Sep
Saturday Salon – Gingers!
Well, it’s official…my next hero is a ginger.
I didn’t plan it that way, but it should come as no surprise to those of you who were here when he got loose in Lady B’s ballroom that he has absolutely no interest in my well-laid plans. Instead, he’s a very tall, very handsome ginger.
I’ve been reading up on redheads since I discovered this about new (still unnamed) hero, and I’m kind of shocked by how much historical weirdness there is out there about people with red hair! So…only 4% of the world’s population is ginger, with the highest percentage of redheads in Scotland (only 2% of people in the US are redheads), but that doesn’t stop redheadedness from having a rich legacy of history, myth and superstition.
For example, in Ancient Rome, a redheaded slave fetched a higher price than all others. The Ancient Greeks dyed their hair red to show courage and in some places in the world, it’s considered good luck to rub a red-haired person’s head. Check out this fabulous fun blog post on Myths and Legends of redheads.
Anyway…I figured that for today’s Saturday Salon, I’d share some of the gingery goodness over which I’ve been drooling these days as I fall rather ridiculously in love with this new, shiny hero. How about a few pictures of handsome gingers?
Paul Bettany – the classic handsome ginger, he also happens to live in my neighborhood with his lovely wife and their darling children. The day I opened the door to our local indie bookstore only to discover that he was on the other side of said door might just be the best day of my life. Don’t tell my husband, as I’m sure I should say that our wedding day or the day we met should be that day. But… it was Paul Bettany!
Michael Fassbender – I only just recently came to appreciate the Fassbender…though I am a huge fan of Inglourious Basterds, I am decidedly not a fan of Edward Rochester…but last week I watched the most recent Jane Eyre, only to discover that I don’t mind Mr. Rochester when played by a tall drink of water like Fassbender…a quick Googling (or perhaps Googling?) revealed the truth! Ginger beard!
Prince Harry – Do I really have to explain this one? He’s the second son. He’s adorable. He’s excellent with flower girls. And puppies.
Other favorites that come to mind …Queen Elizabeth I, Julianne Moore, Conan O’Brien, Lucille Ball, Louis CK and my grandfather …so tell me…who’s your favorite redhead?
Edited to add this fabulous video, which my husband just showed me! It’s hysterical! Watch all the way to the end!
Sep 10, 2011
4:12 am
Damian Lewis. He’s a great actor. Really menacing and nasty in the Forsyte Saga, so rigidly uptight and victorian and so totally different playing an American in Band of Brothers and Life. *yum*
Sep 10, 2011
6:14 pm
oooh…good one, Beebs! He’s got a lovely little smirk, too!
Sep 10, 2011
6:56 pm
WOW & HAWT! Thank you, Sarah! Took a peek at some of the other pics too. *fanning self frantically*
Can’t wait for the next book, loved the numbers series and the rules of a scoundrels series sounds fantastic. Looking forward to reading about Bourne and Penelope.
Sep 11, 2011
7:38 pm
Wow! Am now converted to gingers. Thanks, Beebs and Sarah!
Sep 10, 2011
5:21 am
As I said before, I really am so looking forward to your new book with your mysterious red headed hero. I love red heads and the lore that surrounds them.
David Wenham has pretty strawberry blond hair. Not mention he’s ruggedly handsome. I fell in love with him as Faramir in Lord of the Rings. Also, I’m going to add Nicole Kidman for the females. She has the perfect skin tone to go with her gorgeous fiery mane. I really am jealous of her skin tone though.
And I’m with you on Paul Bettany. He definitely has classic good looks and I love his lean body. 
That’s pretty cool that he lives near you and that he shops at your local indie! Were you able to talk to him? I don’t know what I would do if I met someone I was a fan of. I like to think I would think of something witty to say, but knowing me I would probably just admire from afar, lol.
Sep 10, 2011
6:17 pm
oooh…he’s a GREAT one, Elizabeth! I loved him in 300! (Confession: I love 300. Period. I know. So wrong. But I can’t help myself.)
Paul Bettany in my local indie is my favorite story EVER. No…I didn’t say anything to him. Which is probably best, because I probably would have ended up saying something like, “Hey, did you get to keep that banging’ coat you wore as Chaucer in A Knight’s Tale?”
