I originally posted this on October 21, 2005, but it came up over the weekend so I thought I'd post it again.
#5 Michael Vartan
I fell in love with Michael in the movie "Never Been Kissed" with Drew Barrymore. I think we all had a teacher like that - young, exciting, worthy of a huge crush. Michael has a touch of "European" without seeming arrogant. Plus he's a huge fan of the NFL, especially his Saints, so I get to see him on the NFL Network, talking about his Fantasy Football team.
#4 Hugh Jackman
What's not to love? A combination of roguish charm and "boy next door" good lucks, with a great smile and lovely Australian accent. Plus he can play the love interest, the hero (or anti-hero, depending on your point of view), or the gay song-and-dance man with equal aplomb.
#3 Paul Gross
Not many people know of Paul Gross, but if you ever saw "Due South" on television, you know who he is. He played Constable Benton Fraser, RCMP, a Canadian mountie paired up with a detective from Chicago. Those piercing eyes get me every time...and the scene where he shares a tentative first kiss with Melina Kanakaredes is amazing.
#2 Jason Cameron
One of the carpenters on TLC's "While You Were Out". If you had asked me in high school to describe my perfect man, I would basically be describing Jason. Tall, blonde hair, boy-next-door good looks, athletic, muscular (but not too much), and a sense of humor. Plus he's handy with his power tools!
#1 Gary Allan
Country singer. Wow. He's just everything you could ever want in a man, all rolled up into one. He's a California surfer crossed with a bit of a bad boy, and a voice that can break your heart or make you weak in the knees. His look changes whether he has his cowboy hat on or not. Looks all tough, then he smiles, and you know it's just a front, he's really very shy and humble. On a serious note, I do hope that he's recovering from his wife's suicide in 2004.
Runners-up:
Patrick Swayze - a "must" for women my age
Dominic Purcell - I was bummed that they cancelled "John Doe"
Andrew McCarthy - he grew up nicely from his Brat Pack days
"Senior" actors that I have a thing for:
Patrick Stewart - "Make it So!"
Hal Linden - not sure where this one came from, but I loved "Barney Miller", and he plays clarinet, like me.
Alan Alda - probably because he looks a bit like my dad.