Costume Drama Hotties
Modern-day men could learn a lot from these period drama studs
Picture Editing: Sandra Waibl
Follow Charlotte Duck on Twitter: @charlotteduck
Rex FeaturesColin Firth’s Mr Darcy
Before Bridget Jones and the King’s Speech, Colin Firth wore breeches and he wore them very well. His role in the BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice made his career – as did a certain wet shirt scene. Colin’s take on the proud and misunderstood Mr Darcy set the standard for actors doing costume drama; they might be wearing silly costumes, but they could still be sexy.
Rex FeaturesHugh Grant’s Edward Ferrars
Hugh Grant put his stammering, gentlemanly manners to good use as the quietly-spoken Edward Ferrars in Emma Thompson’s version of Sense & Sensibility. He was never going to whisk anyone off their feet but his good hair, almighty cravat and amiability won us over.
Rex FeaturesArt Malik’s Hari Kumar
The Jewel In The Crown was the 80s Downton Abbey. You may recognise Art Malik from Holby City, True Lies and Upstairs Downstairs but the actor made his career with his turn as the wronged journalist Hari Kumar. And he had TV audiences going a little bit weak at the knees.
ITVDan Stevens’ Matthew Crawley
Not even Lady Mary could resist Rachel Stevens in white tie and who could blame her? As down-to-earth lawyer-turned-estate-heir Matthew Crawley, he brought some much-needed sense (and sex appeal) to Downton Abbey. Until his untimely death that is. #stillnotoverthatjulianfellowes.
Rex FeaturesJoseph Fiennes’s Will Shakespeare
If you need a man who can really carry off a pair of tights, look no further than Joseph Fiennes. He pranced around holding a quill and looking faintly ridiculous, all while quoting his most famous lines in Shakespeare In Love but that didn’t put off Gwyneth Paltrow. And it hasn’t put us off either.
Rex FeaturesChristian Bale’s Laurie
In what was one of his first Hollywood roles, a young Christian Bale played the Victorian equivalent of the “boy next door” in this 1994 version of Little Women. Mannered, intelligent and completely love-struck – we don’t know how Winona Ryder’s Jo managed to reject his marriage proposal.
Rex FeaturesDenzel Washington’s Don Pedro
In the 1993 version of Much Ado About Nothing, we were spoilt for choice when it came to hot men in tights: Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves and, an exceedingly sexy, Denzel Washington. Playing Don Pedro, aka the Prince of Aragon, there are plenty of post-horse-ride shots of Denzel looking deliciously dishevelled. This makes it all the more surprising that Don Pedro is one of the few marriageable men that ends the film still unattached.
Rex FeaturesRupert Penry-Jones’ Captain Wentworth
Not even sideburns and a buttoned-up waistcoat could detract from Rupert Penry-Jones’ transformation into a 19th century sex god in the 2007 version of Persuasion. As the jilted naval officer Captain Wentworth, Rupert gave even Colin Firth a run for his money in Austen hero stakes.
Rex FeaturesDamian Lewis’ Henry VIII
Damian Lewis’ turn as the passionate and powerful King Henry VIII, in Wolf Hall had us almost forgetting he chopped off the heads of two of his wives. Lots of strutting, lute-playing and love poems, that’s the Tudor version of Twitter.
Rex FeaturesKevin Costner’s Robin Hood
No one expected Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves to become a cult classic but part of the reason it did was because of Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood. True, Costner doesn’t even attempt a British accent but, who cares, when did an outlaw look this good?
Rex FeaturesRupert Friend’s Prince Albert
The Young Victoria casting agents used quite a bit of artistic licence when they chose Rupert Friend for the role of Prince Albert in this biopic – he is exceedingly good-looking. That aside, Rupert plays Albert as a very modern man, having to reconcile himself with a wife who’s more successful than he is.
Rex FeaturesLeonardo DiCaprio’s Jay Gatsby
We don’t think anyone was surprised when Leonardo DiCaprio was cast as the party-loving Jay Gatsby. The actor swapped his bevvy of Victoria’s Secret models for the 20s equivalent, flappers, but what made Leo’s Gatsby so compelling was how his confident exterior hid a dark, tender side.
Rex FeaturesMichael Fassbender’s Edward Rochester
Jane Eyre has been done to death and what with Orson Welles, Toby Stephens and William Hurt all having played Mr Rochester, it’s not an easy role to take on. Michael Fassbender had no problem with the abrupt, troubled Rochester, bringing his own characteristic brand of mental anguish to the role.
