Your Favorite Celebrities — Including David Beckham and Sebastian Stan — Weigh In on What Makes Someone Sexy

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) David Beckham, Sebastian Stan and Anthony Ramos.Photo:Jeff Spicer/WireImage; Jason Koerner/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty

Jeff Spicer/WireImage; Jason Koerner/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty

“Sexy" is in the eye of the beholder.

Ahead of PEOPLE’s 2024Sexiest Man Alivereveal on Nov. 12, see what stars have to say about the ever-changing definition of “sexy.”

01of 08David BeckhamDavid Beckham.Karwai Tang/WireImageDavid Beckham, theSexiest Man Alive of 2015, gave a diplomatic answer for the meaning of “sexy”: “I suppose it’s what every individual thinks, really," stays the soccer star, 49, who has been married toVictoria Beckhamfor 25 years. “That’s what’s great about a human. They have different likes and dislikes. And some people have things that they think is sexy and some things that they don’t.”

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David Beckham

David Beckham.Karwai Tang/WireImage

Karwai Tang/WireImage

David Beckham, theSexiest Man Alive of 2015, gave a diplomatic answer for the meaning of “sexy”: “I suppose it’s what every individual thinks, really,” stays the soccer star, 49, who has been married toVictoria Beckhamfor 25 years. “That’s what’s great about a human. They have different likes and dislikes. And some people have things that they think is sexy and some things that they don’t.”

02of 08Sebastian StanSebastian Stan.Dominik Bindl/GettyForSebastian Stan, 42, sexy is “pure and simple.”“It’s confidence and ownership of self, absolutely,” theA Different Manactor says. “It doesn’t matter what else is going on. If you own yourself, then I feel you’re good.”

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Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan.Dominik Bindl/Getty

Dominik Bindl/Getty

ForSebastian Stan, 42, sexy is “pure and simple.”

“It’s confidence and ownership of self, absolutely,” theA Different Manactor says. “It doesn’t matter what else is going on. If you own yourself, then I feel you’re good.”

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Rachel Zoe

Rachel Zoe.Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Rachel Zoeneeds a man who can take care of himself.

Zoe, 53, prefers “confident” men who don’t “need validation” from others. As for ego-driven guys, they’re “not sexy at all,” she remarks.

04of 08Anthony RamosAnthony Ramos.Cindy Ord/GettyPersonality is the make-or-break factor for Anthony Ramos.“If you meet somebody who you may not necessarily be attracted to immediately, but then they start talking and they’ll start cracking jokes and you’re like, ‘Wow. She’s really nice, she’s funny, she’s charismatic, she’s thoughtful,’ and all of those things, I think make someone sexy,” Ramos, 33, says.TheTwistersstar adds, “Sexy is different to different people. For me, I would say that somebody with ambition, goals. That makes somebody sexy.”

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Anthony Ramos

Anthony Ramos.Cindy Ord/Getty

Cindy Ord/Getty

Personality is the make-or-break factor for Anthony Ramos.

“If you meet somebody who you may not necessarily be attracted to immediately, but then they start talking and they’ll start cracking jokes and you’re like, ‘Wow. She’s really nice, she’s funny, she’s charismatic, she’s thoughtful,’ and all of those things, I think make someone sexy,” Ramos, 33, says.

TheTwistersstar adds, “Sexy is different to different people. For me, I would say that somebody with ambition, goals. That makes somebody sexy.”

05of 08Austin StowellAustin Stowell.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic“Sexy to me is people who take care of their family,”NCIS: OriginsstarAustin Stowell, 39, tells PEOPLE in a joint interview with former Sexiest Man AliveMark Harmon. “Sexy to me is people who look you in the eye and tell you the truth and treat people who are in positions of service with respect.”

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Austin Stowell

Austin Stowell.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

“Sexy to me is people who take care of their family,”NCIS: OriginsstarAustin Stowell, 39, tells PEOPLE in a joint interview with former Sexiest Man AliveMark Harmon. “Sexy to me is people who look you in the eye and tell you the truth and treat people who are in positions of service with respect.”

06of 08Jennifer TillyJennifer Tilly.Kevin Winter/GettySexy goes beyond the surface forJennifer Tilly. The Oscar-nominated actress andReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar, 66, admits she has never been attracted to men with “perfect six-packs.” Instead, she prioritizes “a sense of humor, a personality and also a caring sense.““I’ve been with my man for 20 years, and he has all the qualities that I mentioned previously, except for the perfect six-pack,” says Tilly, who is in a relationship with poker player Phil Laak. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s the perfect man.”

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Jennifer Tilly

Jennifer Tilly.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

Sexy goes beyond the surface forJennifer Tilly. The Oscar-nominated actress andReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar, 66, admits she has never been attracted to men with “perfect six-packs.” Instead, she prioritizes “a sense of humor, a personality and also a caring sense.”

“I’ve been with my man for 20 years, and he has all the qualities that I mentioned previously, except for the perfect six-pack,” says Tilly, who is in a relationship with poker player Phil Laak. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s the perfect man.”

07of 08Mark DuplassMark Duplass.Frazer Harrison/GettyThe Morning ShowstarMark Duplass, 47, had a name in mind when thinking of “sexy” —Sterling K. Brown. Duplass starred alongside theOscarnominee in the 2022 filmBiosphere, and he recalls how Brown worked “12 hours a day for three weeks in a sweaty, s——- built set on the east side of L.A.”“He loves acting, and he was gracious with the crew,” says Duplass. “He was lively and energetic, put an incredible performance. He’s hot as f—. That’s it. It’s SKB… or bust,.”

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Mark Duplass

Mark Duplass.Frazer Harrison/Getty

Frazer Harrison/Getty

The Morning ShowstarMark Duplass, 47, had a name in mind when thinking of “sexy” —Sterling K. Brown. Duplass starred alongside theOscarnominee in the 2022 filmBiosphere, and he recalls how Brown worked “12 hours a day for three weeks in a sweaty, s——- built set on the east side of L.A.”

“He loves acting, and he was gracious with the crew,” says Duplass. “He was lively and energetic, put an incredible performance. He’s hot as f—. That’s it. It’s SKB… or bust,.”

08of 08Ron FunchesRon Funches.John Sciulli/GettyRon FunchesofLootreveals his definition of sexy comes from watching HBO’sHouse of the Dragon.“You’re sexy when you can make the people around you feel safe and feel free to be themselves,” Funches, 41, says. “I try to provide that type of atmosphere for anyone around me, that you are free to be who you are always around me.”

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Ron Funches

Ron Funches.John Sciulli/Getty

Ron FunchesofLootreveals his definition of sexy comes from watching HBO’sHouse of the Dragon.

“You’re sexy when you can make the people around you feel safe and feel free to be themselves,” Funches, 41, says. “I try to provide that type of atmosphere for anyone around me, that you are free to be who you are always around me.”

source: people.com