Oh, David Cassidy and that hair! His poster, pulled gently from Tiger Beat magazine, was on my wall. I cried when he died, not only for his loss but for that very innocent young girl in her bell bottoms and floral shirt.
Midge Ure, Ultravox, was the first. I was….11? I think it was obligatory at my all girls’ school to have SOMEONE, regardless. I mainly have crushes on types of cheese to be honest.
One of my first crushes was Nigel Havers, too. He was in an adaptation of "A Little Princess" in the mid-80s, and I loved the idea of him rescuing me! (Only got round to watching "Chariots of Fire" a few years ago and his champagne-swilling hurdler revived the ancient crush!).
I also crushed on all the vets in "All Creatures Great and Small" (while my friends all crushed on New Kids on the Block), which meant it was slightly awkward a few years later when I was 15 and met the legendary Robert Hardy!
A Sense Of Guilt! I had forgotten about that and Trevor Eve. I can add Robert Wagner in Hart To Hart to this list, Rupert Graves in Room With A View, Andrew McCarthy in Pretty In Pink and also Bruce Willis in Moonlighting. Also, a birthday cake with the face of Terence Trent Darby is next level, amazing work by your mum.
Oh god it MIGHT have been Fievel Mousekewitz from An American Tail. And then George Michael (better, because human). And then Tom who I sat next to in maths who had brown arms and a ‘step’ haircut and tucked his tie RIGHT in at the top set of buttons. Recently it’s largely women: Camille Cottin, Suranne Jones in Gentleman Jack. I often think crushes aren’t about desiring an Other but about wanting something you lack – a part of the jigsaw puzzle that you believe will make you more fully you, or bring out of the shadows something you have tried to cut off.
Oh my goodness, Melissa, you have absolutely NAILED it. Yes, it’s wanting something you lack! And I think in imagining it, like projection or manifestation, you get nearer to it. Yes, all my adult crushes are women… was thinking of a follow up in this theme. I didn’t include real life crushes here but I love your Tom. Xx
Ha haa! That's so funny. But husband and I have often discussed how much easier life would be if we could let others know our feelings by the wagginess of our tail.
One of the many TV companies is repeating the sitcom Just Good Friends..well that's rekindled the teen crush of Paul Nicholas! My husband has fessed up to his teen crush of Jan Francis..ooh and a bit of X files and Mulder as set out in another comment here!
This is so much fun... Aged about 14 I saw an old film of Led Zep at Madison Sq Gdns and thought Jimmy Page c. 1973 was the sexiest thing I'd ever seen.
But he genuinely could still be the sexiest thing ever! (Name drop - I spent the weekend hanging out with his daughter Scarlett in the early 90s, she was a friend of a friend, and we were all deeply intimidated by her deeply cool parentage. She was super sweet.)
David Sylvian from Japan; the cool girl’s alternative to Duran Duran 🙄. Films; I adored the first Batman film with Michael Keaton. It was so stylish and I loved Kim Basinger’s wardrobe. Scully from the X-Files but that may have been because I fancied Mulder. Patricia Hodge; she was fantastic in `Jemima Shore Investigates’ and `Rich Tea and Sympathy’. I so wanted to be so cool, smart mouthed and, again, fab wardrobe. There’s a theme developing here. Oh, and the blond one from the original Dukes of Hazzard and Martin Shaw in the Professionals; the thinking, sensitive one!
A poster on the wall is a portal to a secret world. A crush is the same, a what if that gets you through the day. There's a tenderness to it, especially in the teen years, because it's nearly always unfulfilled but does wonders for one's imagination!
So many weird ones! It all started fairly predictably.... one of Duran Duran, (can't remember which) , possibly preceded by the Bay City Rollers,( I had a 'hand me down' blouse with tarten detailing on it), Harrison Ford, Michael Praed (but only as Robin Hood, not as whoever he was in Dynasty),... then went decidedly off piste with Nick Cotton from Eastenders ('bang out of order!'), and Lord Byron (who has been dead longer than James Stewart!). Wardrobe crush probably Helena Bonham Carter, but can't pull it off these days sadly!
Wonderful post, thank you. Although it made me realise I had very weird crushes. Your Steve Davis reminded me of my Cliff Thorburn which is just ridiculous until I also remember that I had crushes on Magnum and Matt Houston as well - can’t think what they all have in common! 🤣
This is brilliant! Reading the comments makes me think of all the people I crushed on - Robert Redford as the Sundance Kid, Martin Shaw as Doyle in The Professionals - although my sister chose him so I had to pick Bodie! Really we just wanted to be cool...and stay up late to watch it on a Saturday night!! I crushed on Michelle Pfeiffer in Tequila Sunrise even though she shared the screen with Mel Gibson and Kurt Russell, both of which I liked, but it was Michelle's clothes and the way she had such good posture!!! So, I obviously thought I lacked good clothes and posture!!
