Muddy Stilettos


<p>Brad Pitt and George Clooney walked (and smouldered) so these boys could brood, blush and break the internet<strong>.</strong>The golden age of the Hollywood heartthrob isn’t over – it’s just had a glow-up. Today’s leading men are more emotionally messy, more TikTok-famous, and far more likely to cry in a hallway scene. From poetic period-drama lads to chaotic comedy crushes, here’s the next-gen line-up making us swoon in the group chat and binge-watch on repeat. Is it us, or is it getting hot in here?</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-will-sharpe">Will Sharpe</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="853" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-16.54.35.png" alt="Will Sharpe in Too Much" class="wp-image-117162" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-16.54.35.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-16.54.35-600x341.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-16.54.35-1000x569.png 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>You might have just discovered Will Sharpe via his turn as charming indie musician Felix in Lena Dunham’s rom-com&nbsp;<em>Too Much</em>, but we’ve been smitten since he played a dysfunctional tech bro on holiday in&nbsp;<em>The White Lotus</em>&nbsp;season two. Also a ridiculously talented director, Will created the wonderfully weird BAFTA-winning&nbsp;<em>Flowers</em>, proving he’s got as much going on behind the camera as in front of it. Amen to that, sister.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timothee-chalamet">Timotheé Chalamet</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bones-and-All-4177973.png" alt="Timotheé Chalamet in Bones and All" class="wp-image-117164" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bones-and-All-4177973.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bones-and-All-4177973-600x400.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Divisive? Sure. Ubiquitous? Absolutely. But ask any Gen-Zer and Timmy sits firmly at the top of their crush list. Whether brooding through&nbsp;<em>Dune</em>, playing a charming revolutionary in&nbsp;<em>The French Dispatch</em>, delivering chaos as&nbsp;<em>Wonka</em>, or pedalling a Lime bike down the red carpet, his offbeat charisma and talent are undeniable. Love him or side-eye him, the floppy hair and cheekbones aren’t going anywhere. Next stop:&nbsp;<em>Marty Supreme</em>, hitting screens at the end of the year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-damson-idris">Damson Idris</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1099" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/F1_The_Moive_Photo_0105.jpg" alt="Damson Idris in F1 The Movie" class="wp-image-117166" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/F1_The_Moive_Photo_0105.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/F1_The_Moive_Photo_0105-600x440.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/F1_The_Moive_Photo_0105-1000x733.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Step aside, Brad Pitt – Damson Idris raced into our hearts with&nbsp;<em>Snowfall</em> and <em>F1: The Movie</em>. All on-screen smoulder, but off-screen charm (see his&nbsp;<em><a href="https://youtu.be/fIaB88pgfg0?feature=shared" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicken Shop Date</a></em>&nbsp;– how Amelia Dimoldenberg kept her cool, we’ll never know). Next up: the fantasy epic&nbsp;<em>Children of Blood and Bone</em>&nbsp;with Cynthia Erivo, Viola Davis, and Idris Elba. Release date? 2027 (sob). Until then, we’ll just rewatch&nbsp;<em>Snowfall</em>&nbsp;for the 101st time – what else is a girl to do?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pedro-pascal">Pedro Pascal</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1487" height="1080" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Pedro-Pascal.jpg" alt="Pedro Pascal in Matertialists" class="wp-image-117160" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Pedro-Pascal.jpg 1487w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Pedro-Pascal-600x436.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Pedro-Pascal-1000x726.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1487px) 100vw, 1487px" /></figure>



