Gay Belfast Hunks of the Month for 2009

Andrew Trimble is one of an exciting new breed of Irish rugby hunky talent. He has seen his graph continue to rise in recent seasons with both Ulster and Ireland. A Theology degree student, having previously studied at the Coleraine Institute (were he played drums for local rock band Creche), Trimble is a strong-running centre who was capped initially by Ireland Schools and Under-21s. An injury to Paul Steinmetz (jaw) helped him get his chance in the Ulster midfield in the autumn of 2005 and he has made the most of it, scoring a total of 18 tries in 41 games for the province, including two memorable efforts against Toulouse in last season's Heineken Cup.

Trimble, whose dashing runs bring back memories of 1990s hero Simon Geoghegan, made his senior debut for Ireland against Australia in November 2005, and he scored a brace of tries the following week against Romania. Comfortable on the wing or at centre, he took his Test tally to six tries in 16 outings for Ireland by touching down against Scotland recently. 2006 was Trimble's best year to date as he was crowned Ulster Rugby Player of the Year and also scored Test tries against France, New Zealand and South Africa. In 2007/08 Trimble was part of the Ireland Rugby World Cup squad and featured for Ireland both on the wing and in the centre. He did not take part in the 2008 Summer Tour in order to fully rehab but has been a major force in 2009.

When Asked: Best thing about being a professional rugby player? The craic! Worst thing about being a professional rugby player? Having sore legs all the time.

Ryan Kwanten Gay Belfast Hunk of the Month for November 2009

Hunky Ryan Kwanten(born 28 November 1976 ) is an Australian actor. He played Vinnie Patterson from 1997 to 2004 on Australian soap-opera Home and Away. After his stint ended he joined the teen-oriented US drama, Summerland. Ryan also made an appearance in a Law and Order: SVU episode, in which he portrays a US Marine Corps Master Sergeant who is (falsely) accused of raping and murdering a fellow marine and murdering her unborn baby. However it is as Jason Stackhouse in True Blood that most interests Gay Belfast.

The HBO television series based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries. Ryan has been nominated for a 2009 Scream Award for his role as Jason Stackhouse. Ryan told GQ magazine his naked time has been significantly reduced to close the season. So WHY do we love True Blood? In season one Ryan had sex by a Dumpster, suffered a drug-induced perma-erection, was accused of murdering four women, and got swept up by a religious cult. Oh, and he was naked (at least partially) in eleven of twelve episodes. "I led the way in the sexual-shenanigans department in the first season," says the 32-year-old Australian native. Ryan may play a dim womanizer on-screen, but offscreen he's smart enough to suffer the indignities of his nude scenes with a smile.

While other TV networks are struggling to keep the lights on, True Blood's viewership has doubled, easing HBO out of its post-Sopranos slump and assuring Ryan Kwanten that he'll remain taken care of through the global meltdown.

"I'm a typical Sagittarian, I like having things my own way and I'm a really active type" (Kwanten on his star sign).

"Ewan McGregor. To me he just means cool." (Ryan on who he would like to be for one day).

"One of the grips jokes that he sees me naked more than he does his girlfriend." (source: USA Today)

Ryan is currently shooting a superhero romantic comedy in Sydney titled "Griff the Invisible." Season Two of True Blood follows next year.

Gay Belfast Hunk of the Month for October for Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson is an English actor, model and musician. He is best known for playing Edward Cullen in the film adaptation of Twilight , based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer, and for the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.

Robert was born in London, England. His mother, Clare, worked for a modeling agency, and his father, Richard, imported vintage cars from the U.S. Pattinson has two elder sisters. Young Pattinson attended Tower House School and Harrodian School. He became involved in amateur theatre through the Barnes Theatre Company.

After some backstage experience there, he took on acting roles. He caught the attention of an acting agent in a production of Tess of the D'Urbervilles and began looking for professional roles. Since then he has performed in an amateur version of Macbeth at the Old Sorting Office Arts Centre, as well as trying his hand at modeling. Pattinson plays guitar and piano, and composes his own music. He also appears as the singer of two songs on the Twilight soundtrack: "Never Think" and "Let Me Sign".

Pattinson began his modeling career when he was twelve years old, but it wound down only four years later. He has blamed his lack of work as a model on his masculine appearance. Pattinson explained in December 2008, "When I first started I was quite tall and looked like a girl, so I got lots of jobs, because it was during that period where the androgynous look was cool. Then, I guess, I became too much of a guy, so I never got any more jobs. I had the most unsuccessful modeling career." Pattinson appeared in the advertising campaign for Hackett's Autumn 2007 collection.

