Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer (Getty Images)
Most of the actresses on this list have gained recognition not only for their beauty but also for the talent they’ve displayed on the screen. Somehow, they’ve managed to confront the Hollywood’s beauty standards and show that actresses can be both sexy women and talented performers whose careers don’t rely strictly on their looks. Whether it’s the question of not using makeup, wearing plain clothes, or going as far as applying facial prosthetics to look uglier, these women deserved all the recognition they received for their performances. So, let’s start.
Jennifer Aniston
First up is Jennifer Aniston, the famous “Friend” who always looked spotless on the show and was named the world’s sexiest woman numerous times. However, as the show was nearing its end, Aniston realized that it would be a smart career move to try her luck in various dramatic roles. One of her recent dramatic endeavors is certainly her portrayal of Claire Bennett, a woman dealing with her son’s death in the 2014 movie Cake. Jennifer delivered a strong performance with almost no makeup and showed the world that she has quite a lot of talent in her.
Hilary Swank
Although most people remember Hilary Swank from her Academy Award-winning performance in Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby where she played a not-so-young female struggling boxer, Swank actually gained recognition much earlier. She made her debut on the Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and went on to star in the Karate Kid franchise, as well as Beverly Hills 90210. However, in 1999, she transformed into a boy for a difficult role in Boys Don’t Cry based on a biography of the unfortunate transsexual Brandon Teena. For her portrayal, Swank won her first Oscar.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz is famous for her blonde, short hair, long legs and captivating, mischievous smile. She certainly used her looks throughout her career and who can blame her? That being said, she still managed to shock everyone when she appeared in the absurd Being John Malkovich as a curly plain redhead whose only recognizable feature is that Diaz smile that appears once in a while. She played the part beautifully and really pulled out that homely look at the same time, like she’s not one of the most beautiful, sexy women in Hollywood.
Anne Hathaway
There is no doubt that Anne Hathaway is an amazing actress, but she is also certainly one of the most distinctively beautiful women in Hollywood. She’s proven to be both comedic and dramatic performer, but she truly captured the hearts of millions with her performance in 2012 musical Les Miserables. Anne plays Fantine, a working girl in the 19th century who is forced to prostitute herself for the benefit of her child. She received numerous accolades for the performance, including an Academy Award.
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman is yet another great actress known for her exceptional beauty (though in later years she owed a lot of it to cosmetic surgery). However, in order to prove that outside beauty isn’t everything, Kidman also appeared in the acclaimed 2002 drama, The Hours, where she portrayed the influential writer from the turn of the 20th century, Virginia Woolf. In order to be able to fully present the writer, Kidman used face prosthetic that, no doubt, diminished her beauty. It didn’t affect her performance, though, as she absolutely nailed the part and showed the world her talent.
Marion Cotillard
Whenever there’s a need for a badass foreign beautiful girl in Hollywood, people turn to Marion Cotillard. She became internationally famous when she appeared in the French hit film Taxi and continued taking on various Hollywood roles. Her most famous role, however, didn’t actually utilize her incredible beauty but relied strictly on her talent. She had to use special prosthetics to make her look more like the famous Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose. Regardless of that, she managed to convey sensuality with body language and fullness of her character. Marion is certainly one of the most intriguing and sexy women in Hollywood today.
Charlize Theron
For the end of our list, there’s one sexy woman that tops them all. It is absolutely incredible how someone as beautiful as Charlize Theron can also be so talented. It really shows that you can have it all. In order to avoid typecasting based on her looks, Charlize decided to take on the role of Aileen Wuornos, in the acclaimed movie The Monster from 2003. Her face prosthetics made Charlize almost unrecognizable, but let her focus solely on her performance. It ultimately earned her an Oscar, of course, so it wasn’t in vain.
What other sexy women in Hollywood do you believe deserve to be on the list? Why?
