Phoebe Cates

The cinematic object of desire for many a young man in the early 1980s, Phoebe Cates was a model-turned-actress who gained plenty of attention for her sexually charged roles in films like "Paradise" (1982), "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982) and "Private School" (1983). Her willingness to appear nude on camera made her a favorite of teenaged viewers and devotees of cinematic skin, all of which eventually pigeonholed Cates as wantons. The runaway success of "Gremlins" (1984) moved her into more wholesome roles, but she struggled to find substantive parts in its wake. By the early 1990s, she had abandoned acting altogether to focus on her family with actor Kevin Kline and business opportunities. Her brief film career, however, provided enough memorable moments - albeit somewhat prurient ones - to ensure her a permanent place in the annals of screen sex symbols.