The 50 Hottest Models Turned Actresses

There's a movie coming out today called Battleship, and the rumors are true: It is "based on the classic Hasbro naval combat game." Yes, it's a very bad movie, and yet if it makes a little cash it could steer Hollywood in the direction of adaptations of other children's games. Well, after the current craze for fairytales re-imagined as sexy horror dies down.

One way to put butts in seats is to pack trite movies with total babes. People like looking at total babes—even girls like looking at a good sexy babe, according to the latest scientific studies. The Three Stooges managed the nifty trick of getting Sofia Vergara, who is a babe and a half, and Kate Upton, who is Queen Babe of the World right now. She's not an actress, but that doesn't always matter. Hollywood has been dipping into the model pool for eye candy for years, and it's never not been a good thing.

Which brings us back to Battleship, and the model they've conscripted to distract you from a certain lack of plot: The one and only Brooklyn Decker. As the guns blaze, hatches batten and timbers shiver, Brooklyn will be there as Sam, and we hope that this civilian name means she has to pack a bikini. (Rihanna, who is also in the film, plays Petty officer Cora "Weps" Raikes, so it'll be strictly uniforms for her.)

We have no idea why Brooklyn is in this movie—although we could say the same of Rihanna, Jerry Ferrara and Liam Neeson—but if the past is any guide, her presence will make it better. She joins the sorority of models who've become actresses, and a nice looking sorority it is. Here's our guide to the top 50, ever.

RELATED: The 25 Hottest British Glamour Models

Written by Josh Robertson

Modeling Credentials: She was under contract with Elite Model Management and appeared in Vogue, as well as advertisements for Calvin Klein and Yves Saint-Laurent.
Acting Resume: St. Elmo's Fire (1985), Sex, Lies & Videotape (1989), Groundhog Day (1993), Four Weddings & a Funeral (1994)

We think of Andie as a classic example of a woman whose beauty was always more appreciated by women than men -- thus she excelled as a fashion magazine model but never quite made the grade as a romantic lead. Not saying we'd have kicked her out of bed for eating crackers, because we wouldn't.

Acting Skills: 7 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was signed by Elite Model Management in the mid-'80s and appeared in advertisements for Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Victoria's Secret.
Acting Resume: GoldenEye (1995), X-Men (2000), The Chameleon (2010)

It took a fit and gorgeous woman to sell Xenia Onatopp's deadly talent in GoldenEye: She lures men into an amorous embrace, then squeezs them to death with her super-powerful thighs. Even by Bond vilainess standards, this was far-fetched, but it was a lovely thought.

Acting Skills: 9 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and has modeled for Victoria's Secret, Perry Ellis, and Chanel No. 5. In 2000, Maxim named her sexiest woman in the world.
Acting Resume: Planet of the Apes (2001), The Cooler (2003), Beauty and the Beast (2010)

Over the decade she's been making movies, the quality of the films she's landed has steadily declined. (If only there had been a Planet of the Apes 2!) She may have a shot at redeeming herself in The Manson Girls, scheduled for release later this year, about the women who creepily attached themselves to Charles Manson.

Acting Skills: 3 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She did over 500 magazine covers in the 1980s and ad campaigns for Pepsi, General Motors, and Noxzema, but you may remember her best as a fixture in and cover girl for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Acting Resume: Thunder in Paradise (1994),

She once said, "Just because you're beautiful, they think you can't act. It makes me work harder. I've got a lot to prove." Unfortunately, being on a TV series that stars Hulk Hogan does not usually count as proof.

Acting Skills: 2 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She modeled for Vogue, Mademoiselle, and Harper's Bazaar.
Acting Resume: Sin City (2005), The Spirit (2008), Gary Unmarried (2008-09), Hart of Dixie (2011-)

Since 2006 she's had recurring roles on five TV series, and all but Hart of Dixie were canceled. What does not kill you makes you hotter.

Acting Skills: 8 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was Playboy Playmate of the Year 1980
Acting Resume: Americathon (1979), Skatetown USA (1979), Galaxina (1980)

Unfortunately, the film she's most strongly associated with is Star 80, a biopic that ends with the grisly murder of Stratten (played by Mariel Hemingway) at the hands of her husband, Paul Snider, who then committed suicide. What a dick.