Oliver Tobias from age 9 when he was Arthur of the Britons. Met him, age 18, when he was in Pirates of Penzance. Wrote to ask for the ribbon he wore in his hair in the production - still have this. Big poster of Adam Ant on my bedroom wall. Once climbed Snowden on an Outward Bound kind of weekend with white stripe across my nose! Val Kilmer in The Saint.
Yes to Dirty Dancing. Crush/obsession - on the movie, and everyone in it. I also adored Fred Astaire when I was a kid, watching his movies. Sadly he was long gone by then, but I refused to believe it. He was right there, dancing, wasn't he? Thank you for this post!
I had posters of the two Davids, Essex and Cassidy but I did it more as it seemed expected of me. My first real crush was Adam Ant - he was just so different! Young Gary Cooper and Cary Grant were high up in my crush register. Then I saw Bladerunner when I was 15 and it was Harrison Ford as Deckard. Oh my...
I’m MUCH older than you, so first Davy Jones from The Monkees, then David Cassidy. Neither no longer with us, sadly.
That makes me feel so much less aged! Davy Jones, David Cassidy and then David Essex for me too.
Oh, David Cassidy and that hair! His poster, pulled gently from Tiger Beat magazine, was on my wall. I cried when he died, not only for his loss but for that very innocent young girl in her bell bottoms and floral shirt.
Midge Ure, Ultravox, was the first. I was….11? I think it was obligatory at my all girls’ school to have SOMEONE, regardless. I mainly have crushes on types of cheese to be honest.
That is hilarious, and what's also funny is that I can completely relate.
One of my first crushes was Nigel Havers, too. He was in an adaptation of "A Little Princess" in the mid-80s, and I loved the idea of him rescuing me! (Only got round to watching "Chariots of Fire" a few years ago and his champagne-swilling hurdler revived the ancient crush!).
I also crushed on all the vets in "All Creatures Great and Small" (while my friends all crushed on New Kids on the Block), which meant it was slightly awkward a few years later when I was 15 and met the legendary Robert Hardy!
Ha haa! Love the vet crushes.
Michael Hutchence, sigh. Now, Marc Ruchmann. Loved this trip down memory lane.
A Sense Of Guilt! I had forgotten about that and Trevor Eve. I can add Robert Wagner in Hart To Hart to this list, Rupert Graves in Room With A View, Andrew McCarthy in Pretty In Pink and also Bruce Willis in Moonlighting. Also, a birthday cake with the face of Terence Trent Darby is next level, amazing work by your mum.
Oh my goodness - yes to Andrew McCarthy in Pink. Also Molly Ringwald in all those movies. (Yes. It was next level! My amazing mum!)
Oh god it MIGHT have been Fievel Mousekewitz from An American Tail. And then George Michael (better, because human). And then Tom who I sat next to in maths who had brown arms and a ‘step’ haircut and tucked his tie RIGHT in at the top set of buttons. Recently it’s largely women: Camille Cottin, Suranne Jones in Gentleman Jack. I often think crushes aren’t about desiring an Other but about wanting something you lack – a part of the jigsaw puzzle that you believe will make you more fully you, or bring out of the shadows something you have tried to cut off.
Oh my goodness, Melissa, you have absolutely NAILED it. Yes, it’s wanting something you lack! And I think in imagining it, like projection or manifestation, you get nearer to it. Yes, all my adult crushes are women… was thinking of a follow up in this theme. I didn’t include real life crushes here but I love your Tom. Xx
Does leave me wondering what Fieval had that I needed (floppy ears?) but perhaps it’s best to leave that lost to the mists of time…
A tail. I would love a tail (small, whippy).
Ha haa! That's so funny. But husband and I have often discussed how much easier life would be if we could let others know our feelings by the wagginess of our tail.
Exactly. Tails so useful. (hooted like a loon at Steve Davis)
(That makes me happy.)
Yes. YES
Ha haa…a cartoon crush though, genius. I bet Jessica Rabbit is on a few lists…
Classic transitional object. And god yes, I bet.
