Age: 23

Height: 5'9"

Status: Has a fashion designer girlfriend.

Residence: A beach house in Los Angeles

Breakthrough role: A bisexual college student in The Rules of Attraction

Background: The Louisiana native is used to being in pictures -- he started modeling at age 10 so he could buy himself a bicycle and fishing gear. Posing for the likes of Guess, Versace and Gucci gave him, he says, "a lot of knowledge about the world, women, the making and losing of money." Somerhalder's newfound celebrity recently landed him a surprise kiss from a female fan who jumped in his car while he was stuck in traffic. "It freaked me out," he says. "I'm still anonymous to most people."

Winning ways: "Even though his face is flawless, he's not arrogant at all; he's sweet," says Rules costar Shannyn Sossamon. The film's director Roger Avary adds, "Ian's so photogenic, I could drop a camera on the ground and still get him in a perfect shot."