Hot Nerd Mancrush #4: Lee Pace
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Frankly, I just wanted to put up a picture of Lee Pace in glasses for my girlfriend. And absolutely not for me!
I am shamed and saddened that Lee Pace wasn’t the first to be on my list of mancrushes, but, then again, that would make it kind of obvious that I have a crush on him, huh? The good thing about this mancrush? You don’t just have to take my word for it this time! Check it out!
If you look up Lee Pace on IMDb and check out the user comments, you see thread after thread inquiring about his sexuality. Personally, I don’t give a shit. Honestly, do I care if the man who played Ned the Piemaker is straight or not? Doesn’t detract from the performance one jot! Amongst these threads, though, I discovered many a straight man (or, at least professed to be straight) who all have crushes on Mr. Pace. I’m uncertain as to why this is. Is it his talent as an actor? I mean, I think Michael Caine is a fine actor, but I don’t have a crush on him. Is it that he’s easy on the eyes? Nope…plenty of better looking actors out there. Is it the diverse, quirky roles he’s played? Ah…now I think we’re on to something.
I, like many people first noticed Lee Pace in Wonderfalls, which I expounded on when talking about Tracie Thoms earlier this week, so I won’t go into the show much more. Lee brought a kind of daffy sense to his part of a questioning, theology major older brother. Though he and Caroline Dhavernas and Amy Finneran look nothing alike, you buy that they’re all siblings. That’s how well they worked together. For his part in Wonderfalls, it was refreshing to see a character mention religion so much without being bogged down in Pro/Con zealotry.
He carries off two guns even with all that mascara! Manly!
After that, I was promised The Fall for some time, and while it took awhile for this magnificent film to make the rounds (indeed, to even get made), it was genuinely worth the years long wait. Here, Lee plays the part of an injured actor who weaves himself into a story he tells a little girl. While you despair for the reality of the movie, you await the fantastic parts of it with aplomb. Or, at least, I did. I’ve never wished more that I was in shape so that I could wear a Blue Bandit costume!
So, let’s get to the meat(pie) of it and discuss one of the best, most fanciful shows ever created, Pushing Daisies. Here, along with future hot nerd crushes Kristin Chenoweth and Anna Friel (and not with more than a little help from Chi McBride), Mr. Pace’s character of Ned the Piemaker with the ability to ressurect the dead for one minute, is television that was truly worth watching. When it was cancelled, for the first time, did I ever want to truly weep over the demise of a show. Ned is understated, quietly passionate, fastidious, and a genuinely amazing person in this show about a man with fantastic powers who manages to convince everyone that they’re unique in some way. He also added a bit of melancholy to the part that was much needed in my estimation.
He's so pretty I want to...oh, who am I kidding. I can't stay mad at that face.
Certainly, almost every role he’s played has been amazing. There was Scottie in Soldier’s Girl. There’s that Possession movie he was in with Sarah Michelle Gellar that we may or may not get to see some time in the future. He has a score of films on the horizon. Personally, I can’t wait to see what else he can offer us, what with what he’s done so far being so amazing.
So, as far as hot nerd mancrushes go, this one’s pretty hot. Check him out, and you will in no way be disappointed with ANYTHING he’s done. Trust me!
Posted on November 5th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Where did you find that picture?
Thank you!
Lee Pace is one the greatest actors of this generation. If you didn’t fall in love with him in his TV or independent film roles, then you will in The Fall. He breaks my heart.