I first noticed Kristin Scott Thomas in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). I loved her. She was so classically beautiful. She had the best role, and stole that otherwise dire film. The scene where she tells Hugh Grant that she's been in love with him all those years is, frankly, very moving. Not that I cry in movies, but if I did, I would have then.

I next saw her in Polanski's high-camp Bitter Moon (1992). I had rented it. Memorable for a few reasons. Peter Coyote crawling naked, crippled from the now cold bath across the bedroom floor while Emmanuelle Seigner looks on. Kristin is breifly, yet full frontally, nude. She stars with Hugh Grant, from FWF.

In 1995, I read an article on sexpot Patsy Kensit and she talked about dying her pubic hair for her role in the upcoming Angels & Insects -- so obviously I was going to see that on day one. Kristin was in that too, but she was playing it very plain. Next was the inventive Richard III and a small role (and very plain looking) Mission: Impossible.

Then stardom, as the very blonde, very classy Katherine Clifton in The English Patient. Now the world new what I'd known for years. She suffered, admirably in the not as bad as it seems The Horse Whisperer. I missed Random Hearts with Harry Ford, but I will rent it soon. She was great in Maugham's Up at the Villa with Sean Penn, but it was not new territory. Let's hope she keep going with strong lead roles for another 5 or so years. I'd like to see more accolades and perhaps an Oscar.

She's so smart, so educated, so witty, so down-to-earth, so wonderfully beautiful and she lives in Paris! She seems, and I know that this is just culled from articles, interviews, and a general sense, but she seems the ideal for the "modern woman."

Born May 24, 1960 in Redruth, Cornwall, England; she left at the age of 19 to work as an au pair in Paris. Her father had been a pilot for the British Royal Navy and died in a flying accident in 1964. Her stepfather was also a pilot and died six years later under similar circumstances. She is currently married to François Oliviennes, a French obstetrician. They live in a 19th century country house with their pre-teen children, Hannah and Joseph. Her younger sister is the actress Serena Scott Thomas (The World Is Not Enough [1999], Let Him Have It [1991]). In baby news, Kristin is expecting her third child with François Olivennes!

This is a new series at tedstrong.com's Person of the Week page: Hot women over 40.

There have been some complaints that I only love young, nubile, fleshy, soft, delicious, young women. Yes and no. I do love them. But I love older women too. Not "old women" but "older women." Some women still look unbelievably sexy post-40. It should put to SHAME all those older, midwest, American housewives, divorcees, professional women, Rosie O'Donnell, etc who look like shit!

I don't mean to sound sexist. There's no excuse for men to look like shit either. But I am not interested in men. So, I let women complain about unattractive men. It's not easy for me to be this gorgeous, you know. I haven't had pizza in a month. I don't drink. I eat raisin bran every morning. I just renewed my membership at Crunch. I use Aveda products. I spend hours in front of the mirror trying new looks!

Coming soon: Madonna, Isabelle Huppert, Nastassja Kinski (only 39, but you know), Charlotte Rampling, and maybe more!