# Not Quite A Nerd...Not Quite A Hunk (Beauty) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 22, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397 "2010-03-22T21:58:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/21 "2010-03-23T19:52:15Z")
_Buffy_ had a bucketful of hunky nerds in several genders. Do I need to make a list? ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/22 "2010-03-23T19:57:52Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Donal Logue > Denis Leary > Anthony Edwards > Jeff Daniels > Michael Richards > Lyle Lovett Personally, I’d label Lyly Lovett outright ugly. No qualifiers. YMM, obviously, V. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/23 "2010-03-23T21:14:25Z")
I think Tobey Maguire and Topher Grace are both good looking guys that can play nerdy. But then again, for a long time I thought they were the same person 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/24 "2010-03-24T00:19:05Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > America Ferrera I’m a heterosexual female, and I think America Ferrera is smokin’ hot! ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/25 "2010-03-24T02:29:16Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Well, lots of guys here seem to think [Jenna Fischer](http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Pam-Beasley-pam-beesly-370043_384_288.jpg)is the ultimate hot geek girl Seriously? If that picture’s indicative of her in general, she’s pretty screamingly average, and not Hollywood average; just average-average. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2010, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/26 "2010-03-24T11:23:41Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Seriously? If that picture’s indicative of her in general, she’s pretty screamingly average, and not Hollywood average; just average-average. I’ve never heard of seen of her before but she definitely fits the OP - the whole point is she’s ’ “average” ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/27 "2010-03-24T12:48:43Z")
Rainn Wilson, who incidentally my husband looks a lot like. He can be hot when he’s dressed properly and not trying to look like a dork, but most of his roles have him cast as a total dweeb or weirdo. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/28 "2010-03-24T13:38:17Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Seriously? If that picture’s indicative of her in general, she’s pretty screamingly average, and not Hollywood average; just average-average. My blunt theory: whether they would admit it or not, many guys who are attracted to “geek girls” and what are euphemistically called “unconventionally pretty” females (Tina Fey, et al) subconsciously understand that being doughy, pasty-faced shlubs, their chances of landing an exceptionally beautiful woman are nil, but feel that they might actually have a shot at a less-pretty woman due to the reduced competition and likelihood that the “geek girl’s” expectations are similarly lowered. Sadly, in most cases they’re deluded and the “geek girl” is still way out of their league, but it adds a much-needed element of hope to the fantasy. No offense to anyone, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/29 "2010-03-24T13:55:32Z")
I agree, **Vinyl** , and I am one of those schlubs. I think Tina Fey is gorgeous independent of this, though. And, **Rrose** , I took the thread to mean people that have some glimmer of both geekiness and hunkiness but that actress doesn’t project either in that photo. I might feel differently if I watched The Office but based on the pic alone, she is unremarkable average. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/30 "2010-03-24T18:05:13Z")
Does an actor who looks ordinary/geeky, but can _play_ someone hot count? If so, I’d nominate Allison Janney. On her own, she looks like a real geek/nerd/homebody. BUT as CJ Cregg on _The West Wing_, there’s a scene where an ex-lover of her says (I’m paraphrasing): “It wasn’t the sex; you’re actually good in bed; I’m just saying that because it’s something a lot of women worry about” and she says “_Good_ in bed?!? I’m _great_ in bed!!” And while I wouldn’t buy that line from Janney, I’ll buy it from CJ. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/31 "2010-03-24T20:49:51Z")
I’ll second Zach Levi and add [Jason Sudeikis](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm197367040/nm0837177). I’m not sure where [Masi Oka](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3408170752/nm1199811) falls. Mostly nerdy, I guess, but cute as a button! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/32 "2010-03-24T20:57:10Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Really? :dubious: I don’t think she’s ugly but I’ve never found her particularly attractive. And no, I don’t have crazy standards. I’ll :dubious: your :dubious:. She’s not what I’d call gorgeous, actually, but she’s quite beautiful. (To me, gorgeous means both beautiful and hot, as it is possible to be one and not the other.) ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/33 "2010-03-24T21:07:28Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’ll :dubious: your :dubious:. > > She’s not what I’d call gorgeous, actually, but she’s quite beautiful. (To me, gorgeous means both beautiful and hot, as it is possible to be one and not the other.) Nah, [she’s both](http://deadon.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/tinafey_21313.jpg). (sfw) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/34 "2010-03-25T14:40:38Z")
That’s exactly what I’ve always thought of David Schwimmer. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/35 "2010-03-25T15:35:35Z")
Parker Posey fits the OP for me. I feel like I _should_ find her little indie film queen self “pretty hot” but she just doesn’t quite make it over the hump. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/36 "2010-03-26T05:04:22Z")
At one time I would have said John Cusack, but I think his ship has left the harbor. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/37 "2010-03-26T11:33:13Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > At one time I would have said John Cusack, but I think his ship has left the harbor. He \*is \*starting to show his age, isn’t he? The last movie I saw him in I thought _John looks old._ I remember being discouraged because, well, I’m just a little older than he is. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/38 "2010-03-26T11:52:33Z")
Mrs. Omens would certainly like to add Glen Phillips, who many will remember best as the lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket. Suffice it to say that if he were to show up at my front door today, I’d never see her again. Fortunately/creepily, he looks alot like me. ---
**Author:** ![GreatStuffMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f04885/32.png) [@GreatStuffMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreatStuffMan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397/39 "2010-03-26T13:29:59Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Personally, I’d label Lyly Lovett outright ugly. No qualifiers. Uh-huh. That guy’s hideous. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-quite-a-nerd-not-quite-a-hunk-beauty/533397.md?page=1)