Top 10 Nerdy Characters Who Are HOT In Real Life

What better way to kick things off than with a character from a show that’s entirely devoted to nerds? Starting off as one of Penny’s The Cheesecake Factory colleagues, Bernadette is actually a career microbiologist with more than enough smarts to back up her nerd cred. On TV, the cardigans and big glasses she wears downplay her natural beauty. But in real life, Melissa is super-hot, with her memorable Maxim photoshoot more than proving that. Unfortunately for you dreamers out there, Bernadette is already taken! On the show, she and fellow nerd Howard are happily married with a child, and in the real world she is also married. Oh, and don’t worry: that voice? It’s fake.

Played by Emily Deschanel, Temperance Brennan is a very talented forensic anthropologist, whose work involves identifying victims’ bones at crime scenes and working with the FBI to help solve cases. Based on the fact that she has not one, not two, but THREE doctorates, she deserves her title of “Doctor.” Of course, her social skills do leave a bit to be desired… Even so, aside from being one of the top anthropologists in the country, Dr. Brennan is also a real beauty. And the fact that she doesn’t seem to realize it makes her even sexier! Like her character, Ms. Deschanel is also drop-dead gorgeous, but fortunately for her fans in the real world, she’s not afraid to show it off.

At the beginning of the series, Willow was a shy, mousy character; she was a little studious girl who helped her friend Buffy slay vampires. However, as the show progressed, Willow came into her own, becoming more assertive, and ending up one of the strongest and sexiest witches on the show. But hey, it doesn’t hurt when you have Alyson Hannigan’s looks. The famous redhead has long since held a place in the hearts of geeks everywhere. Looking at her these days, we have to assume she’s found the fountain of youth, because Hannigan is every bit the beauty today that she was in the ‘90s.

Actress Ariel Winter was 11-years-old when “Modern Family” aired its first episode in 2009, so we have to assume she was hired for her acting skills and not her looks. But since then, this high-strung TV overachiever has transformed from a nerdy duckling into a beautiful swan. The character of Alex is the intelligent middle child of the Dunphy clan, who couldn’t care less about her looks. However, as she’s grown up, Ariel Winter has become incredibly beautiful and seemingly comfortable in her own skin. With her high IQ and a body you can only dream of having, Alex Dunphy has everything going for her.

#6: Rachel Berry “Glee” (2009-15)

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On “Glee,” pretty much all the members of New Directions are victims of bullying at one point or another. But Rachel, who’s often called a nerd and a perfectionist, is probably the biggest victim of them all. But we gotta say, don’t you think the students at William McKinley High have bad taste? Rachel is played by the stunning Lea Michele, who’s already quite sexy to begin with. But beyond that, Rachel is also, clearly, an up-and-coming star with the ambition necessary to make it big on Broadway someday… Just like Lea Michele! Whether she’s onscreen as Rachel or off-screen as Lea, nobody doubts her success – or her sexiness.

Okay, so the animated Velma is basically the definition of a nerd: with her coke-bottle glasses and chunky orange turtlenecks, let’s just say that Ms. Dinkley is not really what we’d call “sexy.” But, put those Mary Janes, knee socks and that short skirt on a live-action Linda Cardellini and it’s a whole other story. Cardellini made us discover a whole different side of this character. Unlike Daphne, Velma is far from a bimbo, and it’s usually thanks to her that the Mystery Inc. Gang is able to carry out its investigations. So, if brilliant women are your thing, Velma Dinkley’s the one for you! And it’s all thanks to Linda Cardellini’s natural sex appeal.

We’ve all seen this trope before: obviously pretty girl who’s disguised as a nerd gets made over and is suddenly so beautiful, the school hunk can’t help but fall for her. Well, in “She’s All That,” Rachel Leigh Cook is that nerd, Laney, and Freddy Prinze Jr. is the hunk, Zack. Well, Zack is tasked with transforming Laney into Prom Queen material. It’s an interesting challenge, but it would’ve been much harder had he chosen anyone but Laney Boggs! Granted, she’s an introverted artist, but since she’s played by Rachel Leigh Cook, she’s automatically the sexiest girl on campus. She stole audiences’ hearts right from the beginning, and the ending is just the cherry on top!

This particular casting choice is a bit unrealistic. Do you really think anyone as naturally beautiful as Amanda Seyfried has ever been described as a “plain Jane” IRL? But that’s exactly the part she’s playing here. Anita, or “Needy” as she’s commonly known, is an intellectual who lives in the shadow of the most popular girl in school. And while Megan Fox may play the sexy cheerleading succubus, Amanda Seyfried definitely puts up a pretty fight, making us question which of the two is – in fact – sexier. Seyfried actually said she was glad she wasn’t the lead in this film so she didn’t have to worry about looking hot. But it turns out; she didn’t have to worry either way!

#2: Hermione Granger “Harry Potter” franchise (2001-10)

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Although Hermione Granger is the brightest witch in her class, she didn’t even have to use her magic wand to enchant you! Now, admit it: you didn’t expect this little first year with the unruly hair to become such a sexy witch as she moved through the years at Hogwarts. But, when Hermione donned that pink gown for the Yule Ball in “Goblet of Fire,” her fellow students’ weren’t the only heads turning. Overnight, Hermione – and, in turn, Emma Watson – charmed an entire generation of moviegoers with her grace and beauty. And since then, Watson’s kept it up onscreen and off, both as a stunningly beautiful actress and as a fierce advocate for gender equality. Before revealing our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Wendy Watson “The Middleman” (2008) - Liz Lemon “30 Rock” (2006-13) - Jess Day “New Girl” (2011-)

Perky? Check. Tightly wound? Double check. Nerdy? Check and mate. The youngest member of the Study Group, and easily the most ambitious when it comes to school, Annie is also cheerful and innocent. She’s also got all the hallmarks of a tried-and-true nerd. But every so often, the character gets to unexpectedly show off her sexy side – and fans of the lovely Alison Brie can’t get enough. In fact, Brie is perfect for the part: able to play an energetic and slightly uptight girl to perfection, Brie becomes the girl who’s first in her class and always ready for more homework. However, when she lets loose, she becomes extremely hot, which is why Annie Edison deserves the top spot on this list! Do you agree with our list? Did we forget any other nerdy beauties? For more geeky but sexy top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.