20 Geeky Characters Played By Surprisingly Good-Looking Actors


20 Geeky Characters Played By Surprisingly Good-Looking Actors


Too Hot to Handle

When Hollywood casts a 10 out of 10 hottie to play a nerdy comic book hero, it can be a little difficult to suspend our disbelief. We're not complaining though: some of our biggest crushes were born in the screen adaptation of our favorite geeky content. Here are 20 nerdy characters played by show-stoppingly gorgeous actors. 

1024Px-Henry Cavill (48417938121)Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons


1. Neville Longbottom

Matthew Lewis brought Neville Longbottom to life on the screen. The audience had the joy of watching both actor and character grow from a timid, chubby boy into a brave and swoon-worthy young man.  

1024Px-Matthew Lewis At Avery Fisher Hall-Lincoln CenterJoella Marano on Wikimedia Commons

2. Peter Parker (Spider-Man)

It's hard to buy the narrative of Peter Parker as the nerdiest kid in school when he's played by the hottie Andrew Garfield. He can catch us in his web any day. 

1024Px-Andrew Garfield (5977311898)Gerald Geronimo on Wikimedia Commons

3. Hermione Granger

The book worm of Hogwarts was played by the absolutely stunning and elegant Emma Watson. Even though she's much too pretty to be a believable nerd, we still can't picture anyone else in that role. 

1024Px-Emma Watson, 2011Joella Marano on Wikimedia Commons

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4. Bilbo Baggins

The adventuring hobbit from Tolkein's masterpiece, Bilbo Baggins might have big ears and hairy feet, but take off all that movie makeup and Martin Freeman is revealed. Middle Earth's bravest hobbit is played by one cute actor. 

1024Px-Martin Freeman, Bbc Radio 2 Folk Awards 2016 At The Royal Albert Hall (26118668654)Bryan Ledgard on Wikimedia Commons

5. Clark Kent (Superman)

Clark Kent goes to work with big heavy glasses and a button-up which is meant to mask how handsome he is. However, when the perfectly chiseled Henry Cavill is cast, it's impossible to do so. 

1024Px-Henry Cavill-2665842ryanmorrisonjsy on Wikimedia Commons

6. Tony Stark (Iron Man)

Tony Stark, the genius behind the mask of Iron Man is supposed to be a nerdy physicist who's a little rough around the edges and tough to get along with. He's played by the ever so handsome Robert Downey Jr. who's way too swoon-worthy for us to believe he's a lonely brainiac. 

Robert Downey, Jr. 2010Photo by Sgt. Michael Connors on Wikimedia Commons

7. Hank McCoy (Beast)

As a doctor with six PhDs, Hank McCoy is a certifiable nerd who also happens to turn into a giant blue monster. He's played by the dishy Nicholas Hoult. 

1024Px-Nicholas Hoult (Cropped)Montclair Film on Wikimedia Commons

8. Bruce Banner (Hulk)

Bruce Banner is a theoretical physicist who turns into a giant green monster. He's also a loner which is hard to believe when he's played by the likes of dashing Mark Ruffalo.

1024Px-Mark Ruffalo (36243137665) (Cropped)Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons

9. Barry Allen (The Flash)

Barry Allen is a forensic scientist who gets struck by lightening, giving him superhuman speed. The speedy scientist is now being played by the gorgeous Ezra Miller. 

1024Px-Ezra Miller 2017Dick Thomas Johnson on Wikimedia Commons

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10. Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic)

Reed Richards is a scientist and inventor, often considered the smartest man on the planet. We couldn't be happier that the daddy of the internet Pedro Pascal has been cast in the role for the 2026 Avengers movie.

1024Px-Pedro Pascal Sdcc 2014Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons

11. Nathan Drake

This video game hero may be a thief but he has the mind of a historian. He's also not the most agile, with many of his stunts going awry. He's played by Tom Holland, who, when you remove that nerdy exterior and video game wardrobe, you quickly realize is a total hunk. 

Tom Holland Mtv 2018 (01)MTV International on Wikimedia Commons

12. Bruce Wayne (Batman)

Although many consider the dark vigilante a playboy, his detective skills, fascination with science and technology, and bookishness make him a definite nerd. The most iconic portrayal of Batman was done by the strapping Christian Bale. 

1024Px-Mjk 35690 Christian Bale (Vice, Berlinale 2019)Martin Kraft on Wikimedia Commons

13. Frodo Baggins

The protagonist of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is a reluctant hero with a love of lore and books. Frodo pales in comparison to Legolas and Aragorn when it comes to sex appeal, but when you remove those hobbit ears, Elijah Wood and his piercing blue eyes are revealed. 

Elijah Wood 2Jason and Jane Upshaw on Wikimedia Commons

14. Beast Boy

Teen Titan's Beast Boy loves video games, science, and is a bit of an outcast surrounded by geeky friends. However, the actor who played him, Ryan Potter, looks more like the most popular guy in school than anything resembling a nerd. 

1024Px-Beastie Boy (44242777625)istolethetv on Wikimedia Commons

15. Elrond 

Having lived for thousands of years, Elrond is the wisest and most knowledgeable person in Middle Earth. He's played by the silver fox Hugo Weaving in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. 

1024Px-Mjk 08925 Hugo Weaving (Berlinale 2018) Bw43Martin Kraft on Wikimedia Commons

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16. Sybill Trelawney

With her big, heavy glasses, disheveled hair, and weird personality, Hogwarts' Professor Sybill Trelawney is anything but "cool." However, peel back the frizzy hair from her face and the ravishing Emma Thomspon emerges.

1024Px-Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey, London Premiere 2009Garry Knight on Wikimedia Commons

17. Luna Lovegood

Luna Lovegood is Harry Potter's eccentric and whimsical Ravenclaw friend. She's a free thinker but is certainly not part of the cool kids' club. However, she's played by the undeniably dope and beautiful Evanna Lynch.

1024Px-Evanna Lynch Headshot 2018www.TobyShaw.co.uk on Wikimedia Commons

18. Ron Weasely 

Ron Weasely isn't extremely agile, strong, brave, or smart. However, he's loyal, has a big heart, and comes into his own. He's also played by the very cute Rupert Grint who gradually steals hearts throughout the eight films.

1024Px-Rupert Grint In The Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Premiere 04Joella Marano on Wikimedia Commons

19. Lara Croft

Although she's highly athletic, Lara Croft is still a nerdy archaeologist with a love of research and books. She was portrayed by the stunning Angelina Jolie in a casting decision that was just too perfect. 

Angelina Jolie 2 June 2014 (Cropped)Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Wikimedia Commons

20. Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange is a genius who comes from a background of academic excellence. He's a master sorcerer with a wealth of ancient knowledge. He's portrayed by one of Glamour Magazine's sexiest men alive, Benedict Cumberbatch. 

1024Px-Benedict Cumberbatch Filming SherlockFat Les (bellaphon) on Wikimedia Commons