It girl

An It girl is a young woman famed for her good looks, but in recent years has come to describe a new up-and-coming young starlet who has recently broken into mainstream cinema. The term was coined after Clara Bow made the film It in 1927, which was a vehicle for her sex-appeal. Consequently, Bow was dubbed the "It girl", "It" being a euphemism for sex-appeal. Bow's film was turned into a musical called The It Girl in 2001, which opened at the York Theatre Company off-Broadway starring Jean Louisa Kelly http://www.ItGirlMusical.com.

List of women widely considered to be the Hollywood "It girl" of their respective years

1990s to present:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• 2005 - Rachel McAdams
• 2004 - Lindsay Lohan
• 2003 - Scarlett Johansson (Indie), Paris Hilton (Hollywood)
• 2002 - Maggie Gyllenhaal (Indie), Keira Knightley (Hollywood)
• 2001 - Kirsten Dunst
• 2000 - Kate Hudson
• 1999 - Angelina Jolie
• 1998 - Brandy Norwood, Gretchen Mol
• 1997 - Jennifer Love Hewitt, Rebecca Gayheart
• 1996 - Natalie Portman, Neve Campbell
• 1994 - Alicia Silverstone
• 1992 - Sandra Bullock
• 1990 - Julia Roberts

1980s and past decades:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• 1989 - Winona Ryder
• 1988 - Uma Thurman
• 1985 - Brigitte Nielsen
• 1984 - Rosanna Arquette
• 1982 - Kim Basinger
• 1979 - Diane Lane
• 1978 - Brooke Shields
• 1976 - Jodie Foster
• 1970 - Ali McGraw
• 1969 - Goldie Hawn
• 1965 - Raquel Welch
• 1962 - Ursula Andress
• 1956 - Brigitte Bardot
• 1950 - Marilyn Monroe
• 1946 - Rita Hayworth
• 1933 - Hedy Lamarr
• 1927 - Clara Bow