A strikingly handsome player who proved his versatility with accomplished forays into acting and modeling, Ian Somerhalder possesses the piercing eyes and chiseled features that spell success in the more adult modeling world and the emotional intensity and shy rebellious charm that makes perfect teen heartthrob material on screen. The son of a massage therapist and a building contractor, Somerhalder was born and raised in the small southern town of Covington, LA. Boating, swimming, fishing and training horses filled much of his recreational time growing up, as did the school drama club and performing with the local theater group.A Louisiana native who spent many summers in Manhattan working after he made his modeling debut at age ten, Somerhalder took some time off to enjoy a regular school career, but returned to the business in his mid-teens with extensive print and runway work that took him to Europe as well as NYC.

At age seventeen, he began his acting training, going on to work with William Esper by age nineteen. Around that time he was spotted working as an extra in a crowd scene in the James Toback feature "Black and White" (2000). Intrigued by his unique look, a manager signed him. Somerhalder subsequently made his TV debut on an episode of the acclaimed CBS sci-fi drama "Now and Again" in 1999. The following year he starred on the teen drama "Young Americans" on The WB, playing the brooding Rawley Academy student Hamilton, son of the prep school's dean. Unexpected feelings related to his close friendship with the mysterious Jake (Katherine Moennig) lead the young man to question his sexuality, and while the girl-posing-as-boy storyline somewhat trivialized the very serious topic of sexual orientation, Hamilton's honest response to his feelings and his confusion rang true, proving Somerhalder an actor with promise and potential, not just primetime eye candy.

In 2002, Somerhalder was cast as Paul Denton in the thriller "Rules of Attraction", a feature based on the novel written by Bret Easton Ellis. Happy to be anchored in New York, Somerhalder spends much of his time studying acting, writing and practicing yoga. His recreational interests include water and snow skiing and horseback riding.

He was the face of Guess? for two consecutive Fall seasons and modeled for Calvin Klein,Versace, Dolce & Gabanna,and Gucci as well. However, he doesn't like to talk about his modeling career because of the impressions people might get of him as being just another pretty face.

Credit: allstars-online.net