No-one really knows exactly what it is but there is something alluring about the French. Maybe it is their accents, perhaps they have specific mannerisms or even give off a special scent which is so damn beautiful that it makes us non-scented folk weak at our knees. Just wandering around Paris for a short trip or holiday, it is difficult to carry out necessary duties like arranging some Car Hire France style or booking a table in a restaurant without swooning and losing your train of thought! Either way, these sexy French have all made the list, and with great reason. The lucky so and so’s have bags of talent as well as good looks making them celebs we love.
10. Vincent Cassel
You may know Vincent Cassel from big movies including Ocean’s Twelve, Oceans 13, Derailed and more recently Black Swan. Born in Paris to the famous actor Jean-Pierre Cassel and his journalist mother he is now married to the Italian actress Monica Belluci and they have two daughters together. Cassel has earned a bit of a reputation for being cast as the bad guy in movies which seems to add to his sex appeal. It seems that skincare giants Loreal also think so having signed him up in 2008 to front and be the face of a new Yves Saint Laurent men’s fragrance. His rugged good looks and bad boy charm seem to have bagged him the number 10 spot!
9. Sophie Marceau
Number nine on our list is the French actress Sophie Marceau who has appeared in a grand total of 38 films. You will probably remember her most clearly as Elektra King in the James Bond Film “The World is Not Enough” (1999). However, she has appeared in some highly acclaimed French productions as well as Braveheart along side Mel Gibson. Her obvious good looks mean it comes as no surprise that she started out life as a model. However, Sophie may add a third string to her bow as in In 1981, Marceau made her singing debut with French singer François Valéry on “Dream in Blue,”.
8. Tony Parker
Tony Parker makes number 8 on our list. He is a French professional basketball player who plays for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and France’s National Team. He is also the son of a professional basketball player too who played for Loyola University Chicago. Although famous for being a Sports star it is probably safe to say that he is more known worldwide for being married to the beautiful actress, Eva Longoria. After the discovery of his affair with former team mates Brent Barrys Wife, Erin Barry, Eva filed for divorce, which was finalized early 2011.
7. Virginie Ledoyen
Born in Paris, Virginie has been an Actress now for a number of years, with her most prominent role being in The Beach (2000), where she plays the exotic Françoise. She is probably best known for being the spokeswoman for L’Oreal between 2000 and 2004, featuring on TV Advertisements, in Magazines and a number of other press. Her last film was in 2009, since which she has had a son with French Auteur, Arié Elmaleh.
6. Yoann Gourcuff
Footballer Yoann Gourcuff has made it to a comfortable sixth on the list, with recent publicity of Arsenals recent attempt at signing him very late into the transfer window. He plays Midfield, with his teams including Milan, Bordeaux and Lyon. Heartthrob Yoann has also been recently rumored to be going out with Marie De Villepin, Actress, Model and daughter of former French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, though she currently works under the alias Marie Steiss.
5. Olivier Martinez
Olivier Martinez has acquired the reputation of being a bit of a womanizer with a string of girlfriends behind him including Kylie Minogue and Rose Huntington Whitely, with his current confidante being Halle Berry. In 1994, Martinez won the Cesar Award for Most Promising Actor, for his role in ‘Un, Deux, Trois, Soleil’ (1993). Since then he has starred in a number of French films and been in a few Hollywood productions, such as Unfaithful (2002).
4. Noémie Lenoir
Noémie has had a very interesting Modelling career, starting at the age of 16 for acclaimed agency, Ford Models. She then appeared with Andie MacDowell in advertisements for L’Oreal, aswell as campaigns for Next, Victoria’s Secret and Gap. Recently, she also featured in the Christmas adverts for Marks and Spencer. In 2010, she was found unconscious in a park close to her home and was found to have attempted suicide. She survived and has stated she regrets doing something so stupid.
3. Gilles Marini
Gilles had a fairly slow introduction to the world of Acting and Modelling, originally being in the French Army. After being stationed in Paris, he was asked to join a modelling agency. After completing his Military duty, he moved to New York, to learn English and work as a Model. His break came when he appeared in an ad for Bud Light Beer. He is probably best known for his role in Sex and the City: The Movie (2008) in which he did a fully nude scene. Since, he has appeared in a number of American TV shows such as Brothers & Sisters and Dirty Sexy Money.
2. Marion Cotillard
Coming in at a close second is the hugely successful Actress, Marion Cotillard. She has received critical acclaim for her roles in French Films, La Vie En Rose, (2007) Jeux D’Enfants (2003) and Luc Besson’s Taxi (2003). Cotillard is now one of the biggest French Actresses to break into Hollywood, appearing in Public Enemies (2009) and Christopher Nolan’s massive hit Inception (2010). She is now re-working with Nolan, currently filming for the Summer 2012 Dark Knight Rises.
1. Laetitia Casta
Being a well deserved number 1 is a beautiful Laetitia Casta. She was discovered at a mere age of 15, since being official face of L’Oréal, Dior, and Chanel but has also been the centre of campaigns for Guess?, Tommy Hilfiger and Miu Miu. It has also been reported she has appeared on the front cover of over 100 magazines, including Rolling Stone, Vogue and Elle. She is currently the face of Ralph Lauren’s fragrance, Notorious. She stars opposite Rhianna in the video for ‘ Te Amo’, as well as doing voice over work for French versions of films, such as Rio. She currently resides in London, with her two children and fiancee Stefano Accorsi.