Acting Skills: 7 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She won Ford Models "Supermodel of the World" contest in 1992 and went on to model for Ralph Lauren, Versace, Chanel, and Giorgio Armani, and appeared on the covers of Elle, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and Vogue.
Acting Resume: Battlestar Galactica (2004-09), Burn Notice (2007-09), The Firm (2012)

You kids have it so good. For people who grew up in the '70s, Cylons were dorky, shiny robots, not supermodel contest winners. Let this be a lesson to you.

Acting Skills: 9 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She signed with Elite Modeling Agency in Los Angeles at 17, and three years lated notched her first cover for Vogue. She was contracted by Maybelline for a time and appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue twice.
Acting Resume: The Aviator (2004), Van Helsing (2004), The Gravedancers (2005)

Her acting career is on hiatus, which is just as well, because it was kind of going nowhere.

Acting Skills: 3 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She's a Cover Girl model who did popular Old Navy commercials and five Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues
Acting Resume: Las Vegas (2003-2008), Starsky & Hutch (2004), The Benchwarmers (2008)

She was on all 106 episodes of Las Vegas in its five-year run -- for a model turned actress, that sure is a lot of actressing.

Acting Skills: 8 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She owned the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue from 1986 to 1988.
Acting Resume: Sirens (1993), If Lucy Fell (1996), Batman & Robin (1997)

She came out of the gates playing an almost-always naked model in Sirens, and it remains her most watchable film to date.

Acting Skills: 2 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was signed by Ford Modeling Agency in 1977 and worked for a time as a model in Europe.
Acting Resume: Basic Instinct (1992), Casino (1995), The Muse (1999)

Some jealous contemporaries might say that Sharon became undeservedly famous for the cheap stunt of showing her vagina in Basic Instinct. As if expensive stunts are somehow superior.

Acting Skills: 10 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She modeled for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Victoria's Secret, bebe, and Miller Lite.
Acting Resume: X-Men (2000), Femme Fatale (2002), X2 (2003)

The X-Men didn't have the brand recognition of the Avengers, Spider Man or Fantastic Four -- thus it was a shrewd choice to include a supermodel wearing a body-paint "costume". No, Joe Six-pack, you haven't heard of Cyclops or Magneto, but check out the rack on Mystique!

Acting Skills: 8 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: The winner of Page 3 Idol, Keeley became the most popular topless model in the UK.
Acting Resume: Cashback (2006), Venus & the Sun (2010)

Keeley stopped topless modeling several years ago to focus on her acting career. It wasn't exactly a clean break, though, as her first job had her topless in a grocery store and her second found her playing a Page 3 girl. But she's still at it, with three 2011 releases and another three in 2012.

Acting Skills: 3 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was the youngest model to appear on the cover of Vogue, at 14, and made those ads for Calvin Klein that touted an absence of underwear.
Acting Resume: Pretty Baby (1978), The Blue Lagoon (1980), Endless Love (1981), Suddenly Susan (1996-2000), Lipstick Jungle (2008-09)

Brooke Shields has had a strangely segmented career in which she seemed to jump straight from jailbait to former model. There's a whole middle phase that is just missing. We blame Michael Jackson.

Acting Skills: 5 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: After being discovered by Peter Beard in Somalia, Iman worked as high fashion model in magazines and advertising for 14 years; Yves Saint-Laurent called her his "dream woman."
Acting Resume: Out of Africa (1985), No Way Out (1987), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

A classic supermodel: Regal, statuesque, and married to an aging, wrinkly rock star.

Acting Skills: 3 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She modeled for American, Italian, British, Japanese and Korean editions of Vogue and was named 2004 Model of the Year by the British Fashion Awards.
Acting Resume: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

You might not have picked the round-faced and freckly Lily out of a crowd to be the next supermodel, but have a look at her photos in French Playboy before you give your final answer.

Acting Skills: 7 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She has long been a figurehead for Estee Lauder, although since 2005 she has been more focused on modeling her own clothing line
Acting Resume: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Permanent Midnight (1998), Bedazzled (2000)

In addition to acting and modeling, she is a huge advocate for breast cancer research. She does a lot of breast cancer events and just generally serves as a walking display of the importance of breasts for the good of all mankind.

Acting Skills: 8 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was Playboy Playmate of the Year 1994
Acting Resume: Jenny (1997-98), BASEketball (1998), Scary Movie 3 (2003)

When we got to know her as the roughhousing hottie on Singled Out, we knew she had potential -- and when she sucked the chrome off Robert Vaughn's trailer hitch in BASEketball, a star was born.

