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People that are both ugly and beautiful

pickarooney

It's a rare enough phenomenon but occasionally one comes across a person whose facial features are so striking that he/she at once appears to be both beautiful and ugly. It usually happens, I find, with big mouths and pronounced cheekbones but can also occur when there's something indefinably odd about a face.

Sandra Bernhard managed it, as did Béatrice Dalle and one of my neighbours. I think Serena Williams just about qualifies although that's more to do with her Amazon physique.

There was an episode of Seinfeld with the two-faced woman but I think the viewer never really got to see her properly and I can't find any stills from the episode.

Anyone got any decent examples?

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Teyla Emmagan

Alun wrote: »

The French have a specific phrase for this ... "jolie laide" which literally means "pretty (and) ugly" although it's more like attractive, but not in a traditionally pretty way, rather than ugly per se.

Can't think of any new example off the top of my head, but I agree with Sophie Ellis-Bextor as being one.

'Beau laid' for men and 'jolie laide' for women I think.

Gerard Depardieu was always the example for the phenomenon - lots of sex appeal, but still kinda ugly. Think he's a bit old to be hot now though. And of course, there's the smell of wee off him...

Katgurl

The redhaired singer from that 90s band Garbage

sophie ellis Baxter

jonathan Rhys myers, I know he's goodlooking but something gross

sean Penn, ugly as sin in some ways but something utterly beautiful

uma thurman

Sarah jessica Parker

Frank Black

Back in the X-Files day, I could never decide if Gillian Anderson was hot or not.

Chuck Stone

Newborn babies are kinda beautifugly.

Alun

The French have a specific phrase for this ... "jolie laide" which literally means "pretty (and) ugly" although it's more like attractive, but not in a traditionally pretty way, rather than ugly per se.

Can't think of any new example off the top of my head, but I agree with Sophie Ellis-Bextor as being one.

Teyla Emmagan

gubbie wrote: »

Benedict Cumberbatch

In one way he looks good, in another he doesn't

You take that back!!!!!!!

Benedict is a divine and otherwordly creature, that still manages to exude raw unadulterated sexiness.

Denis Leary has more of a beau laid thing going on IMO. Or Kristen Johnston from 'Third rock from the sun'. Both hot, and like a duck at the same time.

Gummy Panda

Claire Danes.. well in Homeland anyway.

One minute you look at her and think she is good looking, next angle you don't

Gilldog

pickarooney wrote: »

For me she's just a shade too good-looking to fit the criteria. She's almost there with the cheeks and the mouth but I don't think I'd ever have a second thought.

I get that she has a totally hot body and such...but I still maintain that her face has too much of a Jocelyn Wildenstein look to it...especially the chin-to-mouth-to-nose-ratio. But her eyes are amazing so maybe if she wore a balaclava we'd all be happy.

Jennifer Connoly is really pretty with strangely harsh eyebrows, it makes her look angry all the time.

R P McMurphy

Isabella Rossellini - definitely beautiful but sometimes can look a bit on the strange side. Cute acent as well and definitely sexy

ash23

Sophie Ellis baxter is a good one.

Amy Winehouse was stunning but her addictions ravaged her so I don't think she qualifies.

There are loads of minging men who are considered gorgeous but usually because of their "bad boy image" (think Blake Fielder, Jamie Hince, Frankie Cocozza)- all mingers but some girls think they're only gorgeous. Bleugh.

Clint Eastwood was always one I could never understand. And Robert Redford. Though that's probably an age thing.

Jack Nicholson.

Although again, he falls more under the "ugly but rich and famous and therefore attractive". Similar to Simon Cowell.

Kintarō Hattori

Lyle Lovett - A tough one I know but in some photos you could almost say he was handsome in an odd way

https://www.google.com/search?q=lyle+lovett&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=nQBOT7r9BYeHhQeVuKQM&biw=1280&bih=915&sei=oABOT6ayE46LhQfaue0o

Bruce Springsteen - Rugged but not exactly overly handsome

https://www.google.com/search?q=tom+waits&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=EQFOT5_lIYPNhAfwq5En&biw=1280&bih=915&sei=EwFOT5rUFpOwhAeKgtUk#um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=bruce+springsteen&pbx=1&oq=bruce+sp&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=1&gs_upl=47892l49616l0l51229l8l8l0l2l2l0l167l584l5.1l6l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=ae3bb0be87688a39&biw=1280&bih=915

Missi Pyle

https://www.google.com/search?q=Missi+Pyle&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=oQFOT8TtJc6DhQeCzokL&biw=1280&bih=915&sei=pAFOT43aGoSxhAfF9vwZ

OldGoat

Danny Machete Trejo. He has more character then face.

foxyboxer

Daniel Craig.

