I love a lot of things about summer: sunshine, watermelon, shirtless men. Okay, mostly shirtless men. Honestly though, what’s even sexier than a tanned six pack is…talent. So here are my faves, both in front of and behind the camera (I saw them first).
ACTOR (FILM): Gerard Butler
If his bulging biceps and sexy smirk weren’t enough, he has a SCOTTISH ACCENT. It’s completely unfair. You may have seen him in 300 or P.S. I Love You (which, P.S., was so depressing I had to shut it off) – but he’s about to get a whole lot bigger: Gerry co-stars with Katherine Heigl in The Ugly Truth, a romantic comedy about a date-challenged radio producer and the chauvinistic personality who gives her the advice to turn her love life around. Sigh. I can’t wait for July…
ACTOR (TV): Simon Baker
“I’m just paying attention,” goes Simon’s quip from The Mentalist, the CBS hit about an FBI agent who seems to be able to read minds. The Aussie turns 40 in July, though you’d never know it with that boyish smirk and beach hair. Sorry, ladies: he’s married, with three kids. You’ll just have to wait for his upcoming movies The Killer Inside Me and Last Man – and dream of him paying attention to you.
WRITER: Jason Micallef
His script Butter won him a Nicholl Fellowship and a spot on the 2008 Black List (a grassroots compilation of Hollywood’s best-loved scripts). Mandate Pictures optioned the quirky story about a small town butter-sculpting competition, and Jennifer Garner is attached to star. With his swoopy bangs and mysterious past (how does he escape Google’s algorithms?), Jason’s got me swooning. Plus – we share a desire for delicious dairy products.
MUSICIAN: Phil Moore
Songwriter and sultry crooner for neo-folk trio the Bowerbirds, Phil Moore’s simple, honest lyrics and comforting chords impress on the band’s new album Dead Oceans (out July 7th). Once a bird tracker for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Phil had time to write and reflect while living in cabin deep in the forest. “I don’t need a trophy for all the games I’ve played,” he sings on “Northern Lights.” Well, good. We’re fresh out of trophies at Twirlit…but you’ve got our attention; we’ll be listening for more
DIR./PRODUCER/WRITER: J.J. Abrams
He writes, directs AND produces! Seriously. Tell me he can make crepes and I’ll be convinced he’s an alien - just too talented to be real. He may be 43 and married, but he’s so nerdy-cute. And talented. And rich. And we have the same birthday! With hit shows like Lost, Fringe and Alias under his belt (plus Felicity - he’s sensitive!) and movies like Star Trek and Armageddon, he really just does everything. And has great taste in glasses.