Sep 10, 2011
6:40 am
I am absolutely in love with Ron Weasley and am completely enamored by Rupert Grint. Favorite redhead, ever. I also adore Damien Lewis, who is so versatile aaand unbelievably sey. Toby Stephens makes me lust after Mr. Rochester like no other (although he dyed his hair in that one). Benedict Cumberbatch is one hell of an actor. There are the ones you mentioned, and Prince Harry, I seem to be reduced to giggles every time I see his smile. And if we’re also mentioning women? Catherine Tate is amazing and Karen Gillan is a goddess.
I love me some redheads! I’m sooo excited for when we get to meet your newest Hero. Very intriguing.
Sep 10, 2011
6:18 pm
Awww…all those Weasley boys are charming and fabulous, right?
Sep 10, 2011
7:19 am
Fred and George Weasley!
Double ginger trouble.
Michael Fassbender is one of my latest crushes. I loved him in X-men First Class and Inglourious Basterds. Also, speaking of period dramas, he was the lead in “After the Funeral” (an Agatha Christie adaptation for BBC I think). He looked the part of a brooding hero. *swoons*
Sep 10, 2011
6:18 pm
I have a ridiculous crush on that Fassbender these days, Antonia. You are always welcome to come sit by me and ogle him.
Sep 10, 2011
7:50 am
I love Paul Bettany in Priest and Legion and Kevin McKidd in Made of Honor and Rome. One of my favorite female redheads is Reba McEntire. She is a wonderful actress and singer.
Sep 10, 2011
6:19 pm
So many great female redheads, Ora, you’re right! Reba is a great one! Here’s to redheads!
Sep 10, 2011
10:41 am
I loved Benedict Cumberbatch in Amazing Grace!
I have to add Eric Stoltz to the list, as well as Julianne Moore. Frances Fisher, Debra Messing, Ewan MacGregor, Conan O’Brian, and Alicia Witt.
And you know? I have yet to see any adaptation of Jane Eyre. I heard good things about the Toby Stephens and Ruth wilson version, but I may have to add the Michael Fassbender’s version to the list too!
Sep 10, 2011
6:22 pm
Ok, two of you have mentioned Benedict Cumberbatch, and I confess, I’d never heard of him! I went to Google and, oh, yes…quite a dish! Love those curls!
I don’t like Rochester at all, honestly, Lisa…but Michael Fassbender makes him tolerable, I’ll say!
Sep 10, 2011
9:10 pm
You *must* watch Sherlock! (BBC) He stars with Martin Freeman. Awesome show.
Sep 11, 2011
7:44 pm
Not only is Ewan McGregor on my list of top ten most delicious men in Hollywood, Lisa, but he also has a fantastic singing voice. Swoon!
Sep 11, 2011
7:47 pm
Sep 10, 2011
11:40 am
I’m not too surprised by the low % numbers for redheads –I was the only one in my family & the only one I knew personally for many years in my youth (& even then only 3 sisters several years behind me in school). My red hair came from dad’s side & I hated it cause it was different when I was young, & happy about it as I got older for the same reason. (Dad was ginger till he grew up and it change to almost black, his sister, who passed away before my time, was suppose to have hair similar in color to mine all her life.) Now that I’m “going blonde” I’m even happier about the red hair (though those who didn’t know before my early 30′s have trouble believing I’m a natural redhead) as I don’t have to worry about dying it to hide the white (mom’s side’s blessing — they go white not grey, downside is they start young), I’m just slowly going blonde while my siblings go salt & pepper
Sep 10, 2011
6:24 pm
Definitely one of the best things about being a redhead! It’s funny how the things that set us apart as kids are always the things we value as adults! Thanks for sharing, gamistress!
Sep 10, 2011
12:14 pm
Daniel Craig! And, Sarah. I have one specially for you. How could we forget Josh Lyman?
Sep 10, 2011
12:40 pm
YES! LOVE LOVE LOVE the West Wing!
Thank you Miranda!
Sep 10, 2011
6:25 pm
OMG! STRAIGHT TO MY HEART!
Miranda, you genius. I never think of Josh as being a ginger (I’m too distracted by his gorgeous brain)…but you’re right! He is! Love!
Sep 10, 2011
12:32 pm
An enthusiastic second for David Wenham! LOTR is filled to the brim with man-candy but he is by far my favorite to ogle. Prince Harry makes me swoon and wish I were 15 years younger.
