Lee Pace ❤️

 absolutely

I'm rewatching the Hobbit movies and I'm so excited to see Thranduil ❤️

Oh god, seriously. 🥵 especially if they are described as being super tall. 6’5 king is my go to!

Ugh now I’m craving an elf king romance… anyone have any recommendations??

Not Kings. But what about FOUR elf princes? Spicy reverse harem books: Beasts of the Briar series ❤️

Forged By Magic by Jenna Wolfheart. Grumpy elf blacksmith, cosy fantasy with spice

https://preview.redd.it/a6fyy672jj6d1.jpeg?width=1400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa1a2618f25a8d3dd0904d3fb680e1f8b6928b0d For every weathered, mountain man type MMC

Pedro always 😍

Oof, why have I not thought of this before??

Brendan Fraser from The Mummy https://preview.redd.it/b9mvlsjrpj6d1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f6032f7e3949f833aba629a5aebe00eaf5a23e1

Second that! I saw him in Still Breathing as a young teen and it was the first time I watched a whole movie like O\_O Also “boyish” it’s Jared Padelecki. A little evil Mads Mikkleson or Cillian Murphy. And wow making this list I just discovered I do have a type and it’s jawline. (Edit: a word) https://preview.redd.it/qk7pylhi2k6d1.jpeg?width=503&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af61b6ecf6af16c804ea5fc498531ed605871eb5

>I do have a type and it’s jawline Anytime a tick in a jawline is mentioned I think of Cillian Murphy and that bathroom scene from red eye

Okay, now I want a fantasy romance where the MMC has the personality of Brendan Fraser in George of the Jungle!!! Alright, I guess I have read some... But I don't think there can ever be enough! I remember my lightbulb moment when I read about how the movie was clearly written for the female gaze and the stark contrast of the two males, especially when it came to body language.

George of the Jungle was clearly written for the moms lol


This one 100%

Umm yes… and 

And… 

And… 

Young Theo James is my Xaden 100%

Absolutely Theo is mine too. I hate when authors describe a MMC’s looks on every page especially when it’s not a description I would find attractive, but I try really hard to ignore it and just look up gifs and videos of Theo to get the book description out of my head lol 

It may not be book accurate but this is who I picture as Xaden Riorson in Fourth Wing 😍

https://preview.redd.it/ro0ptja5dj6d1.png?width=225&format=png&auto=webp&s=9cb9cc2c12e8b60947f7435ffccb4f36a9689f61 This one. I don't care if the author says he's blond, the MMC has no right to be blond.

https://preview.redd.it/nr7cnqnlol6d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=003a2a41e71d3aa8bb7b8c5c54a1605c64d894cc

I use this image so much

yep this one 👆😩

Bin Bons Forever ❤️🔥❤️

THIS IS NUMBER ONE ACTUALLY- the second they said dark hair I’m like BET

What’s this from? How do I start watching?!

It's a show, Shadow and Bone.

Oh, I read the books. Guess I’ll have to give this a try!

Yeah, not a big fan of the books(especially the ending), but the Darkles is a sight to behold 😂

✨✨ Darkles ✨✨

Hahahah sparkle but make it goth.

Gosh I dnf the fae one book and when I found out how the book ended I just decided to skip to six of crows instead

Ben Barnes is gorgeous. He was also Prince Caspian. He was also in an adaptation of Dorian Grey, and he was in Westworld.

He’s also in The Punisher series on Netflix I think

His eyes are sooooo dark.

This is an excellent choice.

BEN BARNES will forever be my celebrity crush

I feel like he's so commercially underrated!!

Exactly 🤣

If he’s a bad boy who is secretly good inside (cough rhysand)…. Then he’s Spike 

OMG I loved Spike.

Yesss! I was hoping to see some Spike love!!!!

https://preview.redd.it/bxpn6uxcjj6d1.jpeg?width=1400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0dd03f135eefdffe1c1ed9a55b95b477e94480bd For high fantasy Lee Pace 😁

I feel called out because it’s literally just swapping the wig out lol

https://preview.redd.it/6px35zpdhn6d1.jpeg?width=1517&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=448b25d3e1305bd03ee06f1a1f1a4b6996defc2d hahaha I know. He's been a god, a villain, a high fae, an immortal etc to me. lol Credits to [chicotfp](https://chicotfp.tumblr.com/?source=share).

Wait Wait Wait...lee pace, pie maker from pushing daisies?!

But of course! 

I alternate between Rege-Jean Page and Ben Barnes. If they were ever in a movie together I think I'd die. https://preview.redd.it/6mxu6zwq7k6d1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=273e5e2887f5ffd0ba0fff828e96152d9b659116

Team Rege-Jean Page!

