Sexy Because...

UPDATED 11/29/2010 at 01:00 AM EST • Originally published 11/29/2010 at 01:00 AM EST

... HE'S LIKE INCEPTION-KIND OF A MYSTERY, BUT DREAMY

LEONARDO DICAPRIO

The actor, 36, who's as serious about his work as his eco-causes, apparently developed that no-nonsense attitude early in life. "I was a real punk," he recently told Rolling Stone of his childhood. "I would talk back to anyone and be up for any fight."

... OF HIS EYES AND HIS SMILE

BRADLEY COOPER

The A-Team star was impressed by the pumped-up body that resulted from his workouts for the summer blockbuster. "I was like, 'This cannot be me-that's the way I look?'" Cooper, 35, told Details magazine. "As a kid I only fantasized about looking that way."

... HIS TALENT KNOWS NO BOUNDS

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

After bringing sexy back to music, he now delivers it to movies. "I know what I want to be," the Social Network (and upcoming Bad Teacher) star, 29, told ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, "and that's an artist."

... HE'S BRAWNY AND BRAINY

ROBERT DOWNEY JR.

When he's not in comedy mode-like in the fall film Due Date-the actor, 45, veers between his "Beefcake Charlie status" (as he described his Iron Man 2 physique to Entertainment Tonight) and playing the "skinny Brit" genius in the Sherlock Holmes franchise.

... HE EMBRACES HIS SENSITIVE SIDE

JAKE GYLLENHAAL

Exposing his bulked-up chest in Prince of Persia and leaving almost nothing to the imagination in Love and Other Drugs, the actor has had a revealing year. "I think a true leading man has both strength and vulnerability," says Gyllenhaal, 29.

...EVERY ERA LOOKS GREAT ON HIM

JON HAMM

On Mad Men he's the epitome of slicked-back cool, but what's his go-to style in real life? "Jeans!" says Hamm, 39. "Jeans and a white T-shirt are my default look, and I use that word 'look' very loosely."

...HE'S AS SLEEK AS HIS DESIGNS

TOM FORD

What's the sexiest piece the designer, 49, has ever created? "Oh, that's hard. The notion of what's sexy changes. At this moment I'm more into sensuality than I am sexuality."

...HE PUTS HIS KIDS FIRST

WILL SMITH

The actor, 42, is helping his kids-like Karate Kid star Jaden and "Whip My Hair" singer Willow-realize their dreams. There's a "burst of possibilities of what we can do ... as a family," he told Oprah.

...HE STILL ROCKS THE SCRUBS

PATRICK DEMPSEY

The Grey's Anatomy star-who's married with three kids-works at keeping his marriage McSteamy. "You have to be spontaneous," says Dempsey, 44. "You have to have a loving, physical relationship." So how does he keep the romance burning? "We had a wonderful anniversary this year. We were in Chicago, away from the kids, and we had a beautiful experience. I won't get into the details because that's for us."

...MILLIONS OF TEENAGE GIRLS CAN'T BE WRONG

ROBERT PATTINSON

This year the debut of Twilight: Eclipse reignited the frenzy surrounding the 24-year-old heartthrob. Luckily, Pattinson's getting used to all the hysteria. He told Parade magazine, "When it happens so often to you, you kind of actually look at people's faces and see that they're enjoying themselves, and it makes everything so much easier to accept."

...HE'S THE RAPPER-NEXT-DOOR

DRAKE

The singer-whose 2010 album Thank Me Later debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts-doesn't play his own music during romantic situations. "Nah, that's super awkward," says Drake, 24. "But I have a playlist obviously. It's called 'Buff the Stuff.' It's got, like, Sade, Aaliyah, old Outkast."

...HE'S THE WHOLE PACKAGE

MATTHEW MORRISON

If you're a big Morrison fan, make sure to watch Glee this winter. "Body-wise, I get into my best shape around the middle of the season," says the song-and-dance man, 32. "Just like most athletes."