PEOPLE's 25 Most Intriguing

By Stephen M. Silverman

06/19/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

This year's 25 Most Intriguing People of the Year -- as decided by PEOPLE magazine -- share one common thread: Openness. Britain's Prince William widened his world by taking off time to commune with nature and the underclasses in Chile, while boy wizard Harry Potter opened computer-literate kids' eyes to the world of reading. Sarah Jessica Parker brought a new openness to television as the star and executive producer of the outspoken and popular HBO series "Sex and the City", just as Drew Barrymore brought a new open attitude toward female action stars to her widescreen version of that dated TV series, "Charlie's Angels". "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" bride Darva Conger not only displayed a naked ambition to get married, but she appeared naked in Playboy. Richard Hatch of "Survivor," however, didn't wait until he was off TV to shed HIS clothes. Michael J. Fox, brought Parkinson's disease out into the open, while Indianapolis TV reporter Anna Werner brought the Firestone tire controversy into the light. Jennifer Aniston opened her heart to new hubby Brad Pitt, veteran feminist Gloria Steinem opened a new chapter in her life by getting hitched, and Meg Ryan openly flirted with costar Russell Crowe on and off screen in "Proof of Life." Other Intriguers now out in the open: "The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini, Elian Gonzalez, sports stars Tiger Woods and Venus Williams (who also both won Opens), wrestling's The Rock, science's J. Craig Ventner, rapper Eminem, opera's Renee Fleming, Napster's Shawn Fanning, AOL's Steve Case, Hollywood's Ben Stiller and New York's Hillary Rodham Clinton. And on the topic of politics, also on the list are the State of Florida and . . . drumroll . . . the new President of the United States.