The Most Attractive Men in Period Dramas

Hugh Grant is fifth on the list, with an impressive final score of 8.27. The iconic actor received a high score for his portrayal of Clive Durham in the 1987 film, Maurice – based on the novel by E.M. Forster. Meanwhile, Grant’s appearance as Edward Ferras in the 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility only received a score of 6.93.  

James McAvoy is named the sixth most attractive period drama actor, with a final score of 8.11. The Scottish actor was ranked highly for his appearance as Tom Lefroy in the 2007 romance, Becoming Jane – which is based on the life of Jane Austen. McAvoy’s more acclaimed role in the 2007 film Atonement received a lower score of 7.17.  

Next up is Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, with an average score of 7.93 out of ten. Colin is one of the leading characters in the esteemed Bridgerton series. In the newly released season of the show, audiences witness Colin take the romantic lead as the series focuses on his slow-burn relationship with Penelope Featherington. According to the study, Luke Newton is the most attractive Bridgerton actor, ranking above the likes of Jonathan Bailey and Regé-Jean Page, who received scores of 7.50 and 7.03, respectively.  

Jonny Lee Miller is eighth on the list, with a final score of 7.86. The actor was highly rated for portraying Edmund Bertram in the 1999 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.  

Theo James is named as the ninth most attractive period drama actor, with a final score of 7.77 out of ten. The actor was rated highly for his role as Sidney Parker in the 2019 TV series, Sanditon.  

Lastly, Sam Reid is in tenth place for his role in the period drama Belle. In the 2013 film, Reid plays John Davinier, an aspiring lawyer who attempts to court the film’s protagonist. The A.I. software awarded Reid a final score of 7.75.  

Some popular characters missed out on the top 10, such as Corey Mylchreest’s portrayal of King George in Queen Charlotte who placed seventeenth in the ranking with a score of 7.44.   

Pride and Prejudice fans will also be surprised to see Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen miss out on the top 10, placing twenty-first and thirty-sixth in the ranking, respectively. According to the study, Firth’s role in the 1995 Pride and Prejudice series received a score of 7.25, while Macfadyen’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the 2005 adaptation film was ranked even lower, receiving an average score of 6.74 out of 10.  

Other actors who appear near the bottom of the ranking include Connor Swindells, who received a score of 6.58 for his role as Robert Martin in the 2020 adaptation of Emma, and Matthias Schoenaerts, who received the lowest score of 6.12 for his role as Gabriel Oak in the 2015 adaptation of Far From the Madding Crowd.  

Josh Lingenfelter, the spokesperson for the study stated the following:  

“It’s exciting to see where iconic actors and characters rank regarding their physical appearances. A.I. is becoming an increasingly prevalent tool in society, so observing how the software interprets beauty standards is fascinating.  

“However, it’s safe to say that period drama fans will be surprised by the ranking, especially since Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen both miss out on the top 10 for their iconic interpretations of Mr. Darcy.  

“Ultimately, this study reinforces that beauty is a subjective concept. It also raises questions over the ‘golden ratio’ method and how it may become a controversial source for rating physical attractiveness”.