10: Sandra Bullock

She's been acclaimed for her dazzling looks often enough (look at all those "Most Beautiful" polls she keeps popping up in). But here's the other thing about Sandra Bullock: she can actually act.

She's a total scene-stealer. Look at her in Speed, in which she used the standard 'woman in jeopardy' role to add a touch of witty grace to all the mayhem around her. Her sparky performance in "A Time To Kill" outshone Matthew McConaughey's bland hero, and she's recently received heavy acclaim for her turn as To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee in Infamous.

Funny, charismatic and down-to-earth, even her opinion of celebrity is endearing. "Fame," she once said, "means when your computer modem is broken, the repair guy comes to your house a little faster."

9: Rufus Sewell

Why isn't Rufus Sewell as globally famous as Hugh Grant and Colin Firth? A respected character actor he may be, but Rufus has still not really made the leap to International Leading Man – and this has to change!

With his dark locks, chocolate eyes and dangerous cheekbones, he's certainly not being kept back by his looks. Yet, despite landing the lead in the underrated sci-fi horror Dark City, he's either languished in forgettable fare (Ali Baba in Arabian Nights, anyone?), played B-roles in blockbusters like A Knight's Tale, or stayed in the realm of TV with great productions like Charles II.

So come on, Hollywood bigwigs. Forget the LA surfer types and give this British bad boy a shot!

8: Dan Aykroyd

That's right – the guy from Coneheads. The man who said "Sure, I'm in" instead of "Are you kidding me?" when confronted by the script of My Stepmother is an Alien. Yes, Dan Aykroyd is on our list – because he's much more than just a professional goof.

First thing's first: he was great in Ghostbusters. That was not just Bill Murray's film. Second – he was a deadpan delight in The Blues Brothers. But more importantly than his comic turns are his character actor moments. We're thinking here of Grosse Pointe Blank, in which he was a gloriously unhinged hitman stalking John Cusack.

He's worked with Woody Allen. He's even shown his period credentials with memorable turns in The House of Mirth and Stephen Fry's Bright Young Things. The man is a great character actor.