In Defense of Redheads: Flavorpill’s 10 Favorite “Gingers”

Across the pond, debate is raging over a controversial new Christmas card sold by Tesco. No, it isn’t racist or sexist or homophobic. But it does discriminate — against redheaded children. The copy plastered over an image of a carrot-top preschooler reads: “SANTA loves all kids. Even GINGER ones.” Now, we’re not denying that the card company intended to be funny. We just don’t think they should be making jokes that could actually hurt red-headed little kids. They already have to grapple with insanely sun-sensitive skin.

So, as a bottle redhead dating a natural redhead (don’t worry, our hair isn’t the same shade; that would be weird), we feel the need to defend our people. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of our ten favorite gingers. Who’s yours?

Molly Ringwald
Along with her Brat Pack pals, Molly Ringwald helped define ’80s teen culture. In movies like Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club she was — and remains — a style icon.
ringwald

Shaun White
We are not usually big on sports. But for some reason, we find snowboarding fascinating — and White is one of the best in that business. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s also pretty easy on the eyes.
shaun white

Angela Chase
So, she’s actually a TV character and not a real person. And she’s not a natural redhead either. That said, raise your hand if you didn’t want to dye your hair red after watching the pilot episode of My So-Called Life. Exactly what we thought.
1203025941_2342

A.C. Newman
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: New Pornographers frontman (and talented solo artist) A.C. (a.k.a. Carl) Newman is like a big, strong, redheaded indie-rock lumberjack. Plus, he writes weirdo love songs (see “There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve”) that are bound to make a girl weak in the knees.
ac newman

Woody Allen
We admit it: Allen is certainly not the most attractive redhead of the bunch. But he’s undoubtedly one of the best and most important filmmakers of the past half century, and if his anxious sense of humor isn’t sexy, then we don’t know what is.
Woody_Allen

Alyson Hannigan
Those of us who are still nursing Buffy the Vampire Slayer addictions can’t get enough of Hannigan’s endearingly nerdy lesbian witch character, Willow. And yet somehow, over the years, she’s made the transition from teen geek icon to full-on pretty lady.
alyson hannigan

Kevin Shields
The My Bloody Valentine mastermind is taking effing forever to finish his band’s next album. In fact, it’s been about two decades. Still, even if MBV never releases any more new music, Shields produced shoegaze’s defining document, Loveless — a record whose influence can’t be overestimated.
kevin shields

Conan O’Brien
O’Brien has always been self-deprecating about his red hair and gigantic head. But we know more than a few ladies who have fallen hard for his witty, Harvard-educated humor.
conan_o_brien

Neko Case
Okay, you caught us. We just really love the New Pornographers, and sometime member Neko Case’s country-tinged solo work is among our favorite late-night listening material. Back in 2003, Playboy readers voted her the “Sexiest Babe in Indie Rock.” We tend to agree.
Neko-Case

Christina Hendricks
No explanation necessary. Hendricks is without a doubt the sexiest redhead — and may be the sexiest woman, period — alive. (Hear that, Lohan?)
christina hendricks

Bonus video: The Catherine Tate Show, “Ginger”

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Uh, Rita Hayworth? Possibly the most famous red-head of all? That memorable Put The Blame On Mame dance number in Gilda, that famous hair flip at the start of the film, that sexy WW2 pinup picture where she's sitting on a bed in a negligee, no mention of THAT? For shame, Flavorwire, for shame...

FLORENCE and the Machine!

lucille ball seriously...

Rick Astley. C'mooon.

Having moved to the UK later in life, both the anti-gingerism and defensive...gingerness seemed irrational. But, historically, isn't it rooted in anti-Irish sentiment? That made it a little less absurd and more insidious to me...

espn reporter rachel nichols

Eric Stolz, Sideshow Bob, Zach Galifianakis, Lauren Ambrose, Imogen Heap, Pippi Longstocking, Anne of Green Gables.

How about that sensational redhead supermodel, Angie Everhart? Haven't seen much of her this decade, but she is a natural redhead and spectacularly beautiful.

Lauren Ambrose is a good one. I love Julianne Moore, but she tops just about every redhead list you'll ever see. And while I will take any excuse to put Bowie on any list I ever make, I much prefer blue-hair Ziggy.

Uhhh... Has everyone forgotten about Ann Margaret???

where's ginger balls? terry from FoTC???

That would be Murray Hewitt from FOTC... my thoughts, exactly...

What an absolutely useless list! No Ziggy Stardust? No John Lydon? Heck, no Wes Anderson or Julianne Moore.

Julianne Moore must be included. Major oversight

Where's Ginger Spice??

There's tons. Mylene Farmer, Maureen O'Hara, Straight haired Nicole Kidman like in that witch movie (omg), my sister in law is red and my brother is blond and they have an adorable strawberry blond daughter. Eric the Red. Italian Reds are fantastico!

Carrot Top. Who's redder? Joseph Stalin?

Why put bottle redheads on this list? There are enough of us to go around!

Can't believe I didn't make the list! :)

Agreed... any list without Julianne Moore is no list at all.

How, in any rational world, does Alicia Witt not get on this list?

Ahem.

Rupert Grint?

or are we just a bit too old...

hendricks is a natural blonde. but we can dream.

HEY HEY HEY! MS UK HERE! This is not an ad by Tesco. It's just a greeting card that is being sold in a million shops here, inlcuding Tesco. Don't know why people are picking on Tesco. Anyhow... I love gingers especially Christina Applegate who is I believe a ginger if she didn't bleach her hair.

For you older rock fans, how about Bonnie Raitt? She smolders red on her blues numbers.

Incredible carrot topped super model Karen Elson should absolutely shoulder out that old Woody.