9 Hollywood Studs Who Proved to Be More Than Just a Pretty Face

Hollywood is full of beautiful faces and sculpted bodies. It is often said that to become an actor or actress, you have to be easy on the eyes. However, for some people, what started as a career based on their appearance, became an opportunity to prove they have great acting skills.

Bright Side made a list of actors who prove that having talent and being physically attractive are not mutually exclusive. You can have the best of both worlds!

1. Zac Efron

Although Zac got into acting at a very young age, it wasn’t until the premiere of High School Musical that he began to steal sighs from teenage girls all over the world. His light blue eyes and unique features clearly did not go unnoticed.

However, thanks to his appearance in movies like The Paperboy and The Lucky One, he began to move away from the role of the pretty boy to take on more serious characters, which have earned him nominations and worldwide recognition for his acting talent, instead of his looks. In addition, he also did dubbing work, like in The Lorax, a children’s movie based on a Dr. Seuss book. Then in 2019, he starred in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, a movie where he played Ted Bundy, the serial killer, and where he delivered an excellent performance.

2. Brad Pitt

At 56, the actor is considered to be one of the most attractive men of all time. In 1991, he became popular for his role in Thelma and Louise, and 2 years later he delivered a great performance in Kalifornia, his first serious film where he landed the leading role. In this film, he plays a paroled murderer who shares a trip with a couple to flee the state.

Today, Brad’s talent has been officially recognized with 6 Oscar nominations, and he recently received a Golden Globe in the category of “Best Supporting Actor” for his performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

3. Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise’s career began in the early ’80s with the film Endless Love and other movies that focused more on a teenage audience, like Risky Business, which launched him to international fame. Thanks to his looks, he soon became an important icon of masculinity in the movie industry.

It wasn’t until 1992 that another hit movie Interview with the Vampire was released, in which he played Lestat de Lioncourt, a lonely vampire. In 1999, he was nominated for an Oscar for Magnolia, a drama about a series of seemingly unconnected tragic events that happen over the course of an ordinary day, showing how all realities are interconnected.

4. John Travolta

Thanks to films like Urban Cowboy and Grease, where he played the role of Danny Zuko, Travolta showed that his talents ranged from acting to dancing and singing, not to mention having a sparkling personality that his deep blue eyes easily conveyed.

Over the course of his career, he’s been nominated twice for an Oscar, first for the now cult movie Pulp Fiction, and second for the film Saturday Night Fever. He also received 8 nominations at the Golden Globes. If that wasn’t enough, he consolidated his reputation as a serious actor with his performance in Get Shorty, where he played a bandit who wanted to conquer Hollywood and produce a film about his life.

5. Matthew McConaughey

Matthew has had different projects throughout his career and is well-known for his versatility. He has been involved in productions that were considered to be modern classics, like Dazed and Confused, from 1993, and also romantic comedies like The Wedding Planner and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, where he brought gallant to the big screen.

And it was precisely this versatility of his, which could be seen as the mark of a great actor, that earned him an Oscar in 2014 and a Golden Globe for his role in Dallas Buyers Club. He also starred in the science-fiction blockbuster Interstellar and the TV series True Detective.

6. Robert Pattinson

Mostly known for his roles in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the Twilight saga, Robert Pattinson positioned himself as one of the most attractive teenage guys around, and even modeled for the renowned fashion label, Dior.

However, he’s more than just a stud, as he has stood out for his work in films like Good Time, and was nominated for “Best Actor” at the Independent Spirit Awards. He recently participated in High Life, a horror and science fiction story released in 2018.

7. Jared Leto

Jared Leto is not just a renowned actor because of his looks. He’s actually also a part of the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, which released its latest album in 2018. His acting career began in 1995 with his role as Beck in How to Make an American Quilt.

His most notable performances are Requiem for a Dream, from 2000, Dallas Buyers Club, where he played a transgender woman with serious addictions (the performance that earned him an Oscar), and his controversial role as the Joker in Suicide Squad.

8. Ryan Gosling

The Canadian actor’s career dates back to 1993 when he became part of The Mickey Mouse Club as a child star. He’s also taken part in series like Are You Afraid of the Dark?. Although he has not yet won an Oscar, he has received several Golden Globe nominations, winning only once for his performance in La La Land.

This attractive actor is far from being just a model of masculine beauty, since his talent has stood out in films like the drama Blue Valentine, Drive, and Half Nelson, for which he was nominated for the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.

9. Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper has appeared in films like Wedding Crashers and the very popular The Hangover, both comedies where, in addition to his sense of humor, his looks as the perfect boyfriend are hard to miss. However, since 2001, he has taken part in over 30 film projects in different genres. He has received 4 Oscar nominations, one of them for American Sniper. He also has a Grammy for his work alongside Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born.

Bonus: Leo, recognized from the start for both his talent and his appeal

Leonardo began his career playing roles in commercials and educational videos, and then went on to play roles in bigger productions like This Boy’s Life. He has been recognized for both his physique and talent alike throughout his whole career.

He has acted in more than 30 films, won an Oscar for Best Actor for The Revenant, and 3 Golden Globes for films like The Wolf of Wall Street. He has also worked in various Quentin Tarantino films like Django Unchained and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Do you think there are any actors missing from this list? Which of these celebrities do you think has delivered better performances? Share your opinion with us in the comment section.

In a 2022 survey by Showcase Cinemas, 2,000 mothers globally crowned Tom Cruise as “the most attractive actor of all time.” The release of “Top Gun: Maverick” seems to have reignited the allure of the 60-year-old star, reminiscent of his heartthrob status from movies like the original “Top Gun” and “Cocktail.” The poll also highlighted other beloved actors, with Robin Williams and Tom Hanks closely following Cruise in the rankings.