Every year Barbra Walters composes a list of the most fascinating celebrities in America and every year, I find myself bored with many of her choices. They always seem so obvious. This year is no exception. Barbra Walters’ Most Fascination People of 2011 list includes:
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family
- Simon Cowell of American Idol and The X Factor
- Katy Perry
- Donald Trump
- Derek Jeter
- Pippa Middleton
- The Kardashians
The person she considers most fascinating will be revealed on December 14th. I, naturally have a few suggestions for how she could improve her list. For starters, try adding some fascinating people. I love Katy, Jesse, Eric and even Simon but in each case, I feel there were better choices so I came up with my own list. Let’s get started with World of Female’s Ten Most Interesting Celebrities 2011.
10: Lindsay Lohan
I know a lot of people like to give Lindsay crap for the often terrible choices she makes in her personal life but let’s not forget that she’s also a beautiful young woman who once had a lot of potential. I don’t think that potential is gone. She could make a comeback if she’s as dedicated to getting back on the right track as she says she is. I choose to believe she is.
09: Russell Brand
I love Katy Perry. I think she’s beautiful, talented and knows how to write a heck of a catchy pop song but between her and her husband, I’d have to say Russell is the far more interesting of the two. The man has lived a crazy life and isn’t shy about talking about it. More than that, he made it through all of the rough patches and seems to have managed to remain intact.
08: Mila Kunis
For a long time, I thought of Mila Kunis as the raven haired beauty that played Jackie on That ‘70s Show and voices Meg on Family Guy and not much as else. It wasn’t until I saw her in last year’s indie hit Black Swanthat I really started to take her seriously as an actress. I admired her for taking such a gritty role and that admiration grew this year when she accepted a Marine’s YouTube invitation to the Marine Ball he planned to attend when he returned from active duty. Not only did she accept, but she also went. She’s a beautiful, talented girl whose also a class act. More than that, she stays out of the limelight, choosing a quiet life instead of a life lived for the cameras. I find that both refreshing and fascinating. This is a woman I want to know more about.
07: Charlie Sheen
Normally, this is where I write a little blurb about why the person belongs on the list but come on. Do I really need to explain why Charlie Sheen was one of the most interesting celebrities of 2011? Tiger Blood? Warlocks? Winning? Enough said.
06: Tina Fey
As I sat down to read Tina Fey’s biography, Bossypants, I knew two things about her; one, she’s funny two, I am attracted to her in ways that probably aren’t entirely healthy despite the fact that I’m a heterosexual female. After finishing the book, which took me all of two days, my girl crush had grown into a full-fledged obsession. Tina is who she is. She doesn’t sell us her sob story to make us love her more. That’s not what she’s about. She’s honest, open but at the same time, she holds her personal life close to her chest. I respect that and I admire that. This woman is not only successful but she’s gained that success on her own terms.
05: J.R. Martinez
I had absolutely no idea who J.R. Martinez is until this past season of Dancing with the Starsbut like so many other people watching, I was impressed with him as an entertainer and as a person in general. He’s survived something few of us can ever imagine but he somehow has this endless optimism about everything. He saw what he wanted and he went after it, from an acting career to that mirror ball trophy. It’s not just his story I find interesting. It’s him as a person. I’m actually fairly shocked that Barbra didn’t put him on her list.
04: Katey Sagal
Katey Sagal is, without even the least bit of uncertainly, my favorite actress currently working in television. That has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she was my very first girl crush way back in the Married with Children days. I swear. She’s my favorite actress because I will literally watch anything she has a part in. My respect for her as an actress knows no bounds. On top of all that, the woman has the voice of an angel. Her version of Leonard Cohen’s Bird on a Wireslays me. It’s an absolute crime that this woman isn’t recognized for her work more often.
03: Seth MacFarlane
I love Seth MacFarlane. He’s outspoken, controversial and seems completely unafraid to speak his mind on anything and everything, even if it means pissing a whole lot of people off. There is nothing I respect more in a public figure. Known mostly as the mind behind Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show and his turns hosting Comedy Central’s Celebrity Roasts, Seth is also a tremendous musician. His new album, Music is Better than Wordsis absolutely bliss.
02: Whoopi Goldberg
What can I even say about Whoopi? Smart, outspoken, confident and fearless, this woman is a model of what all women in Hollywood should be. She speaks up for what she believes in and isn’t afraid to voice her opinion even if it may make her unpopular. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a talented comedian and pretty much a Hollywood legend. She is about the only good reason I can think of to watch The View.
01: Kurt Sutter
Some of you may not be familiar with the name Kurt Sutter but you’re almost certainly familiar with his work, especially if you’re a regular reader of my entertainment posts. I make no secret of my unending love for FX’s drama Sons of Anarchy but it’s more than just a love of the show. It’s a love of the man behind the show, creator, showrunner, and executive producer, Kurt Sutter. Fans of the show may also recognize Kurt as prison bound SAMCRO associate, Otto.
What really interests me about Kurt though is his unyielding honesty when it comes to just about everything. If you follow Kurt on Twitter he will offend you at one point or another. He’s one of the few public figures that doesn’t seem to plan each and every word before he speaks. That’s what makes him such an intriguing person. Outspoken, gutsy and never afraid to step on toes, Kurt may not be the most well known name on this list but he damn well should be.
Who would you put on your most fascinating list? Sound off in the comments section below.