Acting Skills: 9 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She signed with Elite Model Management in Milan, and modeled for Dolce & Gabbana and French Elle.
Acting Resume: Malena (2000), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Passion of the Christ (2004), Shoot 'Em Up (2007)

Every era needs its Italian sex goddess; we have Monica Bellucci and that's not bad, not bad at all.

Acting Skills: 8 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She appeared in print advertisements for Revlon, Dior and Valentino, and appeared on the cover of Vogue.
Acting Resume: The Woman in Red (1984), Weird Science (1985)

A flimsy Gene Wilder comedy teed her up, and a classic John Hughes teen-fest knocked her out of the park -- and for that one moment, Kelly LeBrock was the hottest woman in movies.

Acting Skills: 4 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She won Sports Illustrated's first "Fresh Face" competition, and also modeled in Suzuki Forenza and T-Mobile commercials
Acting Resume: Click! (2006), Californication (2007-08)

Even if all you know is her three appearances as "Surfer Girl" in Californication, you know this much: The girl can act the shit out of a bikini top.

Acting Skills: 5 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was a cover model for Glamour, Vogue, and Brides in the late '60s and early '70s.
Acting Resume: The Last Picture Show (1971), Taxi Driver (1974), Moonlighting (1985-89), Cybill (1995-98)

Shepherd might be the greatest example of a top fashion model achieving success and longevity in the movies and TV. In her prime she was, quite literally, on some magazine cover every month; twenty years later she was taking prime time sexual tension to new levels opposite Bruce Willis in Moonlighting.

Acting Skills: 9 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was Miss America 1984.
Acting Resume: Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991), Soul Food (1997), Ugly Betty (2006-10), Desperate Housewives (2010-12)

Vanessa will always be remembered as the Miss America winner who got screwed over by an ex-boyfriend who had unauthorized nude photos -- and yet, look where she is today. In America, as long as you're really, really beautiful (she sings pretty good too) people will forgive you and put you in movies.

Acting Skills: 10 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She has appeared on many magazine covers, hosted House of Style, and was selected as the first ever winner of Vogue/VH1's Model of the Year Award. She's also the spokesperson for Chanel's Coco fragrance.
Acting Resume: In & Out (1997), Vanilla Sky (2001), Melinda and Melinda (2004)

Her acting career seems to have stalled, and she never really stopped modeling. Look for her to rank high on our next list: Models-turned-Actresses-turned-Models.

Acting Skills: 5 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She got her break doing a Pepsi commercial, and modeled for Longines watches, Coca-Cola, Lakmé Cosmetics, Casio pager, Philips, Palmolive, Lux, and Fuji films.
Acting Resume: Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Taal (1999), Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000), Devdas (2002)

Apparently she is actually a very good actress, seeing as she won some of India's most prestigious Best Actress-type awards. That's a nice bonus given that she was considered for a long time to be the most beautiful woman in the world.

Acting Skills: 10 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: One of the generation of six supermodels of the late '80s and early '90s; first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue.
Acting Resume: Cool as Ice (1991), New York Undercover (1995), Girl 6 (1996), Prisoner of Love (1999)

In truth, she knew better than to try too hard at the acting thing. If only she had known better than to assault her subordinates.

Acting Skills: 1 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She famously modeled for Guess, among other labels, and is said to have appeared on over 700 magazine covers
Acting Resume: Black & White (1999), Desperate but Not Serious (2000), Love, Actually (2003)

When she showed up unexpectedly in Love, Actually, we felt it in our fingers. We felt it in our toes.

Acting Skills: 4 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch, Guess?, and L'Oreal.
Acting Resume: The Inside (2005), Alias (2005-06), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

Had the show not been canceled, Rachel would have taken over from Jennifer Garner as the protagonist on Alias, which would have been awesome. Perhaps that would have saved us from having to watch a dumb G.I. Joe movie just to see Rachel kick ass.

Acting Skills: 7 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She held the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue from 1979 to 1981.
Acting Resume: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

This might be the best strategy for a smoking hot model with questionable acting ability: One role -- one unforgettable role in a comedy destined to be watched for decades to come -- and goodbye.