Pattinson had supporting roles in the made for television film Ring of the Nibelungs in 2004 and in director Mira Nair’s Vanity Fair, although his scenes in the latter were deleted and only appear on the DVD version.[citation needed] In May 2005, he was slated to appear in the UK premiere of The Woman Before at the Royal Court Theatre, but was fired shortly before the opening night and was replaced by Tom Riley. Later that year he played Cedric Diggory in the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Consequently, he was named that year's British Star of Tomorrow by The Times. He also has more than once been touted as the next Jude Law.

Pattinson played Edward Cullen in the movie Twilight, based on Stephenie Meyer's bestselling novel of the same name, which was released on 21 November 2008 in North America. According to TV Guide, Pattinson was initially apprehensive about auditioning for the role of Edward Cullen, fearful that he wouldn't be able to live up to the "perfection" expected from the character. He will reprise his role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight sequel, New Moon, which began filming in March 2009.

Pattinson also had lead roles in the feature films Little Ashes (in which he plays naked Salvador Dalí), How To Be and the short film The Summer House. In 2010, he will appear in a theatre production for producer David Pugh. He also presented at the 81st Academy Awards on 22 February 2009. Pattinson has admitted to taking a quarter of a Valium to calm his nerves before auditioning for Twilight and to smoking.

He was named one of the "Sexiest Men Alive" in 2008 by People magazine and in 2009 through a poll conducted by Glamour magazine.

Nick Beyeler Gay Belfast Hunk of the Month for September

Nick Beyeler is the ex world gymnastic champion, aerialist and a regular cover boy on magazines such as DNA. He's cleaver too, speaking four languages.

The Swiss national showcasted his talents at the 2008 Olympic Games opening ceremoney in Beijing as part of the Volkswagan Team.

Recently lovely Nick has been touring the world with the renowned Les Far Fadis and Holiday on Ice. In addition to his outstanding sports career, Nick is certified in traditional Thai massage, loves to cook "hotter than hell thai curry dishes" and adding to his gadaget collection.

In the recent DNA magazine interview he was asked about reports that he's bisexual.

But Nick was giving nothing away, "I'm very happy with the way i handle my love life, but with whom i hop under the covers is my own business". Good for him.

Channing Tatum the Gay Belfast Hunk of the Month for August

Channing Tatum is an American actor, producer, former model and full time hunk. He began his career as a fashion model, and has since branched out into acting roles, appearing in such films as Step Up, Fighting, She's The Man, Public Enemies and this months new big budget release GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra. Tatum was athletic while growing up, playing American football, soccer, track, baseball, and performing martial arts, although he says that "girls were always [his] biggest distraction in school" - lucky girls!

Tatum was first cast as a dancer in Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" music video, after an audition in Orlando, Florida; he was paid $400 for the job. His first experience was in the fashion industry as a model, working for such noted clients such as Armani and Abercrombie & Fitch. He soon moved into television commercials, landing national spots for Mountain Dew and Pepsi in 2002.

Tatum has said that his modeling career has helped him with his life, specifying that "It's made my life, and my family's life, a lot easier, because I never knew what I wanted to do and now they don't really have to worry about me anymore. I've been able to explore life, and through exploring it I've found that I love art, I love writing, I love acting, I love all the things that make sense to me. And I've been given the chance to go out and see the world, and to see all the things out there. Not everyone gets that chance".

In 2004, Tatum began his acting career, appearing in an episode of the television series CSI: Miami. His first feature film role was in 2005's high school drama, Coach Carter, playing Jason Lyle, a basketball player opposite Samuel L. Jackson; Tatum also appeared in rapper Twista's "Hope" music video, which accompanied the film. In the same year, Tatum had a role as a factory endorsed top motocross racer in Supercross, and part of the supporting cast in Havoc. Although Tatum has said that he loves modeling, he has taken a break from the profession to concentrate on his acting career, saying that he prefers making more mature films.

In 2006, Tatum starred in Step Up, a dance-themed romance, playing a rebellious hip-hop dancer who must partner with a ballerina who is in training played by Jenna Dewan which opened on August 11, 2006. The film earned a total of $21 million in its opening weekend and $114 million worldwide.

In 2008, Tatum co-starred in the film Stop-Loss, about soldiers returning home from the Iraq War, and in the Battle in Seattle, about the huge 1999 protest of the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle. This year Tatum appeared in the crime drama Public Enemies, playing the ill-fated 1930s American gangster Pretty Boy Floyd. This month we see him in G.I. Joe - The Rise Of Cobra, the live-action film based on the popular action figures - think action man for Americans.

Newly married Channing Tatum takes the August 2009 cover of GQ magazine lookin’ hot hot hot.

