Why I Wish I Was French

Why are the French so goddamn sexy? There's something unattainable, commanding and iconic about French actors, something I don't see often in American actors-- and I don't just mean the obvious Belmondos and Karinas of the world. Yes, I'll admit, I am a little bit obsessed with everything French (this could have something to do with the fact that I'm moving to Paris in two weeks). Maybe it's just a cultural thing; maybe it's all the cigarettes. Regardless, I find that many Americans are fascinated by the French-- especially on film, they possess a certain elusive, ethereal quality that we sometimes find hard to attain in our brand-name filled, 100-watt-smile-inundated spectrum of film and television. There's definitely something to sitting back and observing, taking everything in, and retaining a bit of mystery-- qualities that these performers seem to relish in.

Gaspard Ulliel

The always-stunning Catherine Deneuve in Luis Bunuel's Belle de Jour (1967)

Such a lucky, lucky girl.. Eva Green in Bertolucci's The Dreamers (2003) with Louis Garrel (left) and Michael Pitt (right. Okay, he's not French)

Jean-Paul Belmondo

Alain Delon

Pierre Clémenti

Mélanie Laurent in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Marion Cotillard on the cover of Interview Magazine's August 2010 issue

I always like to end on a classy note... Ludivine Sagnier of Swimming Pool (2003)