ELLE Men of the Year 2012

David Beckham
Goldenballs. The only man we’d trust with a solo ELLE cover.

Brain or brawn? Fiery passion or razor sharp intellect? Impeccable dress sense or impeccable.... pecs? We’ll take it all, thank you. Along with a wicked sense of humour, an impressive jaw line, and fluency in one or three European languages, ideally.
From Beckham’s chiselled-by-the-gods six pack to Sam Riley’s nonchalant cool, via Eddie Redmayne’s aristocratic cheekbones and Ryan Gosling’s mesmerising eyes, take a good, long look at ELLE’s Men Of The Year 2012. The best present you’re likely to receive this Christmas.

Eddie Redmayne
 Christopher Bailey describes him as ‘sickeningly talented’. We describe him as hot.

Brain or brawn? Fiery passion or razor sharp intellect? Impeccable dress sense or impeccable.... pecs? We’ll take it all, thank you. Along with a wicked sense of humour, an impressive jaw line, and fluency in one or three European languages, ideally.
From Beckham’s chiselled-by-the-gods six pack to Sam Riley’s nonchalant cool, via Eddie Redmayne’s aristocratic cheekbones and Ryan Gosling’s mesmerising eyes, take a good, long look at ELLE’s Men Of The Year 2012. The best present you’re likely to receive this Christmas.

Robert Pattinson
You don’t have to be a Twihard to fall for R-Patz. Brooding, mysterious, and just a little bit vulnerable.

Brain or brawn? Fiery passion or razor sharp intellect? Impeccable dress sense or impeccable.... pecs? We’ll take it all, thank you. Along with a wicked sense of humour, an impressive jaw line, and fluency in one or three European languages, ideally.
From Beckham’s chiselled-by-the-gods six pack to Sam Riley’s nonchalant cool, via Eddie Redmayne’s aristocratic cheekbones and Ryan Gosling’s mesmerising eyes, take a good, long look at ELLE’s Men Of The Year 2012. The best present you’re likely to receive this Christmas.

Damian Lewis
If we gazed into those piercing blue eyes for long enough we were certain we could unravel the Homeland plot.

Brain or brawn? Fiery passion or razor sharp intellect? Impeccable dress sense or impeccable.... pecs? We’ll take it all, thank you. Along with a wicked sense of humour, an impressive jaw line, and fluency in one or three European languages, ideally.
From Beckham’s chiselled-by-the-gods six pack to Sam Riley’s nonchalant cool, via Eddie Redmayne’s aristocratic cheekbones and Ryan Gosling’s mesmerising eyes, take a good, long look at ELLE’s Men Of The Year 2012. The best present you’re likely to receive this Christmas.

Barack Obama
Passion. Integrity. Fearlessness. And his own army.

Brain or brawn? Fiery passion or razor sharp intellect? Impeccable dress sense or impeccable.... pecs? We’ll take it all, thank you. Along with a wicked sense of humour, an impressive jaw line, and fluency in one or three European languages, ideally.
From Beckham’s chiselled-by-the-gods six pack to Sam Riley’s nonchalant cool, via Eddie Redmayne’s aristocratic cheekbones and Ryan Gosling’s mesmerising eyes, take a good, long look at ELLE’s Men Of The Year 2012. The best present you’re likely to receive this Christmas.

Chris O'Dowd
 Top of our list of ideal man credentials? Must make us laugh. This Irish charmer is more than up to the job.

Brain or brawn? Fiery passion or razor sharp intellect? Impeccable dress sense or impeccable.... pecs? We’ll take it all, thank you. Along with a wicked sense of humour, an impressive jaw line, and fluency in one or three European languages, ideally.
From Beckham’s chiselled-by-the-gods six pack to Sam Riley’s nonchalant cool, via Eddie Redmayne’s aristocratic cheekbones and Ryan Gosling’s mesmerising eyes, take a good, long look at ELLE’s Men Of The Year 2012. The best present you’re likely to receive this Christmas.