<p>He’s not the new kid, but Pedro remains the internet’s (and Muddy’s) undisputed Daddy. Whether swinging a lightsaber in&nbsp;<em>The Mandalorian</em>, making post-apocalyptic parenting weirdly sexy in&nbsp;<em>The Last of Us</em>, or flexing his biceps at premieres, we’re watching with bells on (ring-a-ding-ding). See him next in Celine Song’s&nbsp;<em>Materialists</em>&nbsp;(Fri 15 Aug) and Ari Aster’s pandemic-era western&nbsp;<em>Eddington</em>&nbsp;(Fri 22 Aug).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-paul-mescal">Paul Mescal</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Paul-Mescal.jpg" alt="Paul Mescal in All of Us Strangers" class="wp-image-117168" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Paul-Mescal.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Paul-Mescal-600x450.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Paul-Mescal-1000x750.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Ah, Paul Mescal &#8211; the patron saint of chain necklaces and quiet emotional devastation. Ever since <em>Normal People</em> crowned him the thinking woman’s crush, he’s been serving up soul, vulnerability, charm, and some seriously strong thigh energy. Whether he’s breaking hearts in indie films or jogging around London in impossibly short shorts, Paul has perfected the art of being both tender and totally magnetic. Heartthrob? At this point, he’s practically a national treasure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leo-woodall">Leo Woodall</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/OneDay-Netflix-Leo-cdce0c9.jpg" alt="Leo Woodall in One Day" class="wp-image-117179" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/OneDay-Netflix-Leo-cdce0c9.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/OneDay-Netflix-Leo-cdce0c9-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/OneDay-Netflix-Leo-cdce0c9-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>His shirtless confidence in&nbsp;<em>The White Lotus</em>&nbsp;caught our attention, then he properly broke our hearts as Dexter in&nbsp;<em>One Day</em>, before allowing us to live vicariously through Bridget Jones as he entered toy boy territory in <em>Mad About the Boy</em> thus cementing his heartthrob status once and for all. Charming, cheeky, and just the right amount of brooding – Leo Woodall is officially one to watch (and rewatch, repeatedly).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aaron-pierre">Aaron Pierre</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The_Morning_Show_Photo_040301.jpg" alt="Aaron Pierre in The Morning Show" class="wp-image-111823" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The_Morning_Show_Photo_040301.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The_Morning_Show_Photo_040301-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The_Morning_Show_Photo_040301-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If you’re not already obsessed with Aaron Pierre, allow us to fast-track your crush. With that velvet voice, smouldering stare, and serious screen presence, he’s been quietly stealing scenes in everything from Barry Jenkins’&nbsp;<em>The Underground Railroad</em>&nbsp;and M. Night Shyamalan’s&nbsp;<em>Old</em>&nbsp;to Disney’s&nbsp;<em>Mufasa</em>&nbsp;and Jeremy Saulnier’s&nbsp;<em>Rebel Ridge</em>. And the glow-up continues, he’s joining the cast of&nbsp;<em><em><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/the-morning-show-is-back-aniston-witherspoon-a-new-hottie-for-s4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Morning Show</a></em></em>&nbsp;in its fourth season, landing this September. Intense, magnetic, and frankly, too good-looking, it’s actually kind of rude.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-joseph-quinn">Joseph Quinn</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="617" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/screenshot-2024-06-28-at-21.09.20.png" alt="Joseph Quinn. in A Quiet Place" class="wp-image-117180" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/screenshot-2024-06-28-at-21.09.20.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/screenshot-2024-06-28-at-21.09.20-600x370.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>One of the many casualties from the Upside Down in&nbsp;<em>Stranger Things</em> &#8211; and honestly, the one we’re still not over. Joseph Quinn’s Eddie Munson was pure legend: part metalhead hero, part heartthrob, all unforgettable. Luckily, he’s far from disappearing. You can catch him in cinemas now as the Human Torch in&nbsp;<em>The Fantastic Four</em>, and next he’ll be stepping into some very iconic shoes as George Harrison in the upcoming&nbsp;<em>Beatles</em>&nbsp;biopic. Safe to say, he’s got the range to slay any role (and our hearts) again and again.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nicholas-galitzine">Nicholas Galitzine </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/idea-of-you-nicholas-galitzine.jpg-copy.jpg" alt="Nicholas Galitzine in The Idea of You" class="wp-image-117177" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/idea-of-you-nicholas-galitzine.jpg-copy.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/idea-of-you-nicholas-galitzine.jpg-copy-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/idea-of-you-nicholas-galitzine.jpg-copy-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The human embodiment of a Disney prince – and often cast as one. With that princely jawline, Nicholas has charmed us in&nbsp;<em>Cinderella</em> and&nbsp;<em>Red, White &amp; Royal Blue</em>. But he’s not just here to look good in a sash, who could forget his heart melting performance as the Harry Styles-esque Hayes in&nbsp;<em>The Idea of You</em>? Next, you’ll catch him charming his way through&nbsp;<em>100 Nights of Hero</em>, a dreamy fantasy film, before picking up a sword (and probably very little clothing) as He-Man in&nbsp;<em>Masters of the Universe</em>&nbsp;next year, which we’ll be watching, strictly for the plot… obviously.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jacob-elordi">Jacob Elordi</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="742" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Jacob-Elordi.jpg" alt="Jacob Elordi " class="wp-image-117170" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Jacob-Elordi.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Jacob-Elordi-600x445.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Oh Lordy, Jacob Elordi. From brooding bad boy in&nbsp;<em>Euphoria</em> and a swoon-worthy Elvis in&nbsp;<em>Priscilla</em> to a privileged posho in <em>Saltburn</em> and dream crush in <em>The Kissing Booth</em>, somehow he’s made tall and emotionally unavailable look like a lifestyle choice we’re all willing to make.&nbsp;A choice which will be further cemented when we watch him as Frankenstein&#8217;s monster in Guillermo Del Torro&#8217;s upcoming adaptation, and as Heathcliff (alongside fellow Aussie Margot Robbie) in <em>Wuthering Heights</em> set for release next year. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harris-dickinson">Harris Dickinson </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="933" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/download-1.jpg" alt="Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman in movie Baby Girl" class="wp-image-117173" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/download-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/download-1-600x373.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/download-1-1000x622.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Forget the model good looks and catwalk strut in&nbsp;<em>Triangle of Sadness</em>, or the doomed jock vibes in&nbsp;<em>Where the Crawdads Sing</em> – it was that unforgettable&nbsp;<em>Father Figure</em>&nbsp;dance scene in&nbsp;<em>Babygirl</em>&nbsp;that truly sealed Harris Dickinson’s heartthrob status for us (if you know, you know). Equal parts raw, ridiculous, and weirdly magnetic, it proved Harris isn’t afraid to go full cringe in the name of cinema – and somehow still make it hot. No wonder he’s rumoured to be in the running for the next James Bond. Suave, intense, and unexpectedly hilarious? He’s got our vote.</p>



<p><strong><em>Who have we missed? Comment your crush</em></strong><em><strong> below</strong> </em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? </h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/dolly-aldertons-pride-prejudice-adaptation/">It’s an Austen-off! First look at Dolly Alderton’s&nbsp;Pride &amp; Prejudice&nbsp;for Netflix</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/the-morning-show-is-back-aniston-witherspoon-a-new-hottie-for-s4/">The Morning Show is back! Aniston, Witherspoon &amp; a new hottie for S4</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/everything-you-need-to-know-about-rivals-season-2-release-date/">Rivals season 2 is go! Here’s everything we know so far</a></li>
</ul>


Heartthrob 2.0: The next-gen leading men we can’t stop watching

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