A cult sex symbol, Raquel Welch proved to be the ultimate fantasy cave woman. After years of appearing in minor movies, Welch dressed up in a fur bikini for the film One Million Years BC (1966). Despite featuring numerous dinosaurs and volcanic explosions Welch turned out to be the best special effect in the movie and shot to international fame. Although she would go on to appear in films like Fantastic Voyage (1966), Bedazzled (1967) and The Three Musketeers (1973), Welch will forever be remembered as a sexy prehistoric woman.
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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.
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.
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The child star of Steven Spielberg's Empire Of The Sun (1987) had spent his career flying under the Hollywood radar in serious independent films, but Batman Begins (2005) has changed all that. Bale's sexiness lies in the obsessive approach he takes to acting. He buffed up to near body builder levels to play Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000), and then starved himself to a skeleton for The Machinist (2004). His dark brooding acting style proved to be perfect for Batman, which has now brought Bale to the attention of the world.
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One of Pakistan's greatest ever cricketers, Imran Khan was held in near God-like status in that part of the world during his playing days. Considered one of the world's best bowlers, he was also one of its finest womanisers, putting his charms to use in seducing British millionairess Jemima Goldsmith. Although his commitment to politics in Pakistan put an end to their marriage, Khan remains one of sport's sexiest ever men.
The women of Wisteria Lane are desperate, and the whole world found it sexy. There's been a lot of debate about the various plot lines in Desperate Housewives, but the real argument is all about which of its female inhabitants is the sexiest. Is it to kooky Terri Hatcher, the stressed out Felicity Huffman, the kinky Marcia Cross, the over exposed Eva Longoria or the blonde seductress Nicollette Sheridan? They're all pretty hot, but together they make for one of the sexiest shows on television.
No modern footballer has risen to such celebrated status as David Beckham. Worshipped by football fans and desired by women globally, he has been deified on television, in art (remember the photos of him sleeping) and even carved into gold alongside Buddha. At his peak, he was the man who had it all, his footballing brilliance carried England to the 2002 World Cup, he was happily married to a famous popstar and his iconic beauty made him one of the most attractive men on the planet (to both women and sponsors). The tabloids have recently tried to take the shine off the man Victoria calls "golden balls", but England should never forget that game against Greece. When his team mates had long given up Beckham played them on his own, eventually winning, and then scoring, the free kick that took us to Japan. The way David Beckham bends the ball really is one of the sexiest things in football.
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The young Antonio wanted to be a footballer, but injury at an early age put an end to his dream. Soccer's loss was the female world's gain, as Banderas has risen through the acting world to become an international sex symbol. After starring in Pedro Almodovar's Law Of Desire, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down, Banderas made the brave jump to Hollywood. Despite knowing little English, legend has it he lied to the studios about it and then learned his lines phonetically for the film The Mambo Kings. Language is no barrier to incredible good looks however, and Banderas has gone on to become one of Hollywood's most successful imports.
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Model turned actress Kim Basinger has been one of Hollywood's enduring sex symbols. Having appeared in episodes of Charlie's Angels, Basinger got her break as a Bond girl in Never Say Never Again (1983). It was her steamy performance alongside Mickey Rourke in Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986) that really set pulses across the world racing however (think Last Tango In Paris without a good script). Basinger has gone on to appear in Batman (1989), LA Confidential (1997) and 8 Mile (2002).
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Welsh crooner Tom Jones has been charming audiences since the 60s and has had more knickers flung at him than most of us have had hot dinners. After scoring his first number one single in 1965 with It's Not Unusual, transatlantic success beckoned with a hit TV show, and friendship with fellow snake-hipped singer Elvis Presley. In recent years, Tom has re-established his cool credentials by playing at Glastonbury and duetting with Robbie Williams at the Brit Awards. With songs such as It's Not Unusual, What's Up Pussycat and Delilah, Tom has earned his place as a true Brit sex symbol.