Acting Skills: 1 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She appeared on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Harper's Bazaar, and in print advertisements for Banana Republic, Donna Karan, and Versace.
Acting Resume: The Fifth Element (1997), Zoolander (2001), Resident Evil (2002), The Fourth Kind (2009)

Remember what you were thinking as you watched her bounce around The Fifth Element in a red wig and some Ace bandages? Wow, this girl can act!

Acting Skills: 9 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was signed by the Elite Modeling Agency in her mid-teens and spent several years traveling the globe as a model.
Acting Resume: The Mask (1994), There's Something About Mary (1998), Being John Malkovich (1999), Charlie's Angels (2000), Bad Teacher (2011)

Cameron is the kind of super-hot girl who'll do things the others won't. Like apply Ben Stiller's man-made hair gel in There's Something About Mary.

Acting Skills: 10 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She modeled for Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Acting Resume: Beowulf (1999), The Mummy (1999), Almighty Thor (2011)

Her credits would be more impressive if Beowulf and Thor weren't straight-to-video namesakes of more successful movies.

Acting Skills: 4 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She posed for Playboy numerous times, although she never was a Playmate
Acting Resume: Good Burger (1997), Scary Movie (2000), Meet the Spartans (2008)

Carmen is best known as a staple of spoof movies (Scary Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans) -- hey, who ever said mindless fun and bodacious hotties have to be mutually exclusive?

Acting Skills: 8 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She's the reigning supermodel of our time, having grabbed hold of the title in the late '90s and not yet been usurped. She's been on the cover of just about everything -- Vogue, W, Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, Allure, you name it. She signed a $25 million record-breaking contract with Victoria's Secret in 2000, and may become the world's first billionaire supermodel.
Acting Resume: Taxi (2004), The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

We don't know whose awful idea it was to make Taxi, starring Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah, but someone connected with that debacle gets a smidgen of credit for putting Gisele on screen. With actual lines. And a gun.

Acting Skills: 6 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was Playboy Playmate of the Month for April 1997.
Acting Resume: She's been on General Hospital for nine years (2003-2012) and is about to notch her 1,000th episode.

A thousand episodes of General Hospital! Wow, that's really an achievement. It's been 15 years and, as they say, you've come a long way, baby. But thanks to Google Image Search we're never more than a few clicks away from April 1997.

Acting Skills: 10 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She's appeared in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Vogue, and Glamour, and is one the few women on the planet to have been named a Victoria's Secret Angel
Acting Resume: "Runaway" (2010), Hawaii Five-0 (2011), The Game (2012)

Selita's acting career started with a bang, playing flawless Phoenix to Kanye West's Douchebag antihero in the totally pretentious long-form video for "Runaway." Proving once again that Kanye is a genius.

Acting Skills: 5 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: Discovered by Glamour while in college in New York, she became a top fashion model of the '70s and was signed with Wilhelmina Models.
Acting Resume: The Way We Were (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Moonraker (1979), Dallas (1982-83)

She acted in several successful movies, but when the world falls in love with you as Dr. Holly Goodhead, you tend to stay Dr. Holly Goodhead. Bond Girls are forever.

Acting Skills: 7 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was February 1990 Playboy Playmate of the month.
Acting Resume: Barb Wire (1996), Baywatch (1992-97), V.I.P. (1998-2002)

She is the stereotypical dumb blonde who can't act. She'll never last in this business...

Acting Skills: 3 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She appeared on the covers of Vogue, Essence, and Elle, won an exclusive contract with Revlon, and was a favorite model of the designers Azzedine Alaia, Isaac Mizrahi, Karl Lagerfeld, and Todd Oldham.
Acting Resume: Jungle Fever (1991), Malcolm X (1992), Holy Man (1998)

At 47, is her acting career over? it's been five years since she did a movie, and she seems to have her hands full as a single mom of two (ages 6 and 10). Someone get her some help.

Acting Skills: 4 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Glamour and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (twice); American Photo called her the model of the 1980s.
Acting Resume: Her Alibi (1989), Arizona Dream (1993)

Her biggest film was Her Alibi, and her performance in it earned a Golden Raspberry nomination -- that's not good.

Acting Skills: 1 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She is currently queen of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Acting Resume: Tower Heist (2011), The Three Stooges (2012)

Not to simplify, but when you're as flat-out gorgeous as Kate, you can probably do what you want. If she told the Knicks she wanted to play point guard, they'd be like, "Well, ok, we'll give you a shot."

