They garnered the attention of legions. Men wanted to be like them and women swooned over their class, charm and smoldering good looks. It was Hollywood’s Golden Age and they were the sultry stars firing up silver screens around the world. But while dramatic gems like Clark Gable oozed charisma and sexuality with but a glance, they were at the creative mercy of the big studios, which dictated their every move.
As decades passed and the 80s gave birth to movie blockbusters, leading men like Tom Cruise became craftier. However soaring budgets, inflated egos and bloated salaries dulled that old-fashioned Hollywood glitz and glamour.
Drawing from the best of both worlds, the latest crop of film dynamos to hit the Most Wanted List epitomizes all the class of yesteryear’s larger-than-life legends, but they’re clearly the masters of their individual destinies. Not willing to take on jobs just for a fat paycheck, these ambitious artists expertly decide what roles to call their own —and in some cases (when those choice parts don’t exist) write the scripts themselves.
Although some of these talents are already part of Hollywood’s elite, others are still climbing the leading man ladder. In an industry driven by the almighty dollar and the whim of a chosen few, these multi-faceted men are more than just actors. They are the toasts of Tinseltown, a taste of old-time Hollywood for the new Millennium
Matt Damon
After winning attention for his mesmerizing performances in Courage Under Fire and The Rainmaker, Demon’s star spiraled into über status last year. Not one to wait for a juicy role, the Harvard-educated thespian and his childhood buddy Ben Affleck took it upon themselves to craft the screenplay for one of 1997’s most critically acclaimed dramas, Good Will Hunting.
As one Hollywood insider said so eloquently, “every studio wants to grab Matt for a long-term deal because he’s not only wonderful looking and a superb actor, he’s also a terrific screenwriter.”
Aside from clinching both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for his writing efforts, Damon has become one of the most sought-after leading men with starring roles in Saving Private Ryan and The Talented Mr. Ripley, an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s suspense novel.
Accolades aside, Damon insists he’s still just a kid from Cambridge, MA. When asked why he chooses to surround himself with fellow actors like Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix, Damon muses, “It’s a group of people who are really fine young actors and have the same goal: To be the best they can be. Plus, they’re just a fun bunch of guys…”
… See all 10 “break-out stars” on PLAYGIRL+
