"Colin Firth can thank Katie Couric for helping secure his spot on People's 50 Most Beautiful list. Couric, who was also tapped this year, lobbied for the Bridget Jones Diary hero at her own photo session after he charmed her on Today. He proved her faith well-placed. Graciously greeting all during his April photo shoot at London's historic Syon House, Firth paused upon greeting the photographer, Colin Bell, asking, 'So what excuse did your parents give you for calling you Colin?'  He continued his good-natured ribbing throughout the rainy outdoor shoot. When Bell asked for an umbrella—not for Firth but for the camera—the actor called out, 'Get him some heaters, too!' And even the request to pose barefoot in the 55 ° temperatures didn't raise a hint of complaint from Firth. 'The more uncomfortable it is,' he observed with a laugh, 'the better it looks, I suppose!' "

—Eileen Finan, contributing reporter