Acting Skills: 3 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was a runway model for Chanel, Isaac Mizrahi, Anna Sui, Sonia Rykiel, Todd Oldham, Christian Lacroix, Christian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein, Badgley Mischka, Marina Spadafora, Michael Kors, Perry Ellis, Gemma Kahng, Valentino, Nicole Miller, and Fendi, and was the first black model to appear on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Acting Resume: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1993), Higher Learning (1995), Love & Basketball (2000), Coyote Ugly (2000)

Tyra the actress died, choked to death, perhaps, by Tyra the brand. Tyra launched America's Next Top Model in 2003 and the Tyra Banks Show in 2005; ever since, her movie appearances have strictly been cameos as herself.

Acting Skills: 2 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She has modeled for The Gap and Victoria's Secret, and has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Glamour, FHM, and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Acting Resume: Just Go With It (2011), Battleship (2012), What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)

She's got three movies in the can, but just one of them has screened for audiences, and people noticed. She got the Teen Choice Award for "Breakout Female" in a movie, which is good news, but she was also nominated for the Golden Raspberry for Worst Screen Couple, a nomination she shared with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Tell you what, though, she deserved an award of some kind for the slow-motion, jiggly bikini walk in the commercial for Just Go With It that aired during the Super Bowl. We're not sure what to expect with the boardgame-into-movie she has opening this weekend, but we don't expect she'll sink your battleship.

Acting Skills: 6 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She's done campaigns for CoverGirl, Chloé, Jean Paul Gaultier and Gap, and appeared in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Acting Resume: Big Momma's House 2 (2006)

Her acting resume is skimpy at best, but fortunately, so was her wardrobe: For her brief scene in Big Momma's House 2, she played "Bra Model." Nailed it!

Acting Skills: 3 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She was a mainstay of Vogue, Victoria's Secret and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in the late '80s and early '90s, and did Playboy twice.
Acting Resume: Pollock (2000), videos for Guns 'n Roses singles "Don't Cry" and "November Rain"

How psyched was 72-year-old Helen Frankenthaler, famed abstract expressionist painter of the New York School, when she found out a Victoria's Secret model would be playing her in the movies? Winning!

Acting Skills: 2 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She appeared in advertisements for Wrigley's Chewing Gum, Škoda, Vodafone India, Airtel, and DeBeers in India; she was also a runway model and magazine cover girl.
Acting Resume: Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Her very first movie role made her an international star and budding sex symbol. What's next? Well, we're still waiting. We give her a pass on Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Acting Skills: 9 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She has modeled for Victoria's Secret, Burberry, Agent Provocateur and Miss Sixty. She got her first British Vogue cover in 2008, and officially became a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2009.
Acting Resume: Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2010)

RHW was tossed into the frying pan of Hollywood when it was announced she would be taking over Megan Fox's role in the third Transformers film. Her performance was panned, but the film wasn't exactly a Best Picture contender either.

Acting Skills: 1 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She appeared on at least 400 magazine covers and was perhaps the super-est supermodel of the late '80s and early '90s.
Acting Resume: Fair Game (1995), Third Rock from the Sun (1998), The Simian Line (1999)

Her acting career has been sparse, but it's Cindy Crawford -- at the height of her powers, her every hiccup and sneeze was sexy.

Acting Skills: 2 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She appeared on the covers of French Vogue and Elle; and modeled for Triumph lingerie, Lejaby lingerie, Bebe, Clarins, and Helena Rubinstein.
Acting Resume: Hitman (2007), The Quantum of Solace (2008)

The revelation of a new Bond Girl is always a big deal, and when that girl turns out to be a model who's done a bit of nude work and some sexy scenes in Hitman, well, it's positively epic. Kurylenko went from who's she? to that girl overnight.

Acting Skills: 6 out of 10

Modeling Credentials: She modeled between the end of her pageant career (1986, Miss USA runner-up) and the start of her acting career (1989, TV series Living Dolls).
Acting Resume: Jungle Fever (1991), Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999), X-Men (2000), Monster's Ball (2001), Gothika (2003)

She's one of the greatest and sexiest actresses of our time -- and yeah, she modeled. She didn't model her way to that Oscar. (She may have sex-scened her way to it, but is that really so bad?)

Acting Skills: 10 out of 10