Red hair runs in my family on both sides but unfortunately passed me over. Two of my uncles (mom’s side) are gingers and my grandmother was as well. My cousin (dad’s side) has THE most glorious thick red hair of which I’ve been jealous since we were children. The most I can claim are the nice reddish highlights that my own locks show in the sunshine.
I cannot wait to meet y our mysterious ginger hero, Sarah! He has intrigued me since our first all-too-brief glipse of him earlier in the ballroom. *flutters fan in front of face in a desperate attempt to cool off*
Sep 10, 2011
6:26 pm
Thanks, Tanya! He’s a bit of a troublemaker…but I am starting to really love him…which is always a nice thing to happen! xoxo
Sep 10, 2011
12:58 pm
I don’t know many gingers myself. I do live under a rock and don’t know who most of the aforementioned people are. I am aware of Prince Harry and all Weasley’s. In my youth I had very dark brown hair (think dark chocolate) with strawberry blonde highlights that were natural. My favorite redhead is an past co-worker. I could picture him as the no named hero in Sara’s upcoming book. He has a name, Reece.
Sep 10, 2011
6:26 pm
oooh. Reece is a GREAT name, Susan! I might steal that one! xoxo
Sep 10, 2011
2:36 pm
Kevin McKidd from “Rome” and “Grey’s Anatomy”!
Sep 10, 2011
6:29 pm
Great choice, Susan…for the class:
Sep 10, 2011
3:47 pm
I have to stick with Prince Harry. He has a wonderful personality to go with that ginger hair and he hasn’t lost much of it. He’s a favorite hands down.
Sep 10, 2011
6:28 pm
What’s not to love about Harry? So much much more interesting than William.
Sep 10, 2011
4:47 pm
I loved The X-Files, so Gillian Anderson was a favorite. Emma Stone is a current fave as is Damien Lewis. I’ve been a fan of his since I saw Band of Brothers.
Sep 10, 2011
6:28 pm
Lots of Damien Lewis fans here today, Jane…you’re not alone! xoxo
Sep 10, 2011
8:20 pm
Like most people here I swoon uncontrollably at the sight of Prince Harry but my hottest ever Ginger award has to go to Simon Wood in Pride and Prejudice. He kept distracting me from Darcy!
Also an interesting ginger fact. Did you know that Rameses II, probably the most successful Pharaoh of ancient Egypt was a ginger?
Sep 14, 2011
6:54 pm
Simon Wood definitely made me a fan of Bingley. I think I was also more interested in him than Darcy in that adaptions of P&P.
Sep 10, 2011
9:25 pm
Oooh, so many gorgeous gingers!
I was totally going to mention Simon Woods as Bingley, but Lucifer’s Lady beat me to it. And I do love me some Weasleys.
And Fassbender… gah, Fassbender (does the man really need a first name?)
James McAvoy is another cutie whose whiskers have decidedly ginger tendencies…
http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/10100000/james-james-mcavoy-10189972-2560-1707.jpg
Sep 10, 2011
9:26 pm
Hah, I think that McAvoy pic was too big for this blog. And quite possibly, too gorgeous.
Let’s try this one…
Sep 10, 2011
9:42 pm
Ooooh, Mr Bingley was lovely !! and Simon’s hair is fantastic in that picture. Ever since high school i have always thought Seth Green was very attractive, even if he is a bit short
Also for a more distinguished ginger may i suggest Tony Curran, Love Love Love him!!(He’s Scottish, i mean who can resist that brogue) Can’t wait to meet the new hero Sarah!!
Sep 10, 2011
10:00 pm
That is a funny Ginger video!
Sep 12, 2011
8:13 am
I always wanted to read about more ginger heroes, so I’m happy to hear about your new hero, Sarah.
Our Prime Minister is a ginger. Redheads in Australian popular culture tend to be made fun of all the time, but she made it quite chic to be one, not that she’s our favourite redhead these days …
Ron Weasley is the best redhead ever (I’m not biased!).
Rupert Grint thanked JK Rowling for making gingers cool at the London premiere a couple of months back, and if he could change the world he said he’d turn everyone ginger – ”a ginger world”.
I have more random Rupert trivia if you need it.