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Who do you think of as charismatic ?

(207 Posts)
Gemini17892 Wed 12-Feb-20 23:30:06

The other day we were thinking about what makes a person charismatic. We could think of several men - some of whom I don’t like although I can still accept that they have charisma . But when it came to women I was stuck.
Who do you think is charismatic ? Can you think of a woman who fits this description ?

Callistemon Thu 13-Feb-20 17:18:43

Thinking of the Obamas, I think that Michelle is charismatic.

And Dolly Parton.

They couldn't be more different, could they!

Wheniwasyourage Thu 13-Feb-20 17:50:01

Julia Roberts

Michelle Obama

The late Margaret Ewing (Winnie's DIL)

TerriBull Thu 13-Feb-20 17:57:23

Nelson Mandela
JFK (in spite of all the shenanigans, which we didn't know about at the time, well I certainly didn't still at junior school grin
David Bowie - mesmerising
Micheal Jackson - again like Bowie that one off star quality
James Dean and Marilyn Monroe - not that I remember them , but once dead, legendary names garner even more charisma
Che who adorned thousands of walls, even the beret that had charisma, and the face underneath, it was super good looking, the charismatic murdering commie much travelled motorcycling Argentine doctor. I don't think charisma necessarily equals goodness.
Diana certainly had it

TerriBull Thu 13-Feb-20 18:07:04

I imagine Churchill and Gandhi both had it.

Callistemon Thu 13-Feb-20 18:17:20

Are we supposed to think of women? I can think of several men who are charismatic.

I wonder if there were more men on GN and on this thread there might be a different view of what makes a woman charismatic?

GagaJo Thu 13-Feb-20 18:24:38

Barack Obama
Patrick Stewart
Jeremy Corbyn
Denzel Washington
Meryl Streep
Toni Morrison
Nelson Mandela
Virginia Woolf
Margaret Atwood

Nvella Thu 13-Feb-20 18:28:57

Michael Jackson? Good grief!

GrandmaMoira Thu 13-Feb-20 18:35:13

I think Barak Obama has charisma. Lots of people say Clinton has charisma, particularly those who have met him.
Three people I met when doing VIP visits to the hospital I used to work in:
Tony Blair - he visited in his early days as PM and everyone wanted to talk to him and shake his hand.
The Queen - no-one has mentioned her but she has such presence and a radiant smile.
Major General Sir Mike Jackson - when he came into the room he had such presence and powerful personality.
I don't like Boris, but many people say that when he is in public everyone wants to talk to him and seems to have charisma.

JanaNana Thu 13-Feb-20 18:38:52

Monty Don
Patrick Grant....sewing bee
Joanna Lumley
Terry Woggan
Sandi Toksvig
Mother Teresa

Oopsminty Thu 13-Feb-20 18:57:30

Jeremy Corbyn?!

Good grief

The most uncharismatic politician ever I'd have thought

I suppose charisma is definitely in the eye of the beholder!

Tigertooth Thu 13-Feb-20 19:03:06

Sparklefizz Thu 13-Feb-20 09:43:56
Gosh, not many people listed above that I find the teeniest tiniest bit charismatic except for Princess Diana.

I did have a wonderfully charismatic boyfriend years ago ... but there were definite disadvantages to that!

Me too! Bloody man - all my friends fancied him, I think my mum wasn't sure which one of us she wanted to leave when we split up!

Charismatic woman - Joanna Lumley

MissAdventure Thu 13-Feb-20 19:11:43

How about dame Maggie Smith?
For men; Prince, Mick Jagger, and Michael Hutchence.

Chewbacca Thu 13-Feb-20 19:19:42

Long dead now but Peter Ustinov was someone who could recite the telephone directory and still hold your attention. And he was a lonnnggg way off being sexually attractive. Another was Richard Burton, although he was very attractive.

MissAdventure Thu 13-Feb-20 19:31:58

Alan Sugar, I find charismatic.

Callistemon Thu 13-Feb-20 19:56:27

Me too MissA!

MissAdventure Thu 13-Feb-20 19:58:56

He's just splendid, isn't he?

MissAdventure Thu 13-Feb-20 20:02:27

Hmmm..
Oliver Reed, Stephen Hawking, and David Attenborough.

TrendyNannie6 Thu 13-Feb-20 20:11:34

Raquel Welch, Audrey Hepburn, felicity Kendall, Kelly Brook. Emma Willis,...... Elvis. George clooney Dolph Lungren. David Ginola James Arthur

MissAdventure Thu 13-Feb-20 20:13:50

Grace Jones?
Princess Grace of Monaco?

MissAdventure Thu 13-Feb-20 20:15:03

Vincent Price..

Barberdice Thu 13-Feb-20 20:18:20

Steve Coogan
Jeff Stelling
Olivia Newton John

JeannieB44 Thu 13-Feb-20 20:39:08

I was lucky enough to see Lauren Bacall in a play when she was 70, she was a very petite lady and do not know whether you would call it charisma but she had an amazing stage presence.

bongobil Thu 13-Feb-20 20:43:27

Princess Diana definitely.

MissAdventure Thu 13-Feb-20 20:43:32

We should maybe stage a version of charisma factor.
Nominate our person, show a video clip or picture of them, and then all vote.

Sparkling Thu 13-Feb-20 20:53:20

Princess Diana and Elvis Presley, Mandela,
A lot of the people mentioned I cannot bear to watch, Ellen Generos and Steve Coogan, I switch them off.