Our next rule of film is an infamous one: Sex Sells. For women especially, who are cast as love interest more often than as leads, it is nearly impossible to make it big without being physically attractive. In terms of liking a character, familiarity may be important, but physical attractiveness tends to induce the halo effect, the tendency to think that if a person has one good quality (in this case, beauty), they have other good qualities as well. We are naturally drawn to beautiful people, even in completely platonic relationships. But what determines how we define "beauty?" Is this definition learned or innate? Research shows that it is both. Humans have evolved to automatically find some features attractive. However, our environment, culture, and the media also has a strong influence on what we find attractive. On this page, we will focus on the evolutionary basis for attraction, but also acknowledge the role that film plays in shaping our preferences. (An important note: This page focuses primarily on heterosexual attraction. This is not meant to offend or alienate any readers. This is the subset of attraction that has the most substantial body of research.)
Some of today's hottest, most up-and-coming actors in Vanity Fair's 2011 Hollywood Issue
What is Beautiful?
Women and men have some preferences in common when it comes to attraction. In general, we like faces that are "average." If you were to pick a group of women or men at random and morph their faces together into a composite shot, this face would be perceived as more attractive than the originals. People who are considered stunning or handsome tend to have these composite-type faces, but with certain features slightly exaggerated (jaws in men; eyes, lips, and cheekbones in women).There are also many aesthetic features that can be traced back to evolutionary origins: a symmetrical face, pink lips and cheeks, clear skin, and shiny hair. These are all signs that you are healthy. Humans also find contrast to be aesthetically pleasing and substantial contrast naturally catches your attention. (If humans could not detect contrast, we would not be able to visually distinguish between different objects). Consequently, most people prefer features with high contrast (like blue eyes and dark eyelashes, for example).
Although these general ideas of aesthetics are enduring, specific standards of beauty change substantially over time and place. In many societies past (and many present, outside of the Western world), women were expected to wear make up no more than men were. However, in American society today, women are held to much higher standards than men in terms of how flawless they must appear. Women are expected to use make up to enhance natural aesthetic features. Foundation and powder to make skin appear smooth. Lipstick and blush to appear flushed. Eyeliner, eye shadow, and mascara to bring out the eyes and set them further apart from the rest of the face. These unrealistic standards of beauty are reinforced by movies, television, and magazines. However, actors and models have professional artists touching up their makeup between every scene and shot. Even they do not naturally look so "perfect."
Zoe Saldana without make up: How women naturally look.
Zoe Saldana with make up: How modern society expects women to look.