Just My Type
Joelle said at some point on June 11, 2008
Do you have a “type”? I wouldn’t say I do, really. If “funny” is a type, then perhaps I do, but I’ve dated a lot of different types of people. Men, women, black, white, short, tall, fat, thin, whatever. I find all kinds of people attractive and despite my occasional mockery for humor’s sake, often look for the beautiful attributes in people before I look for the flaws. Heck, most of the time I find the flaws are the beautiful attributes.
In this vein, I rarely have ‘celebrity crushes’, because many celebrities tend to look the same, like cookie cutters of each other. I’ve never really been one to idolize famous people purely on aesthetics, unless you count that time I wallpapered my bedroom in pages torn from Tiger Beat when I was twelve. (Ricky Shroeder fans represent! Don’t pretend you didn’t wear those black rubber bracelets, too.)
But there are a few that I harbor chronic crushes on, despite the ravages of time on their appearance or careers. One is James Spader. I will always and forever love James Spader. I have no idea why. I don’t care if he’s sporting a Members-Only jacket and feathered bangs in Pretty in Pink, “disciplining” Maggie Gyllenhall in Secretary ("foo-oou-uur pee-eaa-sss!” Rawr!) or blathering on self-importantly on Boston Legal… I love James Spader. Mmm mmm.
Kevin Spacey is another. I forgive him his recent role-selection transgressions (with perhaps the exception of K-PAX — that might be unforgivable) and faithfully see most of his movies, though I’m sure there are a few that have slipped through the cracks. There’s just something sexy about Kevin Spacey.
What’s strange is that my crushes on women do tend to be more aesthetic and/or about a sense of style. Is that sexist? Superficial? Or is it just because women are generally… well, prettier? I don’t know. I have assorted crushes on women… everyone from Isabella Rosallini to the more obvious Selma Hayek. But lately (and I feel kinda weird about this one for some reason) it’s Katy Perry. She’s just cute as a button and I love her vintage look. It doesn’t help that she sings about kissing girls. That’s just not fair.
Speaking of Pretty in Pink, I had such a thing for Jon Cryer in that film. Duckie Dale was like, my dream man growing up. Some may call that weird. But I have friends with weirder celeb crushes. *cough* Caroline Rhea *cough* Steve Buscemi *cough*
You know who you are. 
Moxie Design Studios™
from Phoenix, AZ
Like you, I rarely harbor any crushes on celebrities but James Spader is my one exception. I don’t know what it is about him but I just...well, lets say I enjoy his image on screen or photo.
Prince is my one, true celebrity crush. It’s never gone away. I mean...to me, he’s sexy as shit but he’s also talented as hell. I’m drawn to talent.
And intelligence. I always have been. And anyone who displays any of that with a humorous, witty wrapping? Well...I’m instantly drawn in. That matters way more to me than what a person looks like. What’s it matter what someone looks like if they bore you to tears?
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Andrea: SO true. True, true. Yes, there needs to be a wit there. And I’m with you on Prince.
My “type” always seems to be much older than me, built, and not blonde. Don’t ask me why blonde boys/men don’t do it for me, but they just don’t. Dwayne “The Rock” would be a good reference to go by if you’re trying to picture what I’m talking about.
Representing! I LOVED me some Ricky Schroder. And I think he’s still looking pretty good these days. I also crush on Ralph Fiennes and Robert Downey Jr. I’m not sure what any of those have in common… On the female side, and showing my age, I always thought Belinda Carlisle was beautiful.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Christy: haha! Belinda Carlisle! Yeah, she’s an attractive woman… for some reason in my head, I blend her face with Priscilla Presley’s. I’m not sure why.
from Colorado
My type? Intelligent, funny, compassionate & sensitive, but strong all in the same stroke. Not intimidated by me, and gets my quirky, and completely perverse sense of humor. Nice eyes and a “pow” kind of ass don’t hurt, either. LOL. I tend to be drawn to men with dark hair and eyes.
Women? Well, just between you and me, I’m totally attracted to my hairstylist....*cough*
Celebrities? Tom Hanks. I am ridiculously in love with that man. Oh, and Alex O’Loughlin…
from Southern, US
Rick Shroeder was just filming a movie in the town I live in. A couple of weeks ago they did a foot chase scene down my street.
from san diego • Cocktail: margarita
i have always had a thing for brendan fraser.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@daniel: awwww! I can totally see that. haha!
@Kate: I didn’t know he made movies? Like Lifetime? That’s cool, though. Did you watch?
@Maeve: What is it about hairstylists? They tend to be super cute, for some reason.
from Michigan
I TOTALLY agree with the Kevin Spacey one! I thought I was alone in that!
I have a total girl crush on Sara Ramierez from Grey’s Anatomy and Kate Winslet. My man crushes tend to change a little. I mean, I like the same ones, but I get a little focused on someone, then another… But for sure John Krasinski, Tom Collicchio, Paul DiMeo (sensitive, funny and can build me a deck? I’M IN!), Tyler Florence, Matt Damon (typical, but THAT SMILE!), and John Cusak.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Tina: TOM COLLICCHIO. hahahahah! I love that. I’m down with John Cusak, too. Kate Winslet… I just love her.
from Michigan
I swear to you, Joelle! That man is smart, confident, clever and he can cook? SIGN ME UP! There’s something fantastically nerdy about John Cusak. Same with Krasinski...they just seem like cute guys you could meet in real life and I dig that.
from BC, Canada
I seem to be a cougar when it comes to celebrity crushes! As for “pretty boys” I’d say Taylor Kitsch from Friday Night Lights, the uber-supermodel Travis Fimmel, Jared Leto (although he can get a little dirty/slimy looking). For bad boys, I still like em young. Ed Westwick from Gossip Girl (although he is wee. I myself am almost 6’)
As for the boys that are older: George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr. Yup, John Cusack (and he’s super-tall!) *Sigh*
As for the girls, Can I have Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt together? Can you imagine being a fly on their bedroom wall??!! I’m all a-quiver just thinking about it.
Cate Blanchett is another stunner! Love, love, love her!!
I don’t have very many girlie crushes because I find that girls in Hollywood get the “Freeze Face”. I hate the freeze face!
So what if I’ve got a crush on Caroline Rhea? Hey, I also have a crush on Ellen (and have for a long time now), does that make me weird?
OK, probably.
from manchvegas, NH
mmmm.(claps) Love foouurr peaaasss. I say that all the time and no one around me gets it-- (smirk)
I have a thing for the jews… Liev Schrieber, Jeremy Piven, David Krumholtz ( from Numbers)… just happened one day… was thinking about celeb crushes and then went whoa… I have a thing for jews. Oh but I so make an exception for a hairy Hugh Jackman. My oddest one ( although I don’t think I can top Mikey’s Ellen) is Philip Seymour Hoffman.
girls--hhmm. Jolie is painful. And Scarlet Johansen.