He just reminds me of a pretty Sid James from the Carry On films.

http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/9/6/128967211379326620.jpg

mysteries1984

pickarooney wrote: »

For me she's just a shade too good-looking to fit the criteria. She's almost there with the cheeks and the mouth but I don't think I'd ever have a second thought.

A few excellent shouts there. I was thinking of Tilda Swinton earlier but for me she's just not an attractive woman at all. Then again, I can always see that there's something about her that just might be appealing.

Uma Thurman actually manages to be plain, beautiful and occasionally a little bit ugly.

SJP had this in spades when she was younger. I remember seeing her in two films where she went from stunner to munter and couldn't understand what was going on.

It was always hard to tell exactly what Madonna really looked like.

Sophie Ellis Bextor anyone? Jennifer Connelly?

Sophie Ellis Bextor, yep. She was called Moonface by Robbie Williams once, I believe.

Jennifer Connelly...not so much. I think about her the same way you do about Rosie. Without the sexual overtones, if there were any :P How about the late Amy Winehouse?

mikemac1

Jennifer Connelly does not belong on this list

Sure she is always playing troubled characters on the verge of breaking down but still, there is no ugly side there at all

pickarooney

Gilldog wrote: »

Rosie-Huntington Whitly

Its just her face, from some angles she looks amazing, and then from others....I dunno its like her eyes are really far apart and she's had a bad allergic reaction to something, too puffy or something. Weird.

I'll try and find photos to illustrate.

For me she's just a shade too good-looking to fit the criteria. She's almost there with the cheeks and the mouth but I don't think I'd ever have a second thought.

ash23 wrote: »

Uma Thurman
Tilda Swinton
Sarah Jessica Parker
Madonna

A few excellent shouts there. I was thinking of Tilda Swinton earlier but for me she's just not an attractive woman at all. Then again, I can always see that there's something about her that just might be appealing.

Uma Thurman actually manages to be plain, beautiful and occasionally a little bit ugly.

SJP had this in spades when she was younger. I remember seeing her in two films where she went from stunner to munter and couldn't understand what was going on.

It was always hard to tell exactly what Madonna really looked like.

Sophie Ellis Bextor anyone? Jennifer Connelly?

AngryBollix

RachaelVO wrote: »

Claudia Sophie Winkleman!

I can never decide if she's really pretty, or strange looking!

Problem solved.

Seomra Mushie

Julia Roberts.
Most modern day high fashion models.

mikemac1

Steve Buscemi

I don't see anything there at all but I suppose put him in a suit and give him some good lines and he can be strangely charismatic in his roles

Loopy

Mary Harney...

ash23

Uma Thurman
Tilda Swinton
Sarah Jessica Parker
Madonna

RachaelVO

Claudia Winkleman!

I can never decide if she's really pretty, or strange looking!

Chuck Stone

Beautifugly.

AngryBollix

Knocker measurements usually solve any arguments as to ones beauty

Gilldog

Rosie-Huntington Whitly

Its just her face, from some angles she looks amazing, and then from others....I dunno its like her eyes are really far apart and she's had a bad allergic reaction to something, too puffy or something. Weird.

I'll try and find photos to illustrate.

pickarooney

nike319 wrote: »

Courtney Love

Yeah, in every single photo of her she has this... yeah but, no but thing going on.

nike319

Sykk wrote: »

Leona Lewis..

From one angle an absolute beaute, from another, king kong.

nike319

Courtney Love

CreepingDeath

pickarooney wrote: »

It's a rare enough phenomenon but occasionally one comes across a person whose facial features are so striking that he/she at once appears to be both beautiful and ugly.

I'd say the deciding factor in this is your level of alcohol consumption.

pickarooney

Sykk wrote: »

Leona Lewis..

From one angle an absolute beaute, from another, king kong.

I don't know who that it is but the first page of google image results all look nice. I need to see an example of the latter.

Juliette Lewis (no relation?) is a good call. Personally I can't stand her but I could see that people would find her attractive.

Lily Cole was one I was thinking of earlier but forgot to mention.

gubbie wrote: »

Benedict Cumberbatch

In one way he looks good, in another he doesn't

Yep, classic freakbones on him.

Willem Dafoe is also a perfect example.

Mickey Rourke is more an example of bad ageing/surgery I think. He was just straight-up handsome when younger.