Rex FeaturesJeremy Irons’ Charles Ryder
If only men still dressed like Jeremy Irons’ Charles Ryder: we’re talking the hats, blazers and pressed trousers. Yes, he might not be the most decisive human-being or particularly lucky in love, but with a quiet charm and nice manners, it’s not really surprising that he won over the Flyte family.
Rex FeaturesJeremy Northam’s Mr Knightley
Considering the character of Mr Knightley in Emma spends most of the film telling Gwyneth Paltrow “I told you so”, Jeremy Northam does very well to make him seem anything close to sexy. The tight breeches help though.
BBCAidan Turner’s Ross Poldark
What’s not to love about Aidan Turner’s Poldark? He divides his time between championing the rights of the poor and making women fall head of heels in love with him, and he does it all on the back of a galloping horse, often shirtless.
Rex FeaturesMatthew Macfadyen’s Mr Darcy
Matthew Macfadyen brought a realism to his Mr Darcy. Gone were the clean, pressed shirts and immaculate riding boots, this was Mr Darcy as he would have been – not in a stuffy drawing room but covered in mud after a day’s riding the estate.
Rex FeaturesRupert Graves’s Jolyon Forsythe
We all wanted to elope with Rupert Graves after the actor portrayed painter Jolyon Forsythe, who disowns his uptight, money-grabbing family to run off with his children’s governess in The Forsythe Saga. He had his fair share of ups and downs over the epic series but his appeal only increased as the show went on.
Rex FeaturesDominic Cooper’s Charles Grey
He might have had to wear a very silly wig and full-on frills in this 19th century drama, but Dominic Cooper still made us swoon appropriately as the politically radical Charles Grey, who embarks on a controversial affair with Keira Knightley’s Duchess of Devonshire.
Rex FeaturesDouglas Booth’s Pip
Pip in Great Expectations is the sort of part which makes or breaks actors but it definitely did Douglas Booth no harm when he took it on in 2011. His innocence and naivety perfectly suited the character as did his gorge face.
Rex FeaturesRalph Fiennes’ Heathcliff
It’s a brave man who chooses to have a go at the legendary role of Heathcliff and comes out the other side. But Ralph Fiennes has a bad boy side which, along with his piercing blue eyes, suitably rugged good looks and long, untamed locks, made us all fall a bit in love with him in Wuthering Heights.
Rex FeaturesIoan Gruffudd’s Horatio Hornblower
Never has a man named Horatio been so sexy. Fact. Ioan Gruffudd’s heroic naval officer had women across the world in full swoon mode between 1998 and 2003. What with his frantic duelling, heart-breaking abilities and cute, little curl on his forehead, who can blame them?
Rex FeaturesMatthew Goode’s Charles Ryder
Yes, Brideshead Revisited is in here again. This time it’s Matthew Goode who’s providing the swoon factor. The film might not have been as well-received as its predecessor but Matthew Goode was suitably attractive.
Rex FeaturesRufus Sewell’s Will Ladislaw
Rufus Sewell created a bit of a revolution in Britain when he appeared as the dashing newspaper editor Will Ladislaw in 1994’s Middlemarch. He (and the rest of the cast) created a mini-craze for Victorian fiction, pushing the novel to the top of the best-sellers list for five weeks running.
Rex FeaturesCharles Dance’s Sergeant Guy Perron
Charles Dance’s character in The Jewel In The Crown, Guy Perron, can do it all: he’s a Cambridge grad, history scholar, soldier and speaks fluent Urdu. What’s not to love?
Rex FeaturesGreg Wise’s Willoughby
Dark, dashing and with more cheekbones than a Kardashian, Greg Wise was made to play Sense & Sensibility cad Willoughby. No wonder Kate Winslet’s Marianne fell head-over-satin-heels in love with him. Even Emma Thompson was enthralled - so much so she kept Greg all for herself and married him.
Rex FeaturesHenry Cavill’s Stephen Colley
Stephenie Meyer wanted Henry Cavill to play Twilight’s Edward Cullen after seeing his performance as the quiet gardener in I Capture A Castle. Chiselled jaw, topless manual work and a kind heart, Henry did a “Poldark” well before Aidan Turner.
