Ian Somerhalder

Biography: This genetically blessed Louisiana native started out as a model for brands such as Versace, Gucci and Calvin Klein. Although he began appearing in print ads at age 10, he took a few years off to be a normal kid before returning to the fashion world in his teens. Despite his success---he was the face of Guess? Jeans for two years running in the late 1990s---Somerhalder longed to be seen as more than a perfect face and took up acting. While appearing as an extra in the movie Black & White (his scene wound up on the cutting-room floor), he was spotted and signed by an agent, and in 2000 he landed a regular role on the short-lived drama Young Americans as a moody prep-school student. After the series' cancellation, he won guest spots, a recurring role as a romantic rival of Clark Kent's on Smallville and big-screen supporting roles, notably his turn as a bisexual college student in The Rules of Attraction. But it wasn't until he got Lost on an island in 2004 that Somerhalder foundThis genetically blessed Louisiana native started out as a model for brands such as Versace, Gucci and Calvin Klein. Although he began appearing in print ads at age 10, he took a few years off to be a normal kid before returning to the fashion world in his teens. Despite his success---he was the face of Guess? Jeans for two years running in the late 1990s---Somerhalder longed to be seen as more than a perfect face and took up acting. While appearing as an extra in the movie Black & White (his scene wound up on the cutting-room floor), he was spotted and signed by an agent, and in 2000 he landed a regular role on the short-lived drama Young Americans as a moody prep-school student. After the series' cancellation, he won guest spots, a recurring role as a romantic rival of Clark Kent's on Smallville and big-screen supporting roles, notably his turn as a bisexual college student in The Rules of Attraction. But it wasn't until he got Lost on an island in 2004 that Somerhalder found stardom, as he played a plane-crash survivor secretly in love with his spoiled brat of a step-sister. Although his character was killed off in the first season, the time-bending nature of the show didn't rule out appearances in future seasons. Film work followed, as well as a racy (and undressed) role on HBO's Tell Me You Love Me. In 2009, Somerhalder once again landed steady series work, playing a not-so-nice vampire on the CW's hit The Vampire Diaries. Off-screen, he is an animal lover and has even filmed PSAs for Louisiana's Humane Society.… Expand