Josh Duhamel is an American actor and former fashion model. He first achieved acting success in 1999 as Leo du Pres on ABC's All My Children and later as the chief of security, Danny McCoy, on NBC's Las Vegas. He is also well known for his role as one of the protagonists, Captain William Lennox, in the box office hit Transformers and he is the official pace car driver for the 2009 Indianapolis 500 driving the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Pace Car.

Duhamel was born in Minot, North Dakota, the son of Bonnie, a physical education teacher, and Larry David Duhamel, an advertising salesman. His parents divorced during his youth, and although he remains close to both, he grew up with his mother and his younger sisters Ashlee, Mckenzee and Kassidy. Duhamel attended Minot State University and played quarterback for the university's football team. He planned to attend dental school but dropped out one-and-a-half credits shy of his undergraduate degree.

Duhamel met, and began dating, Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson in September 2004. Ferguson, a singer for the hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas, appeared on Duhamel's show Las Vegas with her band in an episode titled "Montecito Lancers" (which aired on November 1, 2004). The couple wed on January 10, 2009 at the Church Estates Vineyards in Malibu, California. Duhamel and Ferguson reside in Brentwood, California in a house that they purchased together in 2007. In 2005, Duhamel became the co-owner of 10 North Main, a restaurant located in the downtown section of Minot, North Dakota, which features dishes such as elk and pheasant.

Sam Worthington Gay Belfast Hunk of the Month for June

Worthington won a scholarship to the John Curtin School of Performings Arts in Fremantle, and then studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney.

After graduating from NIDA in 1998, Worthington performed in a production of Judas Kiss for Company B at the Belvoir St Theatre. He went on to act in a series of Australian movies and TV series; including a supporting role in Bootmen (2000) and leading roles in Dirty Deeds (2002), Gettin' Square (2003), Somersault (2004) and a modern Australian retelling of Macbeth. Worthington won the 2004 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Lead Actor for his role in Somersault. He is well known in Australia for his role as Howard in the acclaimed Australian TV series Love My Way, where he played the main love interest of the female lead.

Worthington's international film career began with a series of small roles in Hollywood productions such as Hart's War (2002) and The Great Raid (2005), which was filmed in Australia. He was one of several actors who was under consideration to take over the role of James Bond from Pierce Brosnan for the 2006 film Casino Royale. Director Martin Campbell stated that only Worthington and Henry Cavill were in serious contention along with eventual winner Daniel Craig.

In 2007, James Cameron chose Worthington for a leading role in his science fiction thriller Avatar. In 2009 he stared in Terminator Salvation as Marcus Wright the amnesiac cyborg. More Sam Worthington

Luke Pasqualino is a young English actor of Italian descent. He's just received his big break by being cast as dreamy skateboarder Freddie McLair in the new series of hit teen TV show Skins (Series 3). According to his character bio, Freddie has 'bags of potential but no va-va-voom', and is the best friend of new group leader Cook. Will they stay close, or will events force them apart? Skins - Series 3 will tell..

Gay Belfast Hunk of the Month for April for Tommy Bowe

Irish rugby hunk Tommy Bowe was a key figure in the Ireland team that won the 2009 Six Nations Championship and Grand Slam, the first for Ireland in 61 years. He plays on the wing for the Ospreys (after leaving Ulster in 2008) and Ireland.

A former pupil of The Royal School in Armagh, Northern Ireland, he was a Schoolboy provincial full-back, only converting to wing whilst playing for Ireland U-21s. His form both here and at Irish club level prompted a call-up to the Ulster squad at the end of the 2003-2004 season, scoring on his debut against Connacht and soon made his name as an Ulster regular. He became a firm crowd favourite at Ravenhill and won Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year Award at the Ulster Rugby Awards Dinner in May 2005.

Bowe made his international debut against the USA during the 2004 IRB Autumn Internationals becoming the first player from County Monaghan to win an Ireland cap since the 1920s. He marked his introduction to test rugby with a second half try. Bowe won further caps during Ireland's tour to Japan and their Autumn Internationals in 2005. With that experience and an impressive run of form for Ulster in the Celtic League, he made the 22-man panel for Ireland's 2006 Six Nations opener against Italy, and went on to score a try in that game. In the 2009 Six Nations, he has consolidated his Ireland position, with a string of quality performances and tries against Italy and, most memorably, in the Grand Slam winning match against Wales.

Gay Belfast Hunk of the Month for March 2009 is Alex Pettyfer

Alex Pettyfer is an actor and former fashion model. His films include Stormbreaker and Wild Child, you will also see him soon in a horror film called Tormented.

