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Marilyn Monroe, one of the most iconic and famous female sex symbols of all time. Photo: Howard Frank Archives

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A sex symbol is a famous and/or notable person, male or female, who is found sexually attractive by the general audience.

The film industry played an important part in the rise of sex symbols. It disseminated images of beautiful people around the world, especially during film's silent era, when there were no language barriers.

The first sex symbols were Victorian actress and singer Lillian Russell, Danish silent-film actress Asta Nielsen (nicknamed 'The Silent Muse') and 'It Girl' Clara Bow in the 1910s and 1920s. Although not seen as a real sex symbol, Lillian Gish ('The First Lady of the Silent Screen') became the most popular actress of the era. Theda Bara and Pola Negri, famed for their vamp roles, were also early female sex symbols. Thomas Hardin became the first male sex symbol.

Film's Golden Age sex symbols include 1930s stars Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow (the 'Platinum Blonde'), Joan Crawford ^[1], Norma Shearer ^[2] Mae West and Clark Gable. 40's and 50's icons Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Jayne Mansfield, Kim Novak, Jane Russell, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Mamie Van Doren, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Rock Hudson, Robert Mitchum, and Gregory Peck.

Important 60's and 70's sex symbols included Brigitte Bardot, Ursula Andress, Ann-Margret, Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Bouchet, Jane Fonda, Pam Grier, Ali MacGraw, Sharon Tate, Raquel Welch, Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, and John Travolta.

As TV's influence grew during the last three decades there was a slight shift to TV stars becoming more famous, Pamela Anderson, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Carmen Electra, Farrah Fawcett, Jennifer Garner, and Don Johnson, all became sex symbols through TV. Many might argue that within the past few decades, the glamor of modern "sex symbols" has faded since the once elite Hollywood has become more and more accessible to the audience and perhaps stars have become more overtly sexual, as opposed to the classy sex appeal of Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn.

More recent silver screen icons are Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Scarlett Johansson, Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, George Clooney,^[3] Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Colin Farrell, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jude Law,^[3] and Clive Owen^[3].

1930's cartoon character Betty Boop was considered to be a sex symbol,^[4] as was Jessica Rabbit.

Jazz musicians were some of the first artists to become sex symbols. Rock n' roll and pop would follow later on. Some classic example of former or older sex symbols are The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Tom Jones, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Madonna, Prince, Grace Slick, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart and Steven Tyler set the stage for contemporary examples, such as Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Fergie, Cher, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears and Jeff Dean aka Fiend Without A Face.

Video games have had a few "sex symbol" characters as well. Some examples of this category would be Lara Croft, Tifa Lockhart, Nina Williams, Mona Sax, Cortana, Rayne, Ivy Valentine and Rikku.

Sometimes sex symbols can be people who are not portrayed as beautiful or handsome, but possess other qualities that make them sexually attractive. These people are often highly articulate, inviting, and alluring; they usually have extraordinary communication skills as well. An example is Henry Kissinger during his service in the presidency of Richard Nixon.

Many teen idols are also sex symbols. In particular, boy bands are frequently regarded as sex symbols by adoring fans. Fans frequently focus their attention on a single member of the group, but the entire group is seen as a sex symbol by association. There is often a discrepancy between teen idols and sex symbols. However, where teen idols are sex symbols to the youth audience, "real" sex symbols also appeal to adults, and sometimes appeal to the teenage audience as well.

People magazine, Sexiest Man Alive

• BBC: Men pip for the Posh type
• Google Zeitgeist, has a list of the most searched for female celebrities on Google