Well, he is less ridiculously pretty than he was when he was younger. Which makes him more attractive to me rather than less, but maybe I'm an outlier.

I think he'll age pretty well, rather like Ben Browder, I think. Who's another absurdly talented and ridiculously good-looking actor who isn't getting enough good work. ::shrugs::

I don't know if it's an actual preference or making the best of circumstances, but Ackles seems to go for the odd indie film, something where he can wear a banana suit (he did wear the banana suit, right?) or a blue mohawk and tats and disappear into a character.

He is pretty, and he knows it, but I keep hearing he trades on it as much as his people make him, but he himself wants to do things he perceives as fun and/or challenging.

I see JP going for blockbuster status, action hero, big box office movies. He seems a much more aiming for the mainstream actor than JA. I don't know if Ackles would be all that pleased to find himself carrying a top ten film. He seems to evade notice whenever he can. He enjoys the day-to-day of making movies and tv, he cultivates familial spirit among the crew. For all his obvious talent, I see him happily disappearing behind the camera before he tries for superstar status.

I think JP would eat it up with a spoon and ask for seconds.

...These impressions are based purely on interviews, observations and comments by people who have worked with each of them over the years, and have no basis in actual fact or knowledge.

Well, he is less ridiculously pretty than he was when he was younger. Which makes him more attractive to me rather than less, but maybe I'm an outlier.

No, I'm with you there. Younger Jensen was way *too* pretty for me. I think he's going to wear age really well.

Even so, I do think it maybe limits some of the roles he's put up for. I'd like to see him do something where he really has to get gritty -- a Western or something else period, like a miner in the 30s or something -- to minimize that.

For no good reason other than my gut, his shyness when it comes to fans, and his interest in the tech aspects of filmmaking, I can see him being one of those guys who takes his experience and contacts and heads into directing one day.

Hey, x-posty goodness with Bev! But no, he didn't wear the banana suit. He was just one of the guys in the Jeep.

Well, he is less ridiculously pretty than he was when he was younger. Which makes him more attractive to me rather than less, but maybe I'm an outlier.

Hell yes, he's much more attractive now than when he was a blushing twink - but the bone structure and the eyes are going to assure that this guy retains the insane levels of pretty along with the deep blokey voice and all that hot grownup stuff. I could go on about the hottitude of the juxtaposition of feminine and masculine, but I think I already wrote ESSAYS on that subject in the glory days of Smallville season 1. Suffice it to say JA - a nummy treat. But, far more to the point, a mighty yay for the acting skills. And I agree with all the things y'all said about the acting/film-making process.

I think it was Plei, and probably Nutty, who either came up with or applied the term "Uncanny Valley" to Dark Angel and earlier era Jensen, and it's true. He does get more human as he gets older, and the imperfections that weren't noticeable (the crooked nose, the obvious size difference and slight cast in his eyes) when he was younger are more noticeable now. They give him character that enhances, rather than detracts from, his attractiveness. Still gorgeous, more human.

I've always thought Ackles has much the same sort of physicality and facial expression in his acting as Browder.

Jared, on the other hand, has gone from tall and cuddly to tall and whoa, mama. Add his stature and the build he's crafted to his public personality and megawatt smile, and you have a completely different type.

Whoa, mama is right. I almost wish he would tone down the buff just a bit, but he is lovely eye candy nevertheless. I've no doubt if I saw him on the street, I would ogle longingly and make an ass of myself.

From what I've seen of YouTube con appearances, JP seems to be the more playful and gregarious of the two, while JA seems more pensive and quiet. Does JA like the con thing?

He really doesn't.

From most accounts, and from video on You Tube, he's charming, he's kind, he's funny. But he seems much more spontaneous and at ease when he and Jared are onstage together. When he's facing the crowd alone, he's noticeably quieter and more earnest in answering questions. From his background, it seems he was raised with "manners," and those are clearly on display when he's in public.

Appearances are part of his job and he does them, but he's had some stalkery things happen, and he's leary of the public, not without cause. Plus, I think he's much more reserved with people outside his known circle of friends and acquaintances.

I mentioned "kind" before. A fan at LA ComicCon last year reported she stood in line to get Jensen's autograph and, as he does, he asked her name. She was unable to respond, as she had laryngitis. Rushed through, as the lines are at those things, she didn't have time to explain, but when she mouthed "thank you" when he signed her picture, he signed "You're welcome" back to her. He always repeats the name of the person he's meeting, and meets their eyes. It makes them feel like he's really connecting with them, and who knows? Maybe the connection helps keep him from feeling so much like a product on display.

I do know that not all actors or celebrities observe those small niceties, so it's always made me think better of Ackles for doing it.

Jared enjoys the attention. I'm sure he gets tired and cranky and there are times he'd rather not meet 'n' greet, but for the most part, he likes being the center of attention. Another fan who has seen him twice at Florida Eyecons said it was a lesson in personality and ability to watch JP control the room, answering sincerely or jokingly as he fielded questions, steering with graceful tact away from loaded subjects and clowning to distract the crowd from pursuing embarrassing subjects any further. Studying him over several con reports and interviews, an impression forms of a nice young man who is career-driven, focused, comfortable in a position of authority, with a healthy degree of vanity and self-confidence.

I'm really interested in where their careers go, once SPN is over and they go their separate ways.

Bless. Just - bless.

(Still pondering whether I would find the All Hell Breaks Loose Con in Australia fun, or would want to run fleeing into the night from the Beatlemania thing. If they had writers and directors and techie people there for panels, that would be one thing - but this does sort of sound like a frenzy of estrogen surrounding 3 pretty actors, and I do find that fairly cringe-inducing. I do not need to have my photo taken with any of them, decorative though they are, and I don't need an autograph either. But then maybe there will be amusing anecdotes and things? Hmm.)

Meanwhile, I am horribly disarmed by both (1) watching Misha Collins doing his little clippy interviewy thing on YouTube about Castiel, and (2) the random discovery that he's a published poet. Bless. Gosh, I hope he doesn't get freaked out by fandom.

After this week's appearance on Nip/Tuck I feel safe that fandom is unlikely to show him anything freakier than his storyline on that show.

After this week's appearance on Nip/Tuck I feel safe that fandom is unlikely to show him anything freakier than his storyline on that show.

Also, wasn't he, like, an intern in the Clinton-era White House or something?

I mean, that's got to set a pretty high standard of freaktastic.