The human embodiment of cool

Bowie certainly exuded pure coolness - always a step or two ahead of the rest in terms of his image and music. The master of re-invention.

Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music - a contemporary of Bowie, always cool and sublime.

Patti Smith, the “godmother” of punk - always did her own thing, seemed to eschew chart success in terms of her music. Never compromised. That image of her on the cover of her 1975 Horses album is iconic and was very ahead of its time.

Debbie Harry of Blondie - in the limelight in the late 70s/early 80s but seemed to be able to keep her private life just that - private. Sassy. Stunning looking in her prime and had a touch of class.

Grace Jones - another utterly original musician who did her own thing and was part of the 1970s/1980s zeitgeist of cool.

The Eurythmics - Annie Lennox in particular. Her androgynous look in the Sweet Dreams video in 1983 helped define the look of that decade. Incredible soulful voice and one half of the finest pop act of the 80s.

Andy Warhol - Pop artist extraordainre working out of New York in the 1960s and 1970s. Probably rather overrated, but growing up he seemed a pretty cool individual.

Honorable mentions to:
Tom Waits
Lou Reed
Portishead
Alison Goldfrapp
Bob Dylan
Kraftwerk
Leonard Cohen
Kate Bush

In terms of actors, Steve McQueen is certainly up there.

Kate Blanchett
Hellen Mirren - like a fine wine, she got better and better with age
Morgan Freeman
James Dean
Sidney Poitier
Lauren Bacall