# Not conventionally pretty, but attractive nonetheless **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384 "2010-04-16T19:32:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/61 "2010-04-19T21:24:32Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > What about Kate Jackson of the original “Charlie’s Angels”? > [http://www.larrytt.com/celebrities\_playing\_tt/kate\_jackson1.jpg](http://www.larrytt.com/celebrities_playing_tt/kate_jackson1.jpg) > > I always thought that she was gorgeous, but I remember that some of my friends considered her “not conventionally pretty”. > > So what do you guys think? Is she conventionally pretty, or not? Any woman is going to look like a dog standing next to Jaclyn Smith and Farah Fawcett. Rule of thumb: If you are a 9, then don’t stand next to a couple of 10s. ---
**Author:** ![Neverending\_Elbow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e274bd/32.png) [@Neverending\_Elbow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neverending_Elbow)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/62 "2010-04-19T21:30:36Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > Any woman is going to look like a dog standing next to Jaclyn Smith and Farah Fawcett. Rule of thumb: If you are a 9, then don’t stand next to a couple of 10s. Yes, you should stand next to a couple of 8s. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/63 "2010-04-19T21:30:41Z")
They won’t be on any “hot women” lists but I love the way Frances McDormand and Lisa Edelstein look. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/64 "2010-04-19T21:45:54Z")
I fell in lust with Franka Potente when I saw [Run, Lola, Run](http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/dvd-reviews/matt-reviews-run-lola-run-on-blu-ray.php). I’d say with her colored hair and her not-Hollywood-thin body, she’d be considered “not conventionally pretty,” but I think she’s a knockout in this movie. I haven’t seen her in much else, though I am hugely disapointed that they killed her off in the Bourne movie. What the frack? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/65 "2010-04-19T21:50:44Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I fell in lust with Franka Potente when I saw [Run, Lola, Run](http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/dvd-reviews/matt-reviews-run-lola-run-on-blu-ray.php). I’d say with her colored hair and her not-Hollywood-thin body, she’d be considered “not conventionally pretty,” but I think she’s a knockout in this movie. > > I haven’t seen her in much else, though I am hugely disapointed that they killed her off in the Bourne movie. What the frack? I dunno. Except for the cleft chin, she seems pretty conventionally attractive to me. And I share your outrage at her character being killed off in the Bourne series. I almost walked out of the theater. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/66 "2010-04-19T21:54:11Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I fell in lust with Franka Potente when I saw [Run, Lola, Run](http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/dvd-reviews/matt-reviews-run-lola-run-on-blu-ray.php). I’d say with her colored hair and her not-Hollywood-thin body, she’d be considered “not conventionally pretty,” but I think she’s a knockout in this movie. Franke Potente isn’t thin? What bizarro world have I slipped into? [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/e/e1/20090711030257!Franka\_Potente\_und\_Bela\_B\_für\_PETA.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/e/e1/20090711030257!Franka_Potente_und_Bela_B_f%C3%BCr_PETA.jpg) (link NSFW) ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/67 "2010-04-20T07:26:30Z")
It’s so hard to tell, because given the magic and miracle of makeup and photoshop, just about anyone can look horrible or beautiful. Personally I find that looking in different mirrors can drastically change my own beauty levels (probably a lighting issue). Obvious example: Christine Ricci. Opposite example (considered ‘pretty’ but often contested): Sarah Jessica Parker - actually only really the brunette was conventionally attractive for this series that focused on sex… Boy example: Gale Harold - his character was soooo sought after, but I didn’t find the actor to be all that attractive. His body was OK. But not his face. And his attitude was horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/68 "2010-04-20T10:45:40Z")
I mentioned her elsewhere, but [Victoria](http://www.davebudd.org.uk/VCSC/vicki_coren.html) [Coren](http://www.retrosellers.com/images/vc2.jpg). A beautiful smile and a brilliant mind (and a serious [poker player](http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2008/1010/poker_e_coren_300.jpg) to boot). Cleavage ain’t bad neither. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/69 "2010-04-20T10:48:50Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I mentioned her elsewhere, but [Victoria](http://www.davebudd.org.uk/VCSC/vicki_coren.html) [Coren](http://www.retrosellers.com/images/vc2.jpg). A beautiful smile and a brilliant mind (and a serious [poker player](http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2008/1010/poker_e_coren_300.jpg) to boot). > > Cleavage ain’t bad neither. .. she’s basically the definition of conventionally attractive. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/70 "2010-04-20T10:58:11Z")
Tilda Swinton. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/71 "2010-04-20T11:22:44Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > .. she’s basically the definition of conventionally attractive. Well, she’s a bit \*zaftig \*compared to your average model/actress, but I like 'em curvy. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/72 "2010-04-20T14:11:24Z")
I think some people are reading conventionally pretty as…well, conventionally pretty; and some people are reading it as ‘Hollywood Gorgeous’. Victoria Corin may not be Hollywood Gorgeous, but she is clearly conventionally pretty. Meaning that walking through a mall in middle America, she would be considered pretty by those that pass her. All of these threads seem to go this way, almost from the very first post. Which is why I find these threads interesting. My own contribution, I am not certain about. [Viola Davis.](http://thefilmtalk.com/misc/viola-davis), [glammed up.](http://images.askmen.com/photos/viola-davis/84747.jpg) I know that blacks that don’t look like Beyonce are not \*conventionally \*pretty by societal standards to begin with, but even in my own 'hood, Viola would be ‘unconventionally pretty’; her eyes would be a bit bulgier than most beauties, her nose a bit wider…but still… she would be hot as hell. Hard to explain it, really. Anyone have an opinion on [Regina Spektor?](http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/07/05/RS_070705094627661_wideweb__300x375.jpg) She’s got something about her, doesn’t she? And [Sandra Oh?](http://www.jacbeauty.com//wp-content/uploads/2009/07/sandra-oh-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/73 "2010-04-20T14:20:54Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I think some people are reading conventionally pretty as…well, conventionally pretty; and some people are reading it as ‘Hollywood Gorgeous’. This is what I was thinking, since most of the women posted are conventionally PRETTY. Many are not model-beautiful or a perfect 10, but they are conventionally good-looking. My vote goes to [Kate Micucci](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm466784512/nm2177528), who may even be too conventionally good looking (tiny, big eyes) for this thread, but all the photos I’ve found of her at the moment are glammed up, too. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/74 "2010-04-20T16:54:55Z")
Well, I’m a straight woman, so my opinion may not count for a hill of beans, but I’ve heard more than one man say that he thought [bjork](http://www.boston.com/ae/music/blog/bjork.jpg) [was](http://nationfullofivy.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/c_users_svanur_gisli_orkels_pictures_bjork-homogenic-frontal.jpg) [pretty](http://www.flickr.com/photos/42285662@N02/3901462083/) [hot](http://www.betz.lu/media/users/charel/bjork1.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/75 "2010-04-21T06:56:40Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > And [Sandra Oh?](http://www.jacbeauty.com//wp-content/uploads/2009/07/sandra-oh-1.jpg) IDK although it’s hard to tell because I’m just so fond of her so that many introduce bias. But is she really not conventionally attractive, or is she just non-caucasian? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/76 "2010-04-21T09:40:54Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Well, I’m a straight woman, so my opinion may not count for a hill of beans, but I’ve heard more than one man say that he thought [bjork](http://www.boston.com/ae/music/blog/bjork.jpg) [was](http://nationfullofivy.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/c_users_svanur_gisli_orkels_pictures_bjork-homogenic-frontal.jpg) [pretty](http://www.flickr.com/photos/42285662@N02/3901462083/) [hot](http://www.betz.lu/media/users/charel/bjork1.jpg). Attractive in an elven sort of way, yes, but Bjork is also kind of scary if you’ve heard any stories about her. I’d prefer to admire her from a distance. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/77 "2010-04-21T11:11:16Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Well, I’m a straight woman, so my opinion may not count for a hill of beans, but I’ve heard more than one man say that he thought [bjork](http://www.boston.com/ae/music/blog/bjork.jpg) [was](http://nationfullofivy.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/c_users_svanur_gisli_orkels_pictures_bjork-homogenic-frontal.jpg) [pretty](http://www.flickr.com/photos/42285662@N02/3901462083/) [hot](http://www.betz.lu/media/users/charel/bjork1.jpg). Bjork is not of this world. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/78 "2010-04-21T15:50:52Z")
Juliette Lewis would be my pick. I have never seen a still photo of her that looked good. By Hollywood standards, she is all nose and no chin. But in a motion picture, she is mesmerising. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/79 "2010-04-21T16:33:32Z")
There’s a British actress who I’ve always had a soft spot for , called Sylvestra Le Touzel who wouldn’t look out of place in a 19th Century Symbolist painting - or a 1920s Silent movie perhaps [http://www.sofacinema.co.uk/guardian/images/products/9/44109-large.jpg](http://www.sofacinema.co.uk/guardian/images/products/9/44109-large.jpg) This her early appearance a very funny commercial [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Uz9_YfIQaz4/hqdefault.jpg "Heineken commercial - Water In Majorca") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz9_YfIQaz4) ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384/80 "2010-04-21T16:59:35Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > IDK although it’s hard to tell because I’m just so fond of her so that many introduce bias. But is she really not conventionally attractive, or is she just non-caucasian? I have to concur that she isn’t conventionally attractive. Off hand I’d say that if I walked into an oriental supermarket half the women under 40 would be better looking than her. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-conventionally-pretty-but-attractive-nonetheless/536384.md?page=5)