view Christopher Walken in a sexy light – whispering sweet nothings in his signature offbeat voice – he was pretty smoking back in the day.
And yes, maybe the photo we’ve chosen isn’t the greatest example of that, but we couldn’t resist showcasing this handlebar moustache moment – and a quick Google search will prove my point.
10. Barack Obama
This isn’t technically surprising – I think it’s universally agreed that Barack Obama was the hottest president of all time – but the raw sex appeal of young Obama is so strong that he deserves a spot on the list. Suave, charming and smooth – that smile is hard to resist. We get it Michelle.
11. Oscar Wilde
He may have died over a hundred years ago, but Oscar Wilde was one of the original pioneers of the it-factor. Handsome, cool with a razor-sharp wit – the photoshoots from his twenties capture his magnetic presence and cement him as a 19th century hottie.
12. Mark Kermode
Mark Kermode, one of the UK’s leading film critics, has a distinct look - towering quiff, thick-rimmed glasses and tailored suits. So, when he offered us a glimpse into his younger years, he didn’t disappoint.
That impressive jaw line, slicked back hair and old school sideburns take on a whole different energy with a bit of rugged stubble – pure cinema.
13. Benicio del Toro
Again, arguably sexier now, but Benicio del Toro has one of Hollywood’s most enduring faces. The Usual Suspects turned him into a 90s heartthrob for his brooding charm and THAT face.
Ruggedly handsome with hazel eyes that somehow look intense and sleepy at the same time. And as his character in One Battle After Another proved, he’s 100% still got it.
14. Conan O’Brien
Honestly, Conan O’Brien was a catch in any era, but he was on another level in the 90s. His mop of red hair, blue twinkly eyes and sharp cheekbones gave him a cheeky attractiveness that was only amplified by his edgy humour and goofy charm – leading even the likes of Halle Berry to confess her crush on Conan in 1997.
15. Jeff Goldblum
We had to end with Jeff Goldblum and the iconic thirst trap scene in Jurassic Park. Sweat-drenched beneath an unbuttoned shirt, this moment really allowed younger Goldblum to shine. He’s not conventionally attractive, but he’s got an allure and a hint of mischief that draws you in.
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