The writer of one of the sexiest songs in pop history, Serge Gainsbourg was an unlikely sex symbol himself ? despite being rather ugly he managed to seduce some of the world's most beautiful women. Although an iconic figure in France, Gainsbourg is best remember internationally for his Vatican scaring song Je t'aime? Moi non plus in 1969. This erotic song, featuring the ecstatic moans of his then girlfriend Jane Birkin, reached the number one spot in countries around the world.

Was ever a tabloid celebrity more accurately named? When Abi Titmuss first came to the attention of the British public in 2003, she was the virtuous nurse girlfriend of John Leslie, standing by her man as he faced rape charges. Oh how wrong we all were! No sooner had she bagged a job on Richard & Judy did tabloid rumours of sex tapes emerge. In an amazing example of reinvention, Titmuss recast herself as the sexpot next door and hasn't looked back. Now the darling of the lads' mags, she's a sex symbol in her own right, albeit an attainable one.

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.

Those trousers! That cheeky smirk! That glint in his eye! Yes, like him or not, Simon Cowell has the (se)x factor. As one of the most powerful people in the UK music industry, Simon has guided the careers of acts as varied as Westlife, Robson and Jerome, and the Teletubbies. His bulging bank account is definitely attractive, regardless of what you think of his dress sense. Simon's appeal is global, as he rakes in millions each year as a judge on American Idol.

Vivien Leigh's role as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind (1939) guaranteed her place in Hollywood history, and made her an international sex symbol. The feisty Scarlett, and her battles with lover Rhett (Clark Gable) thrilled audiences everywhere. Leigh picked up an Oscar for the role, something which would annoy then husband Laurence Olivier as he always seemed to miss out. Leigh would turn in many other fine performances during her career, but O'Hara overshadowed them all.

Sex is power, so Tony Blair must be one of the sexiest men in Britain (does that make his best friend George Bush the sexiest man in the world?). Blair brought youthful energy back into politics after winning power from the Tory party in 1996. Like many seducers however, he promised much but has failed to deliver in the long run. Blair and Bill Clinton were the sexiest men in politics at one time, but his decision to become George Bush's poodle has ruined his sex symbol status. Warmongering does nothing for a man's attractiveness.

The sexiest export from Mexico right now, Bernal's smouldering beauty came to the attention of the world in Amores Perros in 2000. Since then, a string of fine performances in films like Y Tu Mam? Tambi?n and The Motorcycle Diaries have cemented his position as the hottest thing in the cinema. Hollywood, and world domination, can't be far away now; especially since Bernal speaks perfect English, as he studied at the Central School Of Speech And Drama in London.

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.

Taking his wholesome good looks from his mother, Wills is a strapping lad, though perhaps not an obvious choice for inclusion in a sex symbol poll. But throw in the fact that he happens to be heir to the throne, and that one day his bride will be queen, and Prince Wills becomes very sexy indeed. Long-term relationships with university flatmate Kate Middleton and Jessica Craig, the daughter of a wealthy Kenyan conservationist, haven't hurt his sex symbol credentials ? Wills is no cad, he's the perfect gentleman.

The most laid-back sex symbol on the list, Owen Wilson fell into acting after becoming friends with Wes Anderson. The two of them co-wrote Bottle Rocket (1996), and then went on to become Hollywood regulars, working together again on The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2005). Owen's charm lies in his easy going style, surfer good looks and incredible looking nose, which has been broken several times. Anyone in doubt of his sex symbol status need look no further than his performance as a male model called Hansel in the fashion industry satire Zoolander (2001).