To think that very few celebrities have the 'x factor'

[Bargaincatfood]

not an intellectual thread
Especially not most of those who won the show?! I remember the year 1direction were in it, my friends and I used to watch it before going out. We used to talk about the curly haired one, he wasn't that good looking, wasn't the best singer or the best dancer but my god was he mesmerising. Even my mum commented on him. Now he's the only one out of that insanely popular band with any semblance of a career.
It makes me think how few celebrities there are with that utterly mesmerising, star quality, where they're the only person you pay attention to on stage. It's hard to distinguish this from talent, obviously you pay attention to someone with an amazing voice. But that's not enough on it's own, as poor Leona found out.
I used to think it about Corrine Bailey Rae too, she was just so unique in tone and beautiful, but then she faded into oblivion so i mustn't have been in the majority.

Who has the X factor for you?

Nor me never got the hype about kylie her voice is horrendous!

Apparently Tupac, in person, was mesmerising. I saw an interview with an old rap guy and he said Snoop Dogg could be sitting in the corner and nobody would notice him, but when Tupac walked into the room, even if he walked in quietly and alone, the atmosphere in the room would immediately become electric.

Kylie is fun and has catchy tunes. She is not a 'singer'.
Agree that Adele and Ed Sheeran are nice but dull.
I can't think of any young singer that has any charisma these days.

I often think that about celebrities on the TV, but whenever I've met celebs in real life eg. Social situations or just in passing, they seem to radiate this star quality. It may not transmit over the TV, but in person it's magnetic

Chiwetel Ejiofor has it for me. His performance in 12 years a slave is one I'll never forget.

Freddie Mercury for me too even though we weren't even alive at the same time! Also Mae West, not only is she mesmerising but I love her for saying it's ok for women to enjoy sex too and for her support of gay rights.

Tupac for sure too. Eminem also but in a different way. Kurt Kobain and Dave Grohl definitely. Lady Gaga for me too and Princess Diana.

@HelloDulling

Matthew McConaghey. Absolute star quality. Julia Roberts is the same. When they smile, you can’t help but smile back. For me, anyway.

Yes to Matthew McConaghey, he seems so charismatic and charming.

Not now, but she used to. She's jumped on the LA bandwagon now, insta q&a, Oprah etc.

Tbf I think that's only because she's got an album to promote, I think she'll go back to being quite private once this has died down. She doesn't post everything on social media, she's still quite elusive in that way I think.

@Gohugatree

Lots of the old Hollywood stars certainly seemed to have an aura around them which in unusual these days, the likes of Katherine Hepburn, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe etc.

I think it's because there was a certain 'aura' around them, and no-one was spilling their guts on social media and in the tabloids every five minutes. It's difficult to see someone as an icon if they've just posted a badly spelled IG story about how buff their beach bod is right now.

There ain't no mystery any more, and it's the mystery that's so alluring.

I agree with this.

Johnny Depp, Robert Carlyle and Jonathan Davis (from Korn)

The X Factor as in the TV show always was a cynical pastiche of that kind of star power though. It sort of promised to bestow 'the x factor' (as in charisma, talent) onto participants and deliver them, newly charismatic, onto a waiting audience. But it was all a lie, really. Just a manufactured format to sell advertising revenue on ITV.

Proper charisma is rarer and doesn't happen through TV shows. Harry Styles is a nice lad and has a cool dress sense but he's not especially charismatic or talented, really. He's just talented enough and has been very well marketed.

The only manufactured act that I ever thought managed to find someone with real charisma was Popstars the Rivals, and Sarah Harding. She was an absolute bloody character and I don't think Girls Aloud would have been as big as they ended up being without her.

Charisma is about drawing the attention (and sometimes stealing scenes) on movies/TV -- Annette Bening has it, even when she overdoes it you can't take your eyes off her. Gillian Anderson has it as well. Grace Jones is basically six feet of pure charisma. Tupac, yes definitely. Denzel Washington ditto. And whatever you think of Catherine Zeta Jones as an actor she isn't half charismatic.

Kylie is a far better singer live than you'd expect. (I've seen her live three or four times.) And she can hold a stage. All the glitter and costumes definitely helps but she's got something beyond that for sure.

Dave Grohl? Really? Top musician, but I think he ex-band mate had 10x more “x factor” surely?

The only stars I can think of who have that X factor special thing going on are Jodie Comer and Adam Driver.

It’s the Marilyn Monroe thing, where if they’re in the shot you’re not looking at anyone else.

Don’t think any modern pop stars have this tbh.

Totally. Dave Grohl is a nice guy and a solid musician but doesn't have 'it'. No offence to him but he never would have had the career he's had if it weren't for Kurt Cobain.

Who incidentally had 'it' in spades.
If we are going back to the 90s, another beautiful charismatic musician who left us way too soon was Jeff Buckley. A friend of mine had the pleasure of meeting him backstage at a gig in France and still remembers to this day.

Jon Hamm has this IMO. I'd basically watch anything with him in, I find him so compelling. I'd watch a 3-hour film of him reading the phone book and I'd be gripped

“Totally. Dave Grohl is a nice guy and a solid musician but doesn't have 'it'. No offence to him but he never would have had the career he's had if it weren't for Kurt Cobain.
Who incidentally had 'it' in spades.”

Couldn’t agree more.
The Foo Fighters are just okay.

I was going to say Adam Driver! Before he was Kylo Ren I remember watching Girls and finding him weirdly compelling.
He seems very shy and awkward in real life but he has great screen presence.

Stanley Tucci is very charismatic.

I saw Lenny Kravitz live. He was pretty cool.

I agree with Sharon Stone and Jude Law.
Theres a scene in Casino where SS is at the blackjack table and looks up and smiles and it's the same effect Marilyn had, her whole face lights up.
Jude Law did nothing for me but he was mesmerising in The Talented Mr Ripley.
There's no new music stars that has the same effect as say Elvis or Prince.

@Gohugatree

Stanley Tucci is very charismatic.

And he can make it creepy too. His Caesar Flickerman was creepy, but charismatic and watchable. Like Joel Grey in Cabaret...

Judi Dench
Maggie Smith
Eileen Atkins
Maureen Lipman
Freddie Mercury
All above spellbinding to see performing.

I think that there is also a reliance on a standard of prettiness which has made things more bland. Think Bette Davies or Joan Crawford - can’t imagine either would get a break today.

'Freddie Mercury, Elton John in his prime, Tina turner… I don’t know everyone just seems so blah and dull these days. No personality.' @Confiscatedpopit

You're just showing your age there are plenty of young talented performers. Lady Gaga, Taylor swift. Bruno Mars, Sam Smith, and John Legend have incredible voices and songs.

Sia's voice is mesmerising.
Those are just from the top of my head.

Jack Nicholson has it for me, the eyes and that grin, terrifying!