The Hottest Nerds and Geeks on TV and Film

15. MOLLY RINGWALD IN SIXTEEN CANDLES (1984)

Character: Samantha Baker

Geek cred: Saving her virginity for a popular jock who doesn't even know she existed.

Complex says: Molly Ringwald is adorable in this John Hughes classic. C'mon, an awkward, angst-filled redhead? If that Jake doesn't want to pop your cherry, we're available!

14. ELIZABETH BERKLEY IN SAVED BY THE BELL (1989-1993)

Character: Jessie Spano

Geek cred: This tall, brainy chick with the kinked and curly 'fro is the epitome of the feminist geek.

Complex says: Who could forget the infamous episode where Jessie takes caffeine pills to juggle her academics and singing career? That's what we call a party girl! She isn't as hot as Kelly Kapowski or Lisa Turtle, but she definitely has the brains to keep everyone in check, and probably the brains to keep A.C. Slater happy.

13. SARA TANAKA IN RUSHMORE (1998)

Character: Margaret Yang

Geek cred: Margaret tries to help Jason Schwartzman's character fit in at the new school, but he completely ignores her...probably due to those glasses. They never see past the glasses.

Complex says: Disregard the awkward style and take a deep look at Sarah's features. That's a doable chick hiding under all that tweed. Always look past the wardrobe—you never know how they'll turn out!

12. MANDY MOORE IN A WALK TO REMEMBER (2002)

Character: Jamie Sullivan

Geek cred: She's the pastor's quiet and religious daughter (who's probably a superfreak waiting to be unleashed on the world like Lucifer).

Complex says: Jamie is prude and dorky but looks super-hot when she's singing in the school play. We too started auditioning for musicals around that time—which would've been a lot less weird if we hadn't gone to an all-boys school.

11. IONE SKYE IN SAY ANYTHING... (1989)

Character: Diane Court

Geek cred: One word: valedictorian.

Complex says: Most guys would be too intimidated to approach the smartest and prettiest girl in school, choosing instead to make fun of her behind her back. John Cusack, however, is a braver man than most in this flick and was willing to hold a boombox over his head. We don't hold anything for girls—not hands, not purses, not stereos. Wait, grudges. Grudges we'll hold.

10. EMMA WATSON IN HARRY POTTER (2001-present)

Character: Hermione

Geek cred: Frizzy hair, uptight attitude, encyclopedia for a brain. Oh, and she does magic tricks.

Complex says: Now that she's 20, we don't feel so bad ogling Emma Watson in the more recent Harry Potter flicks. She makes us believe that nerds, even in robes, can be sexy. Now if only we could get our "Accio! Getinto Ourbed Immedius!" spell to work on her.

9. MARY LYNN RAJSKUB IN 24 (2003-2010)

Character: Chloe O'Brian

Geek cred: Big computer science nerd, so she's socially awkward, OBVS.

Complex says: Even though it's frustrating to watch Chloe's social interactions on the show, it's easy to watch her work with a gun. Yeah, ma, we see you like some heat on your hip.

8. ANGELINA JOLIE IN HACKERS (1995)

Character: Kate Libby/'Acid Burn'

Geek cred: Her secret name for the Internets is "Acid Burn." That's pretty weird.

Complex says: Even playing a genius hacker chick who shoots intimidating glares and has a boyish haircut, Angelina looks as hot as ever. We usually prefer girls with secret names on the web like "Big Tatties" or "Ass So Smoove"—but as long as "Acid Burn" doesn't refer to the pH balance of her lady parts, we can deal.

7. ROBIN GIVENS IN HEAD OF THE CLASS (1986—1991)

Character: Darlene Merriman

Geek cred: She's a "gifted" high school nerd enrolled in the "enrichment" class.

Complex says: We kept an eye on the sexy Robin Givens, even when she played the rich girl in this '80s sitcom. We'd rather have a pretentious girl from special class than the dopey girl from special-ed class. Especially if the pretentious rich girl ends up looking like Robin in Boomerang.

6. REESE WITHERSPOON IN ELECTION (1999)

Character: Tracy Flick

Geek cred: Competitive overachiever who is in every school club and running for class president.

Complex says: Why do we like her? She's a cunning, manipulative bitch who sleeps with a teacher to get ahead but pretends to be a nice, saintly blonde. What's not to like? We only date winners!

5. Tina Fey in 30 ROCK (2006-present)

Character: Liz Lemon

Geek cred: She's awkward, self-deprecating, messy, and one of the guys.

Complex says: We've always thought Tina Fey looked super-sexy in those spectacles. But when Liz Lemon took those spectacles off to dress up as Princess Leia? No complaints here. That's the ultimate nerd fantasy.

4. ALYSON HANNIGAN IN AMERICAN PIE (1999-2003)

Character: Michelle Flaherty

Geek cred: She's a flute-playing nerd who goes to band camp.

Complex says: We never knew the girls in band camp were hot until we saw this movie. Alyson plays the freaky Michelle who knows how to play the flute with something other than her mouth. Hey, if the music career doesn't work out, there's always Mexican strip clubs!

3. KRISTEN BELL IN FANBOYS (2009)

Character: Zoe

Geek cred: She's a Star Wars fanatic. 'Nuff said.

Complex says: First of all, look at that body. Second, notice the body is in a Star Wars costume. Girls like Zoe are the reason we go to Comic-Con every year.

2. RACHAEL LEIGH COOK IN SHE'S ALL THAT (1999)
Character: Laney Boggs

Geek cred: She's a depressed art student who paints her feelings.

Complex says: We fell in love with Rachael Leigh Cook back in the day when she played the emo-chick-turned-hot chick in this '90s teen classic. To us, she was hot because nobody else thought she was. It's like finding a great band that nobody else really knows about. Only you have sex with it.

1. LINDA CARDELLINI IN SCOOBY-DOO (2002)

Character: Velma

Geek cred: When not solving crimes through her nerdy glasses, she talks to a dog.

Complex says: The cartoon version of Velma was never hot, but damn, did Cardellini change that. The cleavage didn't hurt either, helping her win the Hottest Mystery Machine Passenger award over Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Besides, Cardellini is queen of playing hot nerds. Freaks and Geeks and Grandma's Boy, anyone? If you haven't masturbated to watched both of those, you clearly get out too much.