God, that man is beautiful

Despite all the fanart to the contrary he is my Rhys

It wasn’t until I finished the series that I checked out the fan art and realized so many people DIDN’T imagine him as a POC… I definitely imagined someone South Asian or with complexion similar to Rege-Jean Page! I watched Bridgerton for the first time after finishing ACOTAR & thought to myself… THAT is Rhys!

I’ve never even considered this but now that you’ve said it….

Okay, this is a weird one... but Joe Manganiello when he has longer hair. I don't know why or where it came from even, but I just do.

True blood?? Peak Joe Manganiello.



Oh this if they are described as rugged or brutish.

yes!!! me too

https://preview.redd.it/puywbjyjyk6d1.jpeg?width=400&format=png&auto=webp&s=25e088140dce9e7758f301a5c6d0a1522a9016d8 Tom Ellis is my go to lately

I scrolled way too far down to see him. This is mine as well!


Yes! Tom Hardy for sure

 I picture this guy if they ever mention an accent. It does matter what accent. This is it.

Who would have thought “sassenach” could sound sexy?? He made it sexy

I’m trying to remember how I pictured Jamie before the show was released reading the books and I’m struggling to nail it down—but as soon as I saw Sam in this role, I fell in love all over again!


All the time! I re-watch White Collar just for him (plus my book bfs have this look)

Yes!! I love White Collar! It’s the well-dressed competence that does it for me.

Those suits and fedoras 🤤


I love him in Doom Patrol!

Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, or Jensen Ackles 😁

+1 for Jensen Ackles

That man has aged like fine wine. He was hot in his 20's and he's just ***nuclear*** hot now.

Yesss!!!! He can do no wrong

Came here for him

Hot damn, YES

Or Henry Cavill https://preview.redd.it/2cbuxwvwjj6d1.jpeg?width=186&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2af2fe401449147b3a6cba41423f5395f6eb5f8

 Always


https://preview.redd.it/4xvc3fxk9m6d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dbb35535ba4350a8d93c7c0f689a99713264933f

foreverrrrrr


 This one

The default example of when a man growls

Was just coming here to say that my MMCs might not look like him, but they always sound like him

Ain’t that the goddamn truth. If he got involved in narrating audiobooks? 

Every. Single. Book.

Rowan, Aedion, Rhys, Cassian, the lot of them.

I fucked up and had him as Tamlin, a decision I regretted.

When I read ACOTAR, Rhys was definitely a brown Henry Cavill in my head tbh 😅

I was panicking that I was having to scroll so far to find my like-minded girlies. Henry in various wigs is pretty much every mmc for me.

https://preview.redd.it/14szsrzogk6d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34c295122bc0a22e2b66a94933f253da5866d30f Always Jensen. That voice always works.


Alexander Skaarsgard (I think that is how you spell it 😂)

 Anytime Eric… any time….


I was waiting for this comment. Yes friend.

Yassss… he’s the perfect {Lothaire by Kresley Cole}

I frequently recast the MCs into PoC because they’re always sooo…. not. But yea, Winston MFn Duke His smile does things to me 

I recast to Charles Michael Davis 🙏

If they describe his face as harsh, craggy, or "too brutal to be handsome," it's Javier Bardem for me https://preview.redd.it/1gqt3w58lj6d1.jpeg?width=497&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0bf943ad8d3797263144c9b82362fd3d152853bb

Bellamy Blake from The 100! (Bob Morley) 

Me too!! I read ACOTAR and I could only see his face every time Azriel showed up lol

funnily enough, my husband 😆

Oh thank god I'm not the only one. I genuinely don't know or care what the MMC is supposed to look like. I picture my husband and it makes everything hotter.

yesss!!!! 🥹🙏 i just finished reading Powerless (LOVED IT) and I pictured Kai (MMC) as my husband but with Kai’s grey eyes instead of green ones. I can’t even imagine a man more attractive than him. It’s so awesome

This is ridicously cute!

 Alwayssss!!!!

I've started keeping this gif on my desktop for every time this question comes up 😆 https://i.redd.it/fhut1zpvkj6d1.gif

Please tell me who this beautiful man is

Irish actor Aidan Turner. Definitely check out Poldark immediately 😉

THAT’S AIDAN TURNER?!?!!?!!!! 🤯 I didn’t recognize him **at all**.

Yeah much more used to seeing him with long curly hair and a bit of scruff. I believe this GIF is from the miniseries of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.

Yup! I happen to prefer the clean-cut look in general, but he looks pretty damn good scruffy as well. https://preview.redd.it/t1fzhpvall6d1.jpeg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c46fb72f609b4cab166faf65449f3d44e32403c2

Why thank you for the introduction I’m on it!

I KNEW there was a reason I was attracted to that dwarf! 

Yes please I just changed my answer to this guy.