He was born on the 10 April 1990 and is the son of an actor Richard Pettyfer. Alex hits the bigtime young in Stormbreaker, the adaptation of Anthony Horowitz's best-selling novels, playing the teenage spy, Alex Rider. (Horowitz reportedly pushed for him to get the part after seeing him play the title role in ITV's Tom Brown's Schooldays.) The film was released worldwide in 2006. In the film he gets to ride a horse bareback around Hyde Park and act alongside a stellar cast, including Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy and Stephen Fry.

One review of his performance described him as playing the role with an "earnest intensity", although another noted that he "isn't quite at ease as an actor". Media reports specified that the film was expected to make Alex a "teen idol". Pettyfer will not reprise the role if there is another Alex Rider film because he is too old.

He was seen as a model in the Spring/Summer 2008 Burberry advertising campaign, having been signed to Select Model Management. Two years after Stormbreaker, the 18-year old blond bombshell was back in 'the movies', this time as Emma Roberts's lurrrrve interest in chick flick Wild Child.

Tina Turner said we don't need another hero, she obviously had never met Milo Ventimiglia, who plays hotty Peter Petrelli on hit sci-fi series Heroes. Also loved for his roles as Jess on Gilmore Girls, Rocky's son in 2006's Rocky Balboa, the 31-year-old heartthrob reveals why gay fans have always been powerless to resist him, and how he's saving the world -- one shirtless scene at a time. When did you first realize you had gay fans? "It was way before Heroes or Gilmore Girls . I was about 19 or 20 years old. I'd done a short film when I was 18 called Must Be the Music, where I played a gay teenager. I was shopping with my mom and dad one weekend, and these two gay guys came up and said they'd seen the film at a film festival and they just thought I was great. That was actually the very first time I'd ever been recognized for anything. I'm glad that it was my first meeting with a fan, because it wasn't the standard 14-year-old girl chasing me down; it was men who were fans of the work. That was cool."

Did you get any teasing from friends for playing gay? "No, I never did. At the end of the day, I'm playing a part, and there are many parts to play. I would hope that if I'm playing a killer no one would frown upon or tease me for that."

How did you prepare for the role? "I didn't do much preparation; I got the part and dove right in the next week, and we filmed in a club called Arena in Hollywood. I'd always had friends who were gay, straight -- just a huge mix of friends-so I understood the story of what this kid was going through. It was less about him being gay and more about him meeting someone he's interested in."

After Gilmore Girls made you a heartthrob, you played gay again in the 2005 horror film Cursed. Any hesitations about taking that role? "No, I'm just into good characters. I just read a script for a cross-country travel movie about an interesting duo-a man on his way to being transgendered has a friendship with this woman who's escaping a marriage. I had this meeting to play the man who becomes transgendered. It's such an interesting role -- the psychology behind a person who feels trapped in a body they don't think they should've been born into. The producer said to me, "It's very brave of you to consider something like this." And I said, "Why? It's a great role." I tend to lean toward a good role despite any stigma that's possibly attached to it. I mean, fuck, it's 2008. The fact that people are still worried about stuff like that just baffles me."

Ever done drag since? "I have. I did a TV show called Opposite Sex about three guys who go to a formerly all-girls high school just recently made co-ed. At the very end of the pilot I was in full drag singing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". It was an experience. Putting on a halter-top, a Farrah Fawcett wig, and dancing in platforms was tough. I have a lot of respect for the women -- and men -- who dress up and do that."

Was that your gayest moment ever? "Absolutely not. I've definitely had gayer moments than that!"

Former Echo Beach and Where The Heart actor Christian Cooke is January 2009 Gay Belfast Hunk of the Month. Christian is at present fighting supernatural forces of evil in ITV's Demons. Christian Cooke was born on the 15th of September, 1986. Bradford West Yorkshire, England. He was educated at St Mary's School, Menston. Christian Cooke began his acting career early with a role in Bedazzled at the Bingley Arts Centre at the age of 10. Christian Cooke's first television role was as the eponymous lead in the Granada series Wilmot at the age of 12. Christian went on to appear on stage and screen in various productions including Peter Pan at the Alhambra Theatre, Bugsy Malone at the Guisely Theatre, and bit parts in Casualty and Barking before enrolling at Stage 84, the Yorkshire school for perfoming arts and landing his first major role as Luke in the ITV / Granada drama Where the Heart Is. He graduated from Stage 84 in 2000 and won roles in The Royal and George Gently before once again taking a leading role in series two of The Chase and Echo Beach. He appeared in an episode of Robin Hood: The Angel of Death 2007 as Luke Scarlett. His latest role is that of UNIT soldier Ross Jenkins in Doctor Who: The Sontaran Stratagem and The Poison Sky. In June 2008 he started filming the new ITV drama Demons which started on ITV on the 3rd January 2009,opposite Philip Glenister.He plays the character, Luke Van Helsing, who is the last of the Van Helsing line.

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