La femme Francaise exudes something special. She has an air about her, a certain rarified quality, something subtle, and soft. Like so many other things French, her brand of femininity is uniquely non-American. Her sexuality is subdued, yet powerful. Her manner is aloof, but she remains vulnerable. Her countenance is serious, and betrays an inner depth and intelligence. She oozes class.
Compare her virtues with the overt, masculinized sexuality and casual vanity of a Demi Moore, or the uneasy frivolity of a Sandra Bullock. And you see the difference.
In a word, she is lovely.
A fact that, of late, has not eluded America's top alpha males. Witness: Tom Cruise personally selecting the maddenly beautiful Emmanuelle Beart to star opposite him in Mission: Impossible; Mel Gibson putting the exquisite Sophie Marceau in his Academy Award-winning Braveheart; Jason Patric teaming with the ethereal Irene Jacob in Incognito; Ethan Hawke romancing the doe-like Julie Delpy in Before Sunrise; Ralph Fiennes pairing with the enchanting Juliette Binoche in The English Patient. To cite just a few examples.
Of course, the American male's fascination with France's finest is nothing new. Brigette Bardot captured the gaze of the nation back in the 50s with And God Created Women. Catherine Deneuve's run began in the 60s with the recently re-released The Umbrellas of Cherbourg andBelle de jour. Carole Bouquet burst into the American libido in the 70s in For Your Eyes Only, as did Isabelle Adjani with The Story of Adele H. Juliette Binoche and Beatrice Dalle arrived on the scene in the 80s, the former with The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the latter with Betty Blue. And the 90s are keeping pace, having thus far introduced an appreciative American audience to the likes of Mmmes. Beart, Delpy, Jacob and Marceau.
Consistently, these women exude an unparralleled sensuality and grace on-screen. They are a wonder to watch. Playboy film critic Bruce Williamson agrees that "French women" and "sexy" have become synonymous, but attributes this to, at first novelty, and then "a long tradition of sexier movies--and nude post cards." "Brigitte Bardot, in her time," he told Trouble & Attitude, "was a lot nuder than American actresses of her status. What she was doing looked outrageous to an American audience." Basically, he says, she wasn't inherently any sexier than America's offerings at the time. Indeed. Brigitte had nothing over Marilyn.
But still, there is something about Brigette and her compatriots...
What is it?
Here, Trouble & Attitude gives you 30 years of France's sexiest women--the Top Ten, ranging from Bardot in the 60s to Beart today. Plus, a look at Virginie Ledoyen, who we're betting will be the next big thing.