One of the many TV companies is repeating the sitcom Just Good Friends..well that's rekindled the teen crush of Paul Nicholas! My husband has fessed up to his teen crush of Jan Francis..ooh and a bit of X files and Mulder as set out in another comment here!
Paul Nicholas! He was THE man for a while back there - what happened to him?!
Still going I believe...think he's going into west end in Fawlty Towers...*quick Google!
This is so much fun... Aged about 14 I saw an old film of Led Zep at Madison Sq Gdns and thought Jimmy Page c. 1973 was the sexiest thing I'd ever seen.
Slightly worryingly I still do.
But he genuinely could still be the sexiest thing ever! (Name drop - I spent the weekend hanging out with his daughter Scarlett in the early 90s, she was a friend of a friend, and we were all deeply intimidated by her deeply cool parentage. She was super sweet.)
Amazing!!!
I so agree btw about The Charmer... just brilliant....
David Sylvian from Japan; the cool girl’s alternative to Duran Duran 🙄. Films; I adored the first Batman film with Michael Keaton. It was so stylish and I loved Kim Basinger’s wardrobe. Scully from the X-Files but that may have been because I fancied Mulder. Patricia Hodge; she was fantastic in `Jemima Shore Investigates’ and `Rich Tea and Sympathy’. I so wanted to be so cool, smart mouthed and, again, fab wardrobe. There’s a theme developing here. Oh, and the blond one from the original Dukes of Hazzard and Martin Shaw in the Professionals; the thinking, sensitive one!
Yes, wardrobes are eminently crushable!!
A poster on the wall is a portal to a secret world. A crush is the same, a what if that gets you through the day. There's a tenderness to it, especially in the teen years, because it's nearly always unfulfilled but does wonders for one's imagination!
So many weird ones! It all started fairly predictably.... one of Duran Duran, (can't remember which) , possibly preceded by the Bay City Rollers,( I had a 'hand me down' blouse with tarten detailing on it), Harrison Ford, Michael Praed (but only as Robin Hood, not as whoever he was in Dynasty),... then went decidedly off piste with Nick Cotton from Eastenders ('bang out of order!'), and Lord Byron (who has been dead longer than James Stewart!). Wardrobe crush probably Helena Bonham Carter, but can't pull it off these days sadly!
Nick Cotton! I think a few shared that bad boy vibe crush…
Wonderful post, thank you. Although it made me realise I had very weird crushes. Your Steve Davis reminded me of my Cliff Thorburn which is just ridiculous until I also remember that I had crushes on Magnum and Matt Houston as well - can’t think what they all have in common! 🤣
Ha haa! Love it.
This is brilliant! Reading the comments makes me think of all the people I crushed on - Robert Redford as the Sundance Kid, Martin Shaw as Doyle in The Professionals - although my sister chose him so I had to pick Bodie! Really we just wanted to be cool...and stay up late to watch it on a Saturday night!! I crushed on Michelle Pfeiffer in Tequila Sunrise even though she shared the screen with Mel Gibson and Kurt Russell, both of which I liked, but it was Michelle's clothes and the way she had such good posture!!! So, I obviously thought I lacked good clothes and posture!!
Michelle Pfeiffer in Baker Boys was a crush for me! Thank you for the reminder…
Oliver Tobias from age 9 when he was Arthur of the Britons. Met him, age 18, when he was in Pirates of Penzance. Wrote to ask for the ribbon he wore in his hair in the production - still have this. Big poster of Adam Ant on my bedroom wall. Once climbed Snowden on an Outward Bound kind of weekend with white stripe across my nose! Val Kilmer in The Saint.
That ribbon must be a collector’s item!
Yes to Dirty Dancing. Crush/obsession - on the movie, and everyone in it. I also adored Fred Astaire when I was a kid, watching his movies. Sadly he was long gone by then, but I refused to believe it. He was right there, dancing, wasn't he? Thank you for this post!
Fred Astaire was a wonder.. Though my favourite quote is about Ginger Rogers - who did everything Fred did, ‘but backwards and in high heels.’
That is brilliant. And accurate! He never had a more magical partner. I adored her as well - she glowed - but I wanted to marry Fred!
I had posters of the two Davids, Essex and Cassidy but I did it more as it seemed expected of me. My first real crush was Adam Ant - he was just so different! Young Gary Cooper and Cary Grant were high up in my crush register. Then I saw Bladerunner when I was 15 and it was Harrison Ford as Deckard. Oh my...
Harrison Ford! Never one of mine (though I love him in Shrink)… I know he’s a popular choice though…
It's more about the character that he is playing.