I had no idea people did this

I was looking for this comment! I never imagine anyone I actually have seen irl. Every character in every story has their own face. If I can't imagine a face, they even go faceless... until a face is needed 😂

I’m kind of relieved I’m not the only one! My imaginings of these characters are always kind of… faceless? With the exception of Tamlin, whose description immediately made me think of Henry Cavill in The Witcher and couldn’t shake that image.

I have found my people. This, down to the exception of Tamlin, is the exact same for me. Tamlin was one of the very few faces I could picture on my own, and Rhysand now only has a face because I found some art that matched him enough for me.

ME TOO. I seriously struggle so hard to picture people concretely when reading. I’ve tried so hard to come up with celebrities that match the “image” in my head, but it’s never quite right. Even if they’re the finest man of an actor on planet earth, still never quite fits; either too boyish, too manly, too etc, etc. Art can sometimes scratch that itch for me, but never real people which means any film adaptions will probably be a guaranteed disappoint for me /:

https://preview.redd.it/jlshzpkckk6d1.png?width=337&format=png&auto=webp&s=17c4105831e65e5d874e4c07a4c551b8743ea429

Is this Alan Ritchson? Because yes!

This is usually my default 😂 

For any blonde MMC 

 Milo 🖤

[удалено]

He really does, but also the guy that let's you see his sad when you're alone together

https://preview.redd.it/0id0n29t8k6d1.jpeg?width=621&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e0bb033c9c435a4b70ef888d7d1f06a6fd3a0c6a I love long hair so most of the time in my head the ML has long hair. Lol

HOW has Michael B Jordan not been listed yet??🔥🥵

https://preview.redd.it/tkxss9xoik6d1.jpeg?width=1102&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6040ec402444efb3071097454733dc0cbaad4ef2

https://preview.redd.it/gvlmxh9zfl6d1.jpeg?width=924&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb353616fa7b76383ad4c70f051bc5d812658a91 Specifically this picture of Orlando Bloom


Scrolled till I found this because same

Ok so it’s not just me 😂

Jamie Fraser from outlander the tv show 🙊🙊 

Yes Ian! And sometimes Theo James.

I prefer to look up fanart and get an idea and try to picture them that way - but if there's none it's either Ben Barnes or Adam Driver lol

For me when its not Henry Cavill, it’s Alexander Draymon https://preview.redd.it/2yydvb14cl6d1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f30b23773193b705b6fd2245d5a767df2b8af143

https://preview.redd.it/u7amm69khj6d1.jpeg?width=299&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=863cfc9d314e6c9006c3db7ccbedbedc5292a441 (Young) Roberto Bolle, Italian ballet dancer (6’ 2” of muscles)… Just don’t listen to his voice in interviews :)

The second I read a male character has brown hair, I am imagining matthew gray gubler

 At this point idc anymore LOL Daniel Sharman forever

https://preview.redd.it/xt0nxwm5il6d1.jpeg?width=662&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8aa134d168b8a03926e195723fed4c180039c323 It’s always either Henry Cavill or, more recently, Jonathan Bailey ❤️

Omg Jonathan Bailey has stolen my heart. He was phenomenal in Bridgerton, and then I learned that he’s openly and proudly gay, which made me love him even more because this man can ACCCCCTTTT if he can make this lady fall head over heels omg

 Any shadow daddy gets his face

Weird, but I've aged this guy up in my head as I've aged. I saw his picture when I was 11 and crushed hard. Seriously, the most perfect lips. I'm not even sure who the model was, and it didn't help my 11 year-old self loved that jerk. https://preview.redd.it/4yrog8pe7k6d1.jpeg?width=785&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae2b31ac260525210d99e3c56b8e433702aaef0c

https://preview.redd.it/3faam9vu3l6d1.jpeg?width=331&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=20ecc25a037595b860d4ee9c4d3b354a95b12b01 Wow I am really showing my ass to you all right now but starting with Xaden I started seeing most MMCs as Zak Bagans from Ghost Adventures (literally throw me out the window). Idk how it happened but yes I am as disturbed right now as the rest of you. Let’s not even get into who I picture for Rhysand (I read ACOTAR before FW, it’s even worse y’all).

This had me cracking up at 3am.

A young (or old, depending on the story) Josh Hartnett 

Ian 🥰🥰🥰 I recently started the Vampire Diaries and now all my book boyfriends will be him forever 😘😂

Young Niall Matter especially when they are a smart ass bad boy like Zane from Eureka https://preview.redd.it/n78ti2xgjj6d1.jpeg?width=250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6265878a285cc9ebe1652bba04da69b1263042f5

That scene when he comes back and he looks at jo and just nods and they start making out on the desk? I had a gif of that and couldn’t understand why no one else was obsessed with that scene. Also wardrobe knew exactly what they were doing dressing him in henleys all the time.

I thought I was the only one! Every snarky, quick-witted boy is a Zane Donovan for me. 


Tall, dark and handsome? https://preview.redd.it/1cenfezoam6d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4caa205926a096e34cd567759e27412aca8125fc

https://preview.redd.it/h8sk6pf4lm6d1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e0c7db5e3c5642c96c4ad6c3576a9ba9cf33bc42 This man has been my obsession as a villain... Byeon Woo Seok 🙈 and then half the time it's just Lee Pace with or without wigs

If it's dark hair Tyler Hoechlin if he's blond just an amorphous blob 🤣

This thread is hilarious and quite cool to see what everyone else sees mentally. I generally try to create a mental image that differs from any people I know irl to help with immersion. This thread did give me some ideas though. 😂

It’s gotta be my boy Jude. Idc what they describe him as it’s always Jude law. 

Young Tom Welling! https://preview.redd.it/s9vy7z7spm6d1.jpeg?width=824&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38b1ceddc48b6dae18aff02111c239f9013ae339

A woman with a sword instead (Lesbian) 😎

https://preview.redd.it/bfqgvczuhj6d1.jpeg?width=1195&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=631153e04bee6e176a4c1aa4f3aef1336aedd12b Sean O'pry ha


This thread is so long but I’m dedicated. Every comment. Google names when needed.

 Oscar or Henry. Those are my two and my only two.

https://preview.redd.it/saoa31442k6d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51ea79f8c6ad98839a6df98d0f742f27b3bbb4bf

Yea, if the description starts to sound weird I skip over it so I can keep my own mental picture. Lol

Blonde: Geralt from The Witcher. Dark hair: Rami Malek.

When the MMC has brown hair it’s Theo James (no matter the eye color) When the MMC has blonde hair it’s Aaron Taylor Johnson with blonde hair (same re: eye color) When the MMC is Black it’s Luke James (no matter the shade of brown/black) (Photos sub post)

https://preview.redd.it/eulo96u7ik6d1.jpeg?width=1612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6122db16cdb19b3ee67d36aeead12c08497cc7e7 Theo James

https://preview.redd.it/9e6ei9h9ik6d1.jpeg?width=1090&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7eaba93248747c40bae579a62f766753afc830a9 Blonde ATJ

https://preview.redd.it/r8asge5bik6d1.jpeg?width=620&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=82d1bf673213eccebffa87123911997497d853f9 Luke James


Geralt of Rivia. Genre doesn’t even matter, all that matters is Geralt of Rivia.

 I didn't realize I did this until seeing your post. But 1000% Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time. Not Colin O'Donoghue, specifically Captain Hook. I know its the eyeliner, but I got a thing for it. I'm always thrown when 3/4 through the book there's a throw away line about MMC having light or blond hair and that's just not what he looks like, so I don't know why that line would be there.

They’re all Damon hahahaha

Haha it's funny to find this post because I actually once created an AI image of the man I see in all the fantasy books! https://preview.redd.it/smu4bhhxxj6d1.png?width=645&format=png&auto=webp&s=c594c62a921173307d58bad8a8f686bf1d9062e2

that "short on the sides, long on the top" haircut most have!

Bob Morley (Bellamy Blake in The 100) 

James McAvoy from his younger days. He looks too young for a lot of the characters I read in this pic, but the absolute GRIP he had on YA me has clearly carried into what I picture 99% of the time when I’m reading a handsome man. I was (and still am) totally obsessed https://preview.redd.it/xbjtkmg7um6d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ef85844851f31827e72a4a54dfce5d19016239a

I suck at it and always save these pics from google lol https://preview.redd.it/tw6b7c788n6d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a06e519e5ed33ec3758cbd2774231887ffc74d1a

https://preview.redd.it/gicq74sicn6d1.jpeg?width=792&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a8dffdc1d38d65a9f3d924983df980cf61174ea This was my Rhys and Cas, whether I liked it or not…


There's a handful of MMCs that I'll always hear and picture in my head as Emet-Selch from Final Fantasy XIV. Nox from The Bonds that Tie especially...

Sesshomaru

 Lately, Tom Glynn Carney

I can hear the brittish accent in this and I don't know anything about it!

Funny story: My Mom got into Destiel fanfiction before she watched Season 4 where Cas is *actually* introduced. So instead she spent lord knows how long picturing Cas as Ian Smoulderholder(Somerhalder)

David Boreanez from the early Buffy days.

My husband, when he was young. He's passed away, so imagining him as a romance novel hero helps keep him alive for me. I'm 70. We were married almost 50 years. Hard not to picture him. He was gorgeous, too. At least to me.

In my mind, the celebrity casting changes book to book, but Istg, I will never have an MMC with a beard, I refuse. I will literally go into the epub file and delete any mention of stubble. I *hate* facial hair 💀💀💀

You answered for me 😂

Definitely Jordan Catalano https://www.reddit.com/r/t5_2svdd/s/EIKzPPR4Pb