Crazy Jack, with his shark's grin, is one of the sexiest stars Hollywood ever produced. The rebel who lived and never sold out, Jack Nicholson exploded to stardom in Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider (1969), playing a small town lawyer who drops out. He went on to star in some of Hollywood's finest films, such as Five Easy Pieces (1970), Chinatown (1973), One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and The Shining (1980). A renowned hellraiser and womaniser, Jack's refusal to ever conduct interviews with the press has only added to his enigmatic allure. If sexiness was down to talent alone, Jack Nicholson would be on a list all of his own.

Nearly all of the women who ever sleep with James Bond wind up dead, so why do they still fall for him? Maybe it's the British charm. Like no other movie franchise, James Bond has endured. Through nearly 50 years and 20 films he has gone on saving the world and getting the girl. Sean Connery was so sexy that he probably set Bond's attractiveness in stone for eternity. Of all the actors that have followed him, perhaps only Pierce Brosnan has come close to Connery. Maybe Daniel Craig will raise the bar again...

What is it about rebels that make them so damn sexy? Despite, or maybe because, of the fact that he starred in only three films East Of Eden (1955), Rebel Without A Cause (1955) and Giant (1956) Dean's impact on society has been huge. With his iconic good looks, flowing hair and tortured stare James Dean captured the hearts of a generation, who understood exactly what it meant to feel trapped within post-war America, and then broke them after a car crash tragically end his life in 1956. Since then, his beauty has become a cult and the poster image for rebellion.

Hailing from Northern Ireland, James Nesbitt's effortless charm and bad boy attitude have made him the sexiest chancer on British television. After starring in numerous TV shows, the comedy series about middle class love, Cold Feet (1997), made him a household name. Since then, Nesbitt has proved that he's able to be funny (Lucky Break), tough (Murphy's Law) and serious (Bloody Sunday). He might be different in every role, but Nesbitt is always sexy.

How could the daughter of Hollywood legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh not be a star? Jamie Lee Curtis started out her career as a scream queen in horror films like Halloween (1978), Terror Train (1980) and The Fog (1980). Her wholesome, natural beauty made her the perfect victim/hero of slasher flicks you fancy her, but know that she probably won't go all the way on the first date. Curtis achieved leading lady status after starring as a prostitute in Trading Places in 1983, and has continued to defy our expectations in movies like A Fish Called Wonda (1988), Blue Steel (1990), True Lies (1994) and Freaky Friday (2003).

Another celebrity chef in our list, Jean Christophe Novelli's French charm is as smooth as the sauces he creates for his dishes. Novelli came to the British public's attention after taking over from Gordon Ramsey on the TV programme Hell's Kitchen. His passionate cooking style and good looks have made him a culinary sex symbol.

One of the world's most iconic and profitable porn stars, Jenna Jameson is the secret fantasy of men around the world. You wouldn't want your mother finding out what she did as a day job, but you'd love to take her home. Starting out as a lap dancer, Jameson was a star even before appearing in her first porno a bidding war commenced as soon as she showed any interest in the medium. Having risen to the top of her trade, she now dominates adult entertainment and is a cultural figure in her own right.

There's something about the way he grills those politicians that makes Jeremy Paxman really sexy. Maybe it's the way he doesn't take no for an answer and isn't afraid to square up to even the most powerful men in Britain, but we just love him. The lead presenter of BBC Newsnight and University Challenge for years, Paxman is an institution. The fact that he's so rude to everyone on his shows only makes him sexier.

She's not bad, she's just drawn that way. Jessica Rabbit is the absurdly sexy animated star of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988), who tempts Bob Hoskins with her curvaceous figure and innocent charm. Maybe it's the rumours that naked frames of her were spliced into the film by Disney animators, or maybe it's the fact that she must be kinky to have married a rabbit, but there's just something damn sexy about her.

The iconic rock'n'roll frontman of The Doors is the sex symbol of the dark side of life. Morrison's preferred method of tapping into the poetic side of his nature involved drinking and taking as many drugs as possible. His dark lyrics drove The Doors up the charts, and his mesmerising stage performances made him a star - Morrison was once famously arrested for allegedly simulating fellatio and exposing himself during a concert in Miami. Nicknamed the Lizard King, Morrison's insane private life involved booze, a destructive marriage to Pamela Courson, affairs, a pagan marriage to a New York witch and an early death in mysterious circumstances. His death in a Paris bathtub at only 27 sealed Morrison's fate as an enduring symbol of sex and hedonism.

An enduring sex symbol of British television, Joanna Lumley first appeared in the fantasies of male viewers as the new partner to John Steed in The New Avengers (1975). Since then her sexy voice has been an almost permanent fixture on our TV screens. Although the star of too many shows to mention, Lumley is now probably best know for her role as Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous (1992). Stone was an ageing man eater who smoked and drank enough to kill lesser mortals, and we couldn't get enough of her.

John F Kennedy was more than just the president of the United States, he was an international celebrity. Handsome, charismatic, powerful and incredibly wealthy, JFK had all the qualities women find attractive, and boy did he use them. Although he may have played on his family man credentials during the campaign, Kennedy spent more time with his many mistresses than wife Jackie during his tragically short term as president. He wasn't simply chasing interns either. Kennedy's conquests included Marilyn Monroe.

With his intelligence, wit and unusual appearance John Malkovich has become an unlikely sex symbol in Hollywood. His status probably rests on the remarkable performance he gave as the amoral seducer Vicomte De Valmont, in the film Dangerous Liaisons in 1988. Malkovich's shark-like turn in the movie made him an international star. Since then, he has appeared in films like Of Mice And Men (1992), In The Line Of Fire (1993), Con Air (1997), Being John Malkovich (1999) and The Libertine (2004).

Disco made John Travolta into a sex symbol the world over. After starring in Saturday Night Fever in 1977, Travolta's incredible moves became aped on dance floors everywhere. Amazingly, his next appearance would come in the totally unsexy Grease (1978). He might have gotten to dance with Princess Diana, but Travolta found the 1980s tough going in Hollywood. Quentin Tarantino gave his career the kiss of life in 1994 however, persuading him to play hitman Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction. He hasn't looked back since.

The man who can make scissorhands sexy, Johnny Depp is a sex symbol for almost every generation you can think of. Teenagers fancy him in films like What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998). Adults fancy him in roles like Donnie Brasco (1997), Finding Neverland (2004) and Pirates Of The Caribbean (2003). You'd have to be pretty weird to fancy him in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005) though, as he looks a little too much like Michael Jackson.

The sex symbol for the MTV generation, Johnny Knoxville came to the attention of the world performing gross-out stunts on the TV show Jackass. Never underestimate the attractiveness to the opposite sex of putting yourself in danger, especially if it involves a hit TV show that then gets made into a movie. Hollywood has since come calling and Knoxville has made the transition to movie star in films like Grand Theft Parsons (2003), Walking Tall (2004) and The Dukes Of Hazzard (2005). According to celebrity magazines, he's now considered sexy enough to turn the head of Jessica Simpson.

Jordan is a sex symbol in the same way that Barbie promotes a healthy body image to young girls. The British public really shouldn't find her attractive comedy boobs, bad make-up and shameless self promotion but they just don't seem to be able to help themselves. Marriage to camp Australian Peter Andre should have made her even less sexy, but somehow Jordon continues to shift calendars. She's no mysterious girl, but maybe that's exactly why we all love her so much, she's one of us made good.

The self-proclaimed 'Special One' has risen through the ranks of football to become one of the most acclaimed managers in the game today. Not satisfied with winning the UEAFA Cup and Champions League with FC Porto, Mourinho joined Roman Abramovich's Russian revolution at Chelsea in 2004. Not only has his arrival reshaped football on these shores, but he's also raised the bar in terms of sexiness to a level that no other Premiership manager can cope with. With his rugged good looks, huge charisma and sharp dress sense Mourinho is a world class sex symbol.

There was a time when every man in the world was jealous of Jude Law. His far too beautiful to be real face was the star of films like Gattaca (1997), The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) and Cold Mountain (2003), he was the toast of award ceremonies everywhere, and he was dating media darling Sienna Miller. One slip up with the nanny later and poor old Jude's sex symbol status was in danger of fading. Can he comeback?

The Latin love God father of Enrique Iglesias, and pop giant in his own right, has been a sex symbol for decades. After a car accident ended his promising career as a goalkeeper at Real Madrid, Julio learned to play guitar in his hospital bed and embarked on a singing career after he recovered. How the women of the world must be glad he has, with songs like Gwendolyne making him one of the biggest selling Latin artists ever. They also seem to be pretty happy that he fathered Enrique too, who has continued his dad's sex symbol legacy.

It's amazing what a haircut can do for a guy's image. Justin morphed from a curly-topped bottle-blond boyband member into the bloke every male wants to be (and every girl wants to date) just by shaving his head and growing some stubble. He also upgraded his girlfriend, from childhood sweetheart Britney Spears to A-lister (and fellow sex symbol nominee) Cameron Diaz. Justin has a second solo album on the way, as well as a starring role in forthcoming film Edison alongside Kevin Spacey.