History Main / HollywoodNerd

* CoolLoser: A character is treated as an unpopular loser even though they have many qualities (physically attractive, has a "cool" hobby, is social and charismatic, etc.) that should have made them popular.

* StereotypicalNerd: An unattractive, uncool, geeky stock character.

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* GiveGeeksAChance: The common plot where the dorky nerd character ends up with the beautiful (and often popular) female love interest

See IndexedAndNerdy for a list of nerd-related tropes.

* BeautifulAllAlong: The in-universe UglyDuckling is revealed to be beautiful after they change up their style, take off their glasses, and/or under go a makeover.

* {{Nerd}}: A usually intelligent but socially and/or physically awkward person. Often a BullyMagnet in high school settings.

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Hollywood Nerd is a disambiguation to the following tropes:

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* EndearinglyDorky: When a dorky character is considered cute and appealing for their dorky qualities ''in-universe'''.

* {{Adorkable}}: A dorky, unpopular character is considered cute/appealing by the audience.

* CoolLoser: A character is treated as an unpopular loser even though they have many qualities that should have made them popular.
* HollywoodHomely: A character said to be plain/unappealing, even though they are portrayed by conventionally attractive actors.

* NerdsAreSexy: Nerdy characters are considered attractive in-universe

[[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1635394627099664800 under discussion]] in the [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13222107430A61495000&page=1#1 Trope Repair Shop]].]]]]]]

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%% Pulled the previous existing image on 7 May 2013, since "macro images" are an automatic pull (see https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1317986693061200100&page=1#25)

->''"Don't let her complete and total hotness fool you! She would much rather be reading than go to some party!"''
-->-- '''Website/TheAgonyBooth''': ''[[http://agonybooth.com/recaps/High_School_Musical_2006.aspx High School Musical]]''

'''Note:''' ''This trope is in the process of being disambiguated per the results of the Trope Repair Shop decision linked above. Do not add any on page examples or link this page to others in the meantime.''

Take your average attractive actor or actress and stick on NerdGlasses, a [[LabcoatOfScienceAndMedicine lab coat]], and some MessyHair and clothes, to make them HollywoodHomely. Their character is probably also HollywoodDateless and supposedly prone to social ineptitude that may actually only be an InformedFlaw. They may even shoot straight into HotScientist or HotLibrarian (or even OmnidisciplinaryScientist) territory without [[NerdsAreSexy help from their smarts]] to pull it off. They may also be involved in an Ugly Duckling BeautifulAllAlong story if they do get paired off with someone. And there you have them: the Hollywood Nerd.

The Hollywood Nerd will have an interest in some “geeky” subject such as comic books, science fiction, or [[GameOfNerds baseball,]] helping identify them as a loser, [[BasementDweller especially if they still live in their parent's basement]]. However, [[DanBrowned this will rarely be shown with sufficient detail to make it realistic to someone actually in the know]], or it will be a mismatch of fandoms. In Hollywood, there is a [[GeekReferencePool very set list of things you can be a “geek” about.]]

See also {{Geek}}, {{Nerd}}. Compare HollywoodHomely, GeekPhysiques, CoolLoser, GiveGeeksAChance. The {{Meganekko}} is a common [[{{Anime}} anime equivalent]]. See also NerdsAreSexy, in which the nerdiness ''is'' what makes someone attractive, and EndearinglyDorky (or the YMMV {{Adorkable}}, which is when the nerdiness makes someone cute.)

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!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
* A majority of the cast of ''Film/TwentyOne''. 21 himself also provides a counterpoint in his old friends, who really ARE nerdy-looking, making the fact that the film expects us to believe this of the protagonists even more ridiculous.
* Every character in ''Film/{{Antitrust}}'', with the possible exception of the very cute Creator/RachaelLeighCook [[spoiler: who is TheMole and presumably deliberately chosen as someone the hero would fall for.]]
* ''Film/{{Hackers}}'' stars ''Angelina Jolie'', for crying out loud. (Although her makeup ''is'' awful.) And super-hot Jonny Lee Miller!
* The ''Film/HarryPotter'' film series:
** Creator/EmmaWatson plays Hermione Granger. Okay, she was cast when young, but she was always a cute kid.
** The part of Severus Snape, played by Creator/AlanRickman, also provides an example. In the books, Snape is supposed to be a greasy, unpleasant, hook-nosed recluse who spends most of his time in a lightless dungeon. He is often compared (unfavorably) to a bat, and it is revealed that his unwashed hair and ugliness was an issue that his enemies never had in bringing up. Alan Rickman couldn't help being gorgeous. This is only slightly helped by the fact that Snape is supposed to be in his late thirties and Alan Rickman is well over 60. But JKR herself chose Alan Rickman for the role. Also this was after first choice Creator/TimRoth turned it down.
* ''Film/FantasticBeasts'' wherein Newt Scamander, which is eccentric (messy hair, walking with a particular gait...) socially awkward ([[AmbiguousDisorder does not look anybody in the eyes, sometimes stutters and has difficulties to bond with his human (magic) counterparts]]) and crazy about studying and caring magical creatures, is played by the very handsome ''Creator/EddieRedmayne''.
* In the "[[BadFuture Pottersville]]" sequence of ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', Mary Hatch is shown to be a "mousy" spinster librarian in glasses and dowdy clothing. Still, she's played by [[HotLibrarian Donna Reed]].
* ''Film/SkyHigh2005''. Sue Tenny/Gwen Grayson in her first childhood.
* Evie, at least in ''Film/TheMummy1999'', is a bumbling, awkward, [[CuteClumsyGirl accident-prone]] [[HotLibrarian librarian/archaeology geek]] played by the fantastically gorgeous Creator/RachelWeisz. The bumbling, though, could be considered an [[InformedAbility informed disability]]; she's shown being clumsy early on, then never again.
* Henry Higgins, as played by Creator/RexHarrison in ''Film/MyFairLady'', may qualify. He's a phonologist/linguist/dialectician with few social graces -- a nerd even for his time -- but he's not unattractive for a fella his age. He even gets away with attending that royal ball he's testing Eliza Doolittle with, and while he might not have been super-refined, he wasn't kicked out early, either. Again, this likely has to do with the casting of Rex "Sexy Rexy" Harrison, who was married six times.
* Creator/SandraBullock's character in ''Film/{{The Net|1995}}''.
* ''Film/{{Swordfish}}'' features Creator/HughJackman as a top computer programmer. The guy he's replacing isn't bad either.
* Creator/SandraBullock as Diane Farrow in the 1992 film ''Love Potion No. 9'' actually succeeds at a more extreme version of the trope, probably because she undergoes a BeautifulAllAlong transformation in the later half of the film, and the creators made an effort to contrast the two looks. It also helped that she got real work done; her teeth were awful and hair horribly bushy. It took a lot of money for her to become Sandra Bullock.
* This was sent-up in ''Film/NotAnotherTeenMovie'' in which the jocks discuss who the target of the makeover should be. After highlighting some obvious freaks, they come upon the heroine. The lead jock expresses his disgust by pointing out the girl's ''ponytail'' and ''glasses''! And she had ''paint on her jeans''! Not even jeans! ''Overalls!''
* The ''Pygmalion'' / ''Theatre/MyFairLady'' remake known as ''Film/ShesAllThat'', in which the unpopular bookworm is played by Creator/RachaelLeighCook.
* Dr. Emma Russell (Creator/ElisabethShue!) in ''Film/TheSaint1997''. She starts out with glasses and needs medication for a heart defect. She becomes less nerdy though, to the point of no longer needing her pills, the longer she spends in the presence of Simon (Creator/ValKilmer), the titular character. Don't think about that too much.\\\
She also comes off as incredibly awkward and nervous, with idiosyncratic behavior and a geeky sense of romanticism, as well as an odd (but highly enthusiastic) way of describing her work. In particular when Simon is pretending to be a poet to seduce her, she's so nervous that she makes {{FreudianSlip}}s ("Take off your pants...[embarrassed] I mean your sweater!") and keeps gushing over [[ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe how he would notice someone like her and privately (and excitedly) stating that she can't believe that it's happening]]. [[GeekyTurnOn Its pretty]] [[NerdsAreSexy adorable]].
* In the original Creator/StephenKing novel ''Literature/TheStand'', the character of Harold started out as a fat, pathetic nerd. When made into a [[Series/TheStand TV miniseries]], he was played by Corin Nemec. It would have been averted, considering that by the time the group reached Boulder Harold was described as having become rather attractive because his skin cleared up and he lost weight, if they would have done more to hide Nemec's looks than just give him a bad hairdo and ugly clothes.
* The humans in ''Film/{{Tron}}''.
* Gabriella, Taylor and, to a lesser extent, Martha and Kelsi in ''Film/HighSchoolMusical''.
* Creator/DeniseRichards tried to play the trope twice: as math nerd/pilot Carmen Ibanez in ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' and as nuclear physicist Christmas Jones in ''Film/TheWorldIsNotEnough''. It’s questionable if she tried anything like hard enough.
* ''Please Teach Me English'' -- a little known (at least in the US) Korean film about a woman, nicknamed "Candy" in English, trying to speak the English language. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsQf_WKIcGk&NR=1 She looks absolutely gorgeous whenever she takes off her thick-rimmed glasses.]] The actress is a [[http://www.pinoyhalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/lee-na-young.jpg model]] in South Korea, oddly enough.
* Needy in ''Film/JennifersBody'' may have giant nerd glasses and unflattering clothes but she is still played by the beautiful Creator/AmandaSeyfried. In fairness, the film does note that Needy is plenty attractive but dresses down to not upstage her [[AlphaBitch best]] [[Creator/MeganFox friend]] and she has little trouble with boys, having a steady boyfriend (Creator/JohnnySimmons) and another male character (Creator/KyleGallner) with an obvious crush on her.
* In ''Film/RisingSun'', Creator/TiaCarrere plays a video footage analyst who helps Creator/SeanConnery and Creator/WesleySnipes' cop characters analyze doctored surveillance footage. They just have a pair of glasses slapped onto her, her hair done up and some techno-babble dialogue to help make her seem nerdy. However, part of the characterization also relies on her having a physical deformity that makes her an outcast. She's still Tia, mind.
* Both the protagonist and villains, plus numerous background characters are type 2 in ''Film/MaxKnightUltraSpy'' — the film depicts the nerd culture crossing over with rave on many occasions, the protagonist takes the FishOutOfWater love interest to a dance club that requires you to show off your Geek Cred to get in (say something smart and scientific) and Creator/SethGreen plays the BigBad. On the other hand, the start features a very classic type 1 who invites the love interest out for lunch (and she just gives him a patronising "you can't be serious" look, like it's so natural she'd reject him) while her genius sister straddles the line and gets a glasses-removal makeover by the BigBad.
* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''
** ''Film/XMenFirstClass'':
*** Averted by Dr. Charles Xavier (Creator/JamesMcAvoy), who is stunningly attractive... and is aware of it. In fact, in his first scene as a grown man, he is seen using nerd-talk to pick up coeds at an Oxford pub.
*** Played straight with Dr. Hank [=McCoy=] (Creator/NicholasHoult), who is like an introverted version of Charles. All the brilliance, all the attractiveness, but none of his telepathic gift with people.
** ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'': In his human form, [=McCoy=] is quite the PrettyBoy after he loses his NerdGlasses near the end of the film. This is further accentuated in ''The Rogue Cut'' when Raven removes Hank's eyewear in order to see his face more clearly, and she kisses him shortly afterwards.
* Creator/RussellCrowe as John Nash in ''Film/ABeautifulMind'', especially near the end of the film as he ages and starts to wear glasses.
* Creator/KateWinslet as Hester Wallace in ''Enigma''.
* Even Creator/JessicaAlba - ''JESSICA ALBA'' - qualifies as mousy, troubled teacher Mona in ''An Invisible Sign''. However deglamourised she is, she still looks (at worst) like the more attractive sister of Cece from ''Series/NewGirl''.
* Creator/TaraReid played a scientist in the critically savaged adaptation of the game ''Film/AloneInTheDark2005''.
* Creator/JakeGyllenhaal's character in ''{{Film/Zodiac}}'' is too good looking for a real nerd.
** Also his character Sam in ''Film/TheDayAfterTomorrow''.
* The title character in ''Film/{{Tamara}}'', before she [[EvilMakeover drops it]] and becomes a FemmeFatale after coming BackFromTheDead. It is ''very'' difficult to make [[http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2012/06/14/jenna-dewan-tatum-steps-out-in-style/#.UMidMoPAeSo Jenna]] [[http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2012/09/17/channing-and-jenna-dewan-tatum-step-out-in-style/#.UMidU4PAeSo Dewan]] look unattractive.
* In ''Film/NeverBeenKissed'', we're really supposed to believe that the description given in the title applies to Creator/DrewBarrymore.
* Breaker from ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra''.
* Velma Dinkley in ''Film/ScoobyDoo'' and ''Film/ScoobyDooMonstersUnleashed'', played by Creator/LindaCardellini, combined with an obvious Main/AdaptationalAttractiveness compared to her animated counterpart. Played with in the second film when Daphne pushes her to wear a latex suit to seduce her crush, an attire that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHk2-mOOYQg&t=1m32s left men in total awe]].
* In ''Film/TheMortalInstrumentsCityOfBones'', Clary's best friend Simon is a shy, awkward, D&D-loving nerd who can't get her to notice that he's in love with her (and is eventually rejected in favor of the dashing hero Jace). He is played by the ''gorgeous'' Creator/RobertSheehan.
* ''Film/WereTheMillers'': Take the gorgeous Creator/MollyQuinn, put her in a [[Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium "What Would Frodo Do?"]] T-shirt, and presto! Instant love interest for Kenny. This is TruthInTelevision in this case: [[OneOfUs/TVDweebs Quinn really is a huge geek]]. It’s also lampshaded [[spoiler:at the end of the film when [[Creator/JasonSudeikis David]] walks in on [[Creator/JenniferAniston Rose]] wearing glasses and using a laptop computer. He says "Look at this sexy nerd."]]
* Averted with the main character (Sam Eidson) in ''Zero Charisma'', who is overweight and scruffy-looking with NoSocialSkills to boot. The antagonist, a skinny and charismatic {{hipster}} (Garrett Graham) fits the trope fairly well, though.
* In ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'', [[LegacyCharacter Q]] is re-introduced as a good-looking young guy with glasses (Creator/BenWhishaw). Suffice to say, the reiteration of this character has his fair share of fangirls.
* ''Film/OtherHalves'' is about a team of computer programmers, but [[https://www.facebook.com/OtherHalvesFilm/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1635945366696613 every one of the cast members]] could be models.
* ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'': Before his transformation, the film does its best to make Creator/JamieFoxx (Max Dillon / Electro) look like an unattractive nerd by giving him a combover, glasses and fake bad teeth. It's been humorously observed that the character actually becomes ''more'' subtle after turning into a glowing supervillain who flies and shoots lightning.
* All of Creator/RobertRedford's crew in ''Sneakers'' except Creator/SidneyPoitier and including Redford.
* An interesting case in ''Film/TheFly1986'': DoomedProtagonist Seth Brundle (Creator/JeffGoldblum) is quite muscular for a scientist who doesn't get out much. Not that any of the female viewers are complaining, or anything! (The shooting script did have him as out-of-shape prior to the teleportation altering his body into something ''[[BodyHorror initially]]'' more attractive, a detail that may have been dropped because the film was ChristmasRushed.) But as William Beard's commentary on the 2019 Blu-ray points out, typically the audience doesn't ''notice'' how shapely Seth is until he teleports himself because his concealing LimitedWardrobe, expressive face, GibberingGenius speak personality are holding their attention.
* ''Film/WonderWoman1984'' has Kristen Wiig as Barbara Minerva, who is clumsy (she can't handle high heels), dorky (she wears glasses) and is apparently so unmemorable people can forget she exists even after talking to her at length. Then she makes a wish, and suddenly turns into... Kristen Wiig in a slightly different outfit! And the same haircut. The world's her oyster! Then she starts turning properly evil, and along comes the EvilCostumeSwitch.
* ''Film/TheWhiteOrchid'': Claire begins with wireframe glasses, hair in a bun, a shy personality and modest, plain clothes to show her character is a quiet, nerdy detective. When she takes on The White Orchid's style, this changes entirely.
* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse: Dr. Darcy Lewis. She's regularly dressed in extremely frumpy clothes in a clear attempt to hide Creator/KatDennings' very curvaceous figure and it still doesn't do enough to make her appear homely. Dennings may very well be the current go-to for playing this trope.
* Laurie Strode in ''Film/Halloween1978''. In many ways, the TropeCodifier for the FinalGirl is really just a stereotypical female Hollywood Nerd made into a horror movie heroine, her discomfort with her friends Annie and Lynda's [[TheScourgeOfGod marijuana use, drinking, and premarital sex]] presented less as a moral stance than that of a girl who's too shy to partake in those things and just wants to study for her exams. She tries to smoke a joint in one scene, only to immediately start choking on it. She's not just the "good girl", she's strongly implied to be the ''smart'' girl on top of it. As for the "attractive" part, she's played by a young Creator/JamieLeeCurtis, who would go on to become a sex symbol in TheEighties. Later final girls in the mold of Laurie would typically de-emphasize her nerdiness, though, in favor of her aura of purity.
* Creator/JoeKeery plays a nerdy programmer in ''Film/FreeGuy'' while also playing a [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys bad boy]] in ''Series/StrangerThings''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** Most of the core cast of the show were supposed to be nerds and outcasts, but they were all sexy - most notably Willow, who was played by nerd goddess Creator/AlysonHannigan (and her whippet-thin body) for the series. When Jonathan, a more "normal"-looking nerd, was introduced, he was rejected for friendship by Buffy for being too short. Thus, he never made it into the core cast.
** In fact, they ''had'' a lot more unattractive Willow in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7lgN5nUkms original pilot]].
** A special emphasis should be placed on Xander, the "unattractive" nerd played by the thoroughly Hollywood-looking Nicholas Brendon. Stick him side by side with David Boreanaz, the hunk playing Angel, and the two could easily be mistaken for each other. Creator/JossWhedon mentions this in the DVD commentaries, stating that he knows that Nick is way too good-looking to be a social outcast, "[[LampshadeHanging but this is Hollywood, so get over it]]."
** Averted with Buffy herself, who was a popular cheerleader and May Queen at her previous high school and is only a social outsider at Sunnydale High because she makes a bad impression on AlphaBitch Cordelia on her first school night, because her constant involvement in weird and violent incidents makes her seem like a delinquent, and because she hangs out with nerdy Xander and Willow and the librarian in the creepy school library. Even still, it's noted that a lot of guys would like to summon the courage to ask her out.
* The title character from ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' qualifies as one of the cutest of the [[BlandNameProduct Nerd Herd at Buy More]]. Aside from Chuck, and Anna Wu, the rest of the Nerd Herders generally live up to their name (''especially'' Jeff). [[BollywoodNerd Lester.]] This is TruthInTelevision, Chuck and Morgan are played by actual nerds.
* ''Series/{{Good Omens|2019}}'': Newton "Newt" Pulsifer is a classic. He has {{nerd glasses}}, messy hair, is quite socially inept, and remains a virgin in his 20s (he'd never even ''kissed'' anyone prior to meeting Anathema).
* Simon from ''Series/{{Misfits}}'' is a geeky, friendless, sci-fi loving virgin who has zero luck with the ladies and gets [[ButtMonkey bullied and ignored by everyone]] (particularly during season 1). And who do they get to play him? [[http://pics.livejournal.com/shocolate/pic/004whyy9 Iwan Rheon]]. Admittedly the show makes a valiant attempt to play down the actor's obvious attractiveness - he's constantly made up to look deathly pale and is forced to sport a horrendously unflattering hairstyle for the full duration. But ''still''.
* ''Series/ModernFamily'': Alex Dunphy. It's a little difficult to believe any of Haley's comments about her having issues with boys when she's played by [[https://www.google.com/search?q=Ariel+Winter&newwindow=1&sa=X&rlz=1C2LDJZ_enUS507US523&biw=1919&bih=950&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgFuLUz9U3SMsurypW4gIxTQxMyguTtMSyk630S8qAKL6gKD-9KDHXKjmxuAQAR6ukqjEAAAA&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ved=0ahUKEwjaiKqKysbLAhULnIMKHdmEDm4QiR4I3QE Ariel Winter]].[[note]](Outside her acting work, people only know her for her large breasts. She didn't cope too well with that.)[[/note]]
** Played with in one episode where Haley is shocked to discover that Alex has just as many boys after her, they're just not the ''same'' boys. [[spoiler:They're the nerds]].
** This is only half the reason Ariel Winter had her [[http://www.glamour.com/inspired/blogs/the-conversation/2015/08/ariel-winter-breast-reduction breast reduction surgery]] in 2015.

* Parodied in ''Series/{{NTSFSDSUV}}''. All the characters refer to the "nerds" as unattractive, despite being played by models wearing lab-coats and glasses.
* [[BollywoodNerd Devi]], her friends [[AsianAndNerdy Eleanor]] and [[BlackAndNerdy Fabiola]], and rival [[JewishAndNerdy Ben]] on ''Series/NeverHaveIEver'' are supposedly "unfuckable nerds" and an underdeveloped wimp who has yet to see body hair. All expectations go out the window [[https://www.teenvogue.com/story/never-have-i-ever-cast once you see them]].
* Jess from ''Series/NewGirl''. No one pretends she isn't pretty, but she still acts ridiculously awkward.
* ''Series/TheNewNormal'': David is shown as having been a textbook example of this when he first graduated from med school and met Bryan. Played by handsome, well-built actor Justin Bartha, David was literally given nerd glasses, unfashionable clothes and frizzy hair in order to create the nerd look. Bryan is immediately smitten when David removes his nerd glasses, allowing an unobstructed view of his startlingly blue eyes.
* Ben Wyatt from ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' probably counts--he corrects people on their sci-fi references and even gleefully embraces his love of nerd culture (usually to deflect Tom's jabs at them), wears skinny ties and color-clashing plaid shirts with horrifying frequency, occasionally lapses into awkwardness, and one of his [[InSeriesNickname in-series nicknames]] is "Nerd". But most state auditors/city managers probably don't look like a guy who can model raincoats for ''GQ'', and a number of female characters ([[OfficialCouple Leslie]], [[IronLady Leslie's mother Marlene]], [[RomanticFalseLead Shawna Mulwae-Tweep]], and [[AnythingThatMoves Mona-Lisa Saperstein]], among a few others) have commented on him being "cute".
* ''Series/{{Librarians}}'' Rebecca Romaijn's character is portrayed as having no life and being socially awkward
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'': Clark Kent, the future Superman, and of course, the nerdy everyman who kept his virginity until he was out of high school, and folded into an awkward mess when a hot cheerleader was throwing herself at him. And he's played by an underwear model. Yeah... It's not so much that Clark's a nerd ''per se,'' in fact he's shown to be baffled by real-nerd behavior, he's just socially awkward due to having to keep the secret that he's got super powers and is an alien.
* ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody:'' Cody Martin. He may be geeky and school-obsessed, but he's definitely not bad looking, despite what other characters in the show (especially Zack) may say. Which is HypocriticalHumor, anyway, since athletic Zack is his identical twin. In the sequel series ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOnDeck'', Bailey Pickett also fits this trope. She is rather nerdy and awkward, and she may have (according to London Tipton, anyway) poor fashion sense, but she's very attractive regardless.
* ''Series/TeenWolf'' has Stiles Stilinski, an awkward, spastic nerd who can't get a date for the first three seasons despite the fact that he looks like Creator/DylanOBrien.
* Eric Forman on ''Series/That70sShow'', though he's not a total nerd (it's referenced several times he's [[RidiculouslyAverageGuy an average joe with rather pitiful grades]]), but he does have quite the obsession over ''Franchise/StarWars'' and is a square compared to his friends.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'': Mulder's trio of {{sidekick}}s, a team of tech-geeks and conspiracy theorists calling themselves the Lone Gunmen, are far less attractive and very bad with women. They have their short-lived spin-off ''Series/TheLoneGunmen''.

[[/folder]]


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* ''Series/TwentyFour'' tends to have a 50/50 split between realistic nerds (fat Edgar Styles, frumpy Chloe O'Brian) and conventionally attractive ones, such as Morris O'Brian, a brilliant hacker and womanizing, alcoholic ladies' shoe salesman. As Chloe has become more popular with fans, her character has received far more makeup and hairstyling, which (atypically) brings with it an increased amount of attention from the opposite sex.
** Perhaps pulled off successfully with Chloe, as while she's rather frumpy on the show, her actress, Mary Lynn Rajskub, is very attractive after being dolled up.
** Chloe still got noticeably more attractive as the show went on. Compare her hair, outfits, etc. in a season 3 episode with her appearance in a season 8 episode and it's pretty obvious.
* It could be argued that ''Series/ThirtyRock'''s Liz Lemon is an example. However, this is somewhat excusable given that the character is essentially a fictionalized version of Creator/TinaFey, who also plays her. Fey says that "[[SelfDeprecation I'm really not that attractive]]. Until I met my husband, I could not get a date. I promise you it's true." This is lampshaded during the first season. When Liz leaves New York to visit Cleveland, suddenly people can't stop complimenting her looks.
-->'''Jenna''': "We're all models west of the Allegheny."
* {{Downplayed}} but definitely present in ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' (particularly the first season), with resident science team Fitz and Simmons. While their occasionally naïve behaviour is generally put down to their sheltered lives before joining the team (they often act more like geeky teens/undergrads than highly capable military scientists in their mid-late twenties), it's also made clear that they're classic Hollywood nerds too: both are huge ''Series/DoctorWho'' fans, for example. Fitz in particular has zero romantic experience or ability; and while in a deleted scene Simmons surprises Skye with the fact that she actually [[InformedAbility had quite a few boyfriends at the academy]], she's just as dumbstruck and prone to awkward overcompensation around guys she likes as Fitz is around girls. (There's also the fact that they're [[EveryoneCanSeeIt obviously in love with one another]], [[ObliviousToLove but don't even start to realise it for literal years]].) This despite being played by undeniably gorgeous actors Iain De Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge, who both easily attracted as many fan crushes as any other members of the cast, even when they were usually dressed in (actually quite flattering) sweater vests and the like.
* Felicity Smoak in ''Series/{{Arrow}}'', played by Emily Bett Rickards, is pretty much the embodiment of this. Even her NerdGlasses and persona hardly do anything in the way of covering it up, and the show doesn't even bother to pretend she's not stunning.
* ''Series/AustinAndAlly'': Ally Dawson, portrayed by Laura Marano. [[http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/279256/ppuser/47 Especially]] during the [[http://austinally.wikia.com/wiki/File:Sexy.jpg second season.]]
* Janine Kishi, as depicted especially by Aya Furukawa in ''Series/TheBabySittersClub2020'' along [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1H5BS2QsNs&ab_channel=LuxKen27 with the 1990 series]], was adapted from her nerdy and seemingly plain-looking counterpart in the original book series but in both tv series she is depicted as a pretty teenage girl with eye glasses and a rather simple fashion sense.
* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', the majority of the cast may be nerds, but they sure are attractive.
** Leonard Hofstadter is short, bespectacled, and asthmatic, and has attracted more than 10 women in the series.
** Sheldon, despite his plain clothing style and zany personality, is still considered handsome (especially when his hair is styled) and has had a fair amount of women (and a man) take interest in him, even though Leonard has attracted more women than he has.
** Howard's fiancee/wife Bernadette, who earns a Ph.D. in Microbiology. He is at first afraid to get into a serious relationship with her because she was "not Megan Fox in ''Transformers''". Take a look at Melissa Rauch out of costume and these objections fly straight out the window.
* ''Series/{{Bones}}'':
** The show at least has the good grace to lampshade Brennan's looks.
** Sweets? Yes please.
** Squintern Wendell Bray is an absolute babe.
** Just about all members of the Jeffersonian fall under this trope, with the notable exception of Angela, who inverts it. She's an emotionally intuitive, sexually liberated party girl Visual Arts major who often acts as TheHeart of the team and is acknowledged as gorgeous by men and women alike, yet is also a top notch forensic reconstructor using software she made herself. (She minored in Comp Sci.)
** It's telling that Carla Gallo, who plays the geeky, socially awkward Daisy, previously played a ''stripper'' in ''Series/{{Carnivale}}''.

** Another nerd outside the core cast, Wesley, fit the nerd stereotype increasingly less after he jumped to ''Series/{{Angel}}''. By the end of that series, after many rough experiences, he had changed dramatically. And he was a fine-looking man from the get-go, glasses or not.
* ''CSI'' Verse:
** The cast of ''Series/{{CSI}}'' are supposed to be the police equivalents of the [[{{geek}} spods]] at the front of the chemistry class, but they're all good looking - one of them is even supposed to be an ex-stripper! {{Lampshaded}} in one episode where a television producer is walking through the lab and looks at the people working there.
--->'''Producer''': Beautiful people doing high-tech police work. [[WhoWouldWantToWatchUs There might be a series in this.]]
** ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' has Anna Belknap's Lindsay Monroe. Who herself was a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute for Creator/VanessaFerlito as Aiden Burn. (At least until the character of Jessica Angell was introduced...as an even ''more'' Suspiciously Similar Substitute.) They also have Hill Harper's Dr. Sheldon Hawkes and A.J. Buckley's Adam Ross, both handsome guys with advanced degrees...just in different fields.
** A rare InUniverse LampshadeHanging occurs on an episode of ''Series/CSIMiami'' when the killer of the week, a cast member of a ''Series/JerseyShore'' {{Expy}} (and repeatedly mentioned to be incredibly hot), is discovered to have a Masters in Engineering from M.I.T., and is not the only genius of the group. Turns out that she got so mad with the rush of popularity that came with being a cast member (which she apparently had to sacrifice to get her Masters in record time) that she killed another cast member that was going to blow the FlockOfWolves secret wide open (because she was sick of having to pretend being a debauched bimbo, ratings be damned).

** Averted with Bryce. When he was in college, he bonded with Chuck over text based computer games, and years after that, he could still speak Klingon, but he's also played by Creator/MattBomer and is very aware of his attractiveness.
* Annie in ''Series/{{Community}}''.
** Troy and Abed, too—while Donald Glover is undeniably hunky, Danny Pudi definitely isn't homely, either.
** Justified with Troy, former JerkJock turned open ClosetGeek.
* ''Series/CriminalMinds''
** Dr. Spencer Reid. The show tries hard to nerd him up with bad hair and clothes, but Matthew Gray Gubler is still sex on a stick. And to the show's credit, they never try to pass him off as unattractive (just overwhelmingly awkward); he has, after all, had two girlfriends during the show's run, and that's not even mentioning Ethan. Then there's Morgan's [[PrettyBoy nickname for him.]]
** Kevin Lynch, one of the shows main technical analysts could also qualify for this trope. The show's casting department seems to think a little pudge and bad clothing sense helps avert this trope. Kevin Lynch is played by Nicholas Brendan (aka [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander Harris]], again in a "too hot for this role" paradigm.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E15PlanetOfTheDead "Planet of the Dead"]], UNIT scientist Malcolm Taylor is a classic, with NerdGlasses, a nasal voice, a shy personality and a passionate love for his gadgets.
* Fargo's current (the only one for all we know) girlfriend Julia Golden on ''Series/{{Eureka}}''. She's a HotScientist (or research assistant?), but fits this trope better, because during one episode she kept yammering about how invisible she is and that she wants to be like Deputy Lupo. Not just living her exciting life, no, be as beautiful as her. Boo hoo!
* Oliver in ''Series/FakingIt'' could pose for the page pic. He's a socially awkward good looking guy with glasses.

* Alex P. Keaton on ''Series/FamilyTies'' probably counts, though his character breaks the stereotype in that he was never intended to be a 'nerd,' per se. He's a hypercompetitive, straight-A Young Republican who was also constantly chasing after girls (at least in the earlier seasons). Skippy on the other hand...
* John Crichton in ''Series/{{Farscape}}''. Though it's justified since, being an astronaut at first and a refugee constantly getting into fist- and gunfights after the show begins, he ''would'' have to be in excellent physical condition.
** Astronauts aren't necessarily nerds, though. As stated above, scientists aren't nerds and today not all astronauts are scientists. While shuttle pilots and other astronauts throughout the beginning of the space program typically had advanced degrees in engineering or hard-science fields they tend to fall into a usually non-nerdy class of folk: fighter pilots.
** Crichton, however, was flying the test flight of his module because ''he designed it''. This is why he's even able to deal with all that wormhole knowledge in the first place, he was a trained physicist from day one. He would still need to be in pretty good physical shape, though. Young Crichton in the Halloween 1986 episode seems to fit the bill a little better, even still.
** Also, given the sheer amount of pop culture references Crichton drops, he is most definitely a nerd.
* Dr Harrison Wells in ''Series/TheFlash2014'', as played by Tom Cavanagh, is an extremely handsome man even with NerdGlasses and all-black clothes that hide his athlete's physique. However, he goes the entire first season with his looks never once being acknowledged by any of the other characters due to a combination of being confined to a wheelchair, being the resident genius science nerd, a complete lack of a social life outside of STAR Labs, and fulfilling the ParentalSubstitute role to most of the main cast.
* Spinelli from ''Series/GeneralHospital'' appears to be a type 1, though anyone who's seen Bradford Anderson outside the show will probably put him into type 2 range. Ditto for his short-lived DistaffCounterpart Winnifred.
* ''Series/{{Glee}}'' has a few examples of this, notably Rachel Berry, who although being a music 'geek' and a member of a host of nerdy clubs, is rather attractive. InUniverse, the reason for Rachel being considered uncool is her thoroughly objectionable personality. A more traditional example would be Artie, portrayed by former BoyBand member Creator/KevinMcHale, though it's less noticeable in later seasons. On the other hand, the trope is thoroughly averted with Jacob Ben Israel.

* Rusty Cartwright (Jacob Zachar) on ''Series/{{Greek}}'' straddles the types. His roommate Dale is a type 1, with a dash of southern hick. Meanwhile, his TA Max is a Type 2. He has good nerd-ish qualities, but he's played by Michael Rady. And he scores with Rusty's sister, who is a sorority chick. How many nerds (who aren't frat boys themselves) get to say that? Meanwhile, the Psi Phi Pi is a fraternity of Type 1's, which sort of begs the question of [[FridgeLogic why Rusty didn't pledge to them]].
* On ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', Gabriel Gray was a withdrawn and lonely watchmaker who kept an eerily neat apartment stacked with books about anything and everything. Then he discovered EvilTastesGood and EvilIsSexy, and ditched the glasses and tweed.
* ''Series/ICarly'' played with this when Freddie brought over a fellow [[TwoDecadesBehind AV club]] member who the girls found so attractive that the whole episode was about their fighting over him. Freddie himself is also an example, especially in the later seasons.
* Averted in ''Series/{{The IT Crowd}}'', where Moss and Roy generally show a mix of realistic nerd tropes.
%%* The Keeper on ''Series/TheInvisibleMan''.
* The titular character in ''Series/Jake20'', played by Christopher Gorham, is yet another TV geek who is 18 varieties of hot by any real-world standard. One can argue that the {{Nanomachines}} in his bloodstream are what give him a [[ShirtlessScene physique that could cut glass]], but still ...
* Luke Girardi in ''Series/JoanOfArcadia'' although it may be more a case of personality than looks. He does get himself a girlfriend but it's another outcast. His friend Friedman is a more realistic portrayal physically and far more obnoxious.
* Phillip from ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' is effectively a walking computer with very poor interpersonal and social skills, since he spent most of his youth in a lab. Most of his "nerdiness" seems to come from the unusual and somewhat effeminate clothing he wears, though that could be seen as an endearing quirk by some, and it certainly doesn't stop one of his partner's high school-age informants from developing a huge crush on him. He's also played by newcomer actor Masaki Suda, who looks like [[http://ameblo.jp/suda-masaki/ this]].
* Subverted somewhat in ''Series/{{Leverage}}''; while Hardison is a card-carrying, computer-hacking, [=WoW=]-playing geek, he's also a charming and outgoing conman, and he looks fine in a suit.
%%* Eli Loker in ''Series/LieToMe''.
* Averted in ''Series/LostGirl'' by Lauren, a smart blonde scientist who wears no glasses, and is socially accepted (though a member of a [[SlaveRace slave race]]).

** Oddly enough, it seems that Simon's geek stylings (such as they were) actually ''did'' fool a fair amount of viewers into believing he was unattractive. In the second season the character appears [[spoiler: as a future incarnation of himself]] with tousled hair and no shirt on - cue a huge portion of the fanbase suddenly noticing the MrFanservice. A few fans even asked who this new actor ''was'', despite the fact that he was very, very clearly the same person with a slightly different hair-do. This may have been partly due to Iwan Rheon's impressive performance - he actually did manage to convey both "versions" of the character very cleverly, but looks-wise, very little had changed.

* Zigzagged with ''Series/MrRobot'''s protagonist Eliot Alderson. He's successful with women, and people seem to like him, but he rarely trusts anyone enough to form a serious bond.
%%* Ethan and Benny in ''Series/MyBabysittersAVampire''

* Charlie Eppes (and thus the man who plays him, Creator/DavidKrumholtz) on ''Series/NUMB3RS''. And his improbably-good-looking computer/math/physics geek girlfriend, Amita.

* Seth from ''Series/{{The OC}}''. He is supposed to be an unattractive nerd due to his social awkwardness and huge interest in comic books and science fiction. This doesn't really work since he's also sweet, funny, and played by the attractive Adam Brody.
* ''Series/TheOutpost'': Janzo is portrayed by a handsome actor, but frequently wears large spectacles, has messy hair, and is usually hunched over. Initially, he's also a virgin who has no relationships due to his poor social skills (but later this changes). Added to that, he seems possibly autistic and is highly knowledgeable of science.

* ''Series/{{Portlandia}}'' deconstructed this trope in a sketch. It begins with an attractive woman in a bar, wearing glasses, talking herself up as though she were a geek. This is then interrupted by a ''real'' geek who proceeds to give a PSA about how real nerds aren't proud to be called nerds, and are hurt by people pretending to be nerds because they think it's cool.
* Every season of ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' with a geek for a Ranger (except a CousinOliver in season 5) suffers horribly from this, generally shifting between Calvin Klein-worthy Blue Rangers who just speak a lot of {{technobabble}}, to stunningly beautiful Pink Rangers who overwork themselves while on the job. Insert dorky glasses where necessary, on either gender.
** The [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers original series]] had both, only with the Yellow Ranger instead of Pink.
** Amusingly, of the original MMPR cast, David Yost (the Blue Ranger) was built like a brick shithouse in spite of being cast as the "weak nerd" character. The costuming department tried ''very'' hard to disguise this fact, with varying levels of success.
* Connor, the irritating PluckyComicRelief in British scientists-vs-dinosaurs show ''Series/{{Primeval}}'', often makes cack-handed 'geek' references and is shown to be clueless around women. However, he looks like a cross between Johnny Depp and a young Rob Newman. His two best friends are more conventionally unattractive nerds.
* ''Series/{{Psych}}'' featured a character in one episode who was ''both''. As a kid, he was a fat, UFO-obsessed geek who wore a wizard cape. As an adult, he'd dropped the pounds and hidden his geekiness from his hot wife, who he thought would disapprove of it, becoming a literal closet geek. As it turns out, his wife is also a geek.
** Even better is the fact that he is played by Freddie Prinze Jr. who was the popular male lead in ''Film/ShesAllThat''.
* ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'''s Will Zimmerman is supposed to be a somewhat reclusive nerdy scientist. Robin Dunne, who plays him, is ridiculously attractive. There was a [[ShirtlessScene certain scene]] the first season finale that, while incredibly hot, strained the bounds of credulity: Will strips to his boxers to make the Invisible Girl, who has to get naked for her power to be effective, less self-conscious. Cue biceps and abs that VERY few real-life scientists have.
** Henry's not half bad either, and the nipple/belly button piercings aren't exactly conventionally nerdy in any case.
* In ''Series/{{Shadowhunters}}'', Simon Lewis is hiding a ripped body underneath his JewishAndNerdy exterior. Also, in an AlternateRealityEpisode the spectacularly attractive Isabelle Lightwood and Magnus Bane take on this trope in their parallel universe incarnations.
* Rocky Blue in ''Series/ShakeItUp'' played by Zendaya Coleman
* For a forensic pathologist, Creator/EmiliaFox's Nikki Alexander from ''Series/SilentWitness'' is seriously attractive.
%%* Quinn Mallory in ''Series/{{Sliders}}''.
* ''Series/LoisandClark'' Teri Hatcher's Lois Lane is occasionally socially blustery and overly focused on her job

* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
** Clark Kent, the future Superman, and of course, the nerdy everyman who kept his virginity until he was out of high school, and folded into an awkward mess when a hot cheerleader was throwing herself at him. And he's played by an underwear model. Yeah... It's not so much that Clark's a nerd ''per se,'' in fact he's shown to be baffled by real-nerd behavior, he's just socially awkward due to having to keep the secret that he's got super powers and is an alien.
** Chloe, who while for the first four seasons she's constantly playing the part of the nerdy sidekick and best friend, she ends up being a massive subversion. In the first few seasons, she has no trouble getting male attention, with two different Meteor Freaks, Pete Ross, and Jimmy Olsen all finding her attractive, but her main problem is that [[StubbornMule her]] [[IntrepidReporter attitude]] is rather off-putting to those who don't know her well. The Prom episode, however, reveals that most of the student body actually rather like Chloe, but a resident, though not-previously seen, AlphaBitch (Smallville High has a lot of them, they all jut seem to be off-camera for most of it then end up dying or turning evil) picked up a strong dislike of Chloe and uses her rumor mill to keep people from befriending her, which also explains why her friends are stuck as outcasts too. Clark himself lampshades this by telling Chloe that "For years we've all been fighting to break out of the stereotypical roles that we've been forced into...and you're the battle cry."
*** "Allison (the actress for Chloe) was listed #22 among the 50 Sexiest Women in the Femme Fatales magazine in its January–February 2005 edition." Does any more need to be said?
* The absolutely gorgeous engineer Trip on ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'', though his case is also justified by the nature of his job; being the Chief Engineer of a starship owned and operated by a [[MildlyMilitary paramilitary organisation]] whose role is somewhat analogous to the US Coast Guard presumably involves some minimum physical-fitness standards. Hoshi Sato counts as well, perhaps even more so as her specialisation is Xeno-Linguistics.
* ''Series/StargateSG1'':
** Samantha Carter is assumed to be one of the most intelligent people on the planet. She's also an attractive blonde. (Both of these were intentional on the part of the writers). Ah well, at least she dresses like you would expect from a military officer. Daniel Jackson fits the trope as well.
** The show later subverted this in a LowerDeckEpisode which featured geeky scientists who followed every stereotype, down to the action-figures collection. The show also subverts this every single time it shows Dr. Lee.
* Jennifer Keller (played by Jewel Staite) from ''Series/StargateAtlantis''. Plus Carson Beckett, Radek Zelenka, Elizabeth Weir... Rodney [=McKay=] is somewhat less attractive, but he has his fans too.
* Brian from ''Series/StillStanding'' is both this and CampStraight, which tends to turn most girls away from him.

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** With the show filled with [[TheBeautifulElite beautiful people]], the two Ghost Facer nerds are two attractive men. But seeing as how they're both [[JerkAss jerkasses]], you can see why very few people like them.
** And [[MrFanservice Sammy]]. Ruby even tells him that he's "pretty buff for a nerd."
** Then there's Charlie (played by Creator/FeliciaDay), who isn't made out to be unattractive, though she is a fan of [[GeekReferencePool every geeky thing the writers can think of]] and is also a PlayfulHacker.

* Cute, goofy computer geek and budding hacker Mac of ''Series/VeronicaMars'' is a Hollywood Nerd in the grand tradition, and particularly owes much to ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer's Willow. Mac is not a stick figure and has the shape of someone healthy but who could perhaps benefit from more exercise and less sitting in front of the computer.
** Ironically, played by the same actress as one of the nerds from ''Film/NapoleonDynamite'', which is listed as an aversion above. Also, Mac is far from even chubby, never mind overweight - she's just standing next to the 5'1" stick-thin Kristen Bell most of the time. In the ''Film/JosieAndThePussycats'' movie, Rosario Dawson looked like an elephant next to Rachael Leigh Cook and Tara Reid - just look at her in Sin City to see how not true that is.
* Justin in ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'' is a nerdy sci-fi geek who is absolutely attractive. During the big crossover he's dressed solely in trunks at one point showing that he has got absurdly well defined pecs and abs.
** It would be interesting to point out that despite his nerdiness Justin has no problems with finding a girlfriend. Even the main character's best friend has a huge crush on him.
---> '''Justin''': "Why does [[HollywoodDateless everyone think I don't date]]? Remember the centaur, the werewolf and the [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking goth girl]]?"
*** And then [[FatalAttractor the vampire and the angel]] [[spoiler:of darkness]].
*** In the crossover with ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOnDeck'', he even attracts the famously shallow (and shallowly famous) London Tipton.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'':
** Fox Mulder. His private life is nonexistent, he has a vast collection of porn, he sleeps on the sofa since his bedroom is filled ceiling-high with cardboard boxes, he throws pencils at the ceiling in his office to see if they stick, he spends his free time hunting aliens, and he likes theorizing about aliens or monsters from folklore in front of complete strangers. And yet Mulder is tall, fit and attractive, to the extent that in the episode "Humbug" one of the circus "geeks" sarcastically remarked how one day all the freaks like him would be done away with by science and society and everyone would be "perfect" and boring like Mulder. Being an active FBI agent, he would be required to occasionally pass some physical fitness tests. Mulder is one of the few TV characters shown practicing the kind of physical training which might lead to having a physique like the actor's; he is seen swimming laps in a pool, jogging and playing basketball in the gym. It may be speculated that the main issue with his social life is being a ConspiracyTheorist. Before Scully, he still had some relationships though-a female FBI agent is shown as being a former flame of his, along with an English policewoman. He also hooks up with a female vampire in one episode (or at least it's strongly ''implied'' that they slept together).
** Mulder's trio of {{sidekick}}s, a team of tech-geeks and conspiracy theorists calling themselves the Lone Gunmen, are far less attractive and very bad with women. They have their short-lived spin-off ''Series/TheLoneGunmen''.
* Quinn in ''Series/{{Zoey 101}}''. She [[FanServicePack gets a makeover later on]] in the show.
* Played with with Ted on ''Series/SchittsCreek''. He is the awkward, KindlyVet that is portrayed as too nice for Alexis Rose but played by the incredibly handsome Creator/DustinMilligan. Ted is not unattractive, but early on he's played as far less attractive than sexy, brooding Mutt. In later episodes, Ted's attractiveness is played up and PlayedForLaughs as nearly everyone notices he is incredibly hot, despite being incredibly nice.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'''s Lucca is practically the poster girl for this in the world of gaming.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'''s Otacon was initially intended to be a skinny, perpetually nervous-looking geek. As time went on, though, he became more and more attractive, and as of the fourth installment he looks positively beautiful and easily the best-looking male in the cast (ironic as originally he had grey hair and was about the same age as Snake. With each installment Snake gets older and uglier, and Otacon gets younger and more attractive).
** Otacon's sister E.E. in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2''. Portrayed as somewhat socially crippled due to her dysfunctional family and as a ridiculously brilliant hacker and scientist, and very cute too.
** Paramedic is actually really cute too, and she's DEFINITELY a nerd (specifically, she's a movie geek).
*** She boasts of her looks in one conversation where she mentioned that men want her as she's intelligent and good looking to boot.
** Lampshaded in the original ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'': Snake points out that he didn't expect Mei Ling, designer of his communications Codec and the Soliton Radar, to be cute.
** Also, Naomi Hunter and Nastasha Romenenko certainly didn't look too bad either.
* Ema Skye from the first and fourth ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' games as well as the Gaiden Game, Investigations. During the 10-year gap between her main series appearances she never loses her passion for forensic science. In her first appearance she was cute as a button, and as an adult in ''Apollo Justice'' she's still attractive.
* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'': Gordon Freeman. MIT grad? Check. Doctoral thesis with a hideously-long title about a topic that would bore {{Muggle}}s to tears? Check. Theoretical physicist? Check. NerdGlasses? Check. [[HeroicMime No apparent social skills?]] Check. [[http://images.wikia.com/halflifemachinima/images/8/82/Freeman.jpg Hot?]] Check.
** Additionally, it is mentioned in passing that Black Mesa has a fitness program, apparently expecting its faculty to be in reasonably good shape, not just the security personnel. After Black Mesa gets cratered, the good Dr. Freeman is battling for the fate of all humanity alongside other refugees. Survival situations = fit scientists.
* Shad from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''. Dresses like a dork (argyle socks? bow tie wider than a mile? implausibly high collar? and don't ask about the creepy buttons) and spends most of his free time studying an ancient race of bird-people, yet has a very large fangirl following thanks to his curly auburn hair, huge blue eyes, smooth skin and decently muscled physique. His participation in the Resistance movement puts him just this side of BadassBookworm.
* Tails from the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' series fits this trope quite well. His mechanical expertise rivals Dr Robotnik's, and his cuteness is legendary.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', Rouge refers to Tails and Eggman's conversation as 'Nerd Speak'.
* Zip and Alister in ''VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend''. Even wimpy Alister has HUGE pecs. Lara even {{lampshade}}s this when she asks Zip when he has time to work out. "I never see you leave this room!"
** Lara herself qualifies, but ''especially'' in 2013's ''[[VideoGame/TombRaider2013 Tomb Raider]]''. She's only a college graduate, but displays ''remarkable'' knowledge of the various artifacts she discovers during the game, wears an artifact she found on one of her father's digs (her own first find) as a necklace, and has an adorable enthusiasm. Information you learn later in the game reveals Sam needed to practically drag her away from her books to get her to go out, and that "adventures" to Europe's hot spots had Lara more interested by libraries and historical sites than the clubs, bars and parties. However even before [[TookALevelInBadass Taking Levels In Badass]] Lara is an athletic and quite beautiful young woman, who showed no problems meeting guys whenever Sam could get her nose out of her books.
* ''VideoGame/BackyardSports'': Reese is a nerd. And he's cute, too.
* Rick Taylor from ''VideoGame/{{Splatterhouse}}''. He has the look down, being TheSmartGuy, into things like Mayans and heavy metal music. Others have even told him that he was dating a girlfriend that was out of his league, but they have a good relationship. Though once Rick dons the Terror Mask, his nerdy appearance is taken to a large and muscular one. He still has the [[VocalDissonance whiny voice]], though.
* It's easy to forget that ''Franchise/ResidentEvil's'' [[http://i.imgur.com/gzaWj.jpg handsome]], confident, sexy-voiced MagnificentBastard Albert Wesker is a brilliant scientist who actually created (or helped create) many of the viruses found in the series.
* ''VideoGame/KingsQuest's'' Prince Alexander is a straight-up TallDarkAndHandsome PrinceCharming who tends to attract every single woman who catches sight of him. He also is a {{Sesquipedalian Loquacious|ness}} nerdy magician who teaches University classes, writes textbooks and essays, does research, and has his nose in a book when not doing any of the above.
* Landon from ''Chrono Days Sim Date'' actually used to be fat and unattractive when he was young, but has [[FormerlyFat slimmed down]], [[TheGlassesGottaGo gotten contacts]], and [[SheIsAllGrownUp grown up]] into a HotScientist since then while keeping his shy and awkward personality. The game even lampshades this trope with a cheat code obtained from his best ending reading (sans spaces) "nerds irl dont look this handsome".
* The ''VideoGame/ObsCure'' series, as a GenreThrowback to '90s teen horror, naturally has quite a few of these. The first game has Shannon, the GirlNextDoor and A+ student who's good at first aid and solving puzzles and also wears [[ShesGotLegs a tiny and very flattering miniskirt]], and Josh, a rather handsome and well-dressed teenage boy and SchoolNewspaperNewshound who only looks dweebish when placed next to the muscular jock Kenny. The second game has Jun, a GamerChick who is portrayed as less outgoing than her sister Mei but is still plenty attractive. Mei herself isn't quite an example; despite being the hacker of the group, she's also the hot chick and Corey's girlfriend.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* Dennis from ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'' has the looks and intelligence of a stereotypical nerd. He's also a prodigious hacker, and loves video games to the point where Amy, who streams video gaming on Twitch, is his favorite girl in his summer school class.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films — Animation]]
* Belle from ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' is viewed as "odd" by the other townspeople [[DeliberateValuesDissonance because she's a woman who likes to read]]. That doesn't stop her from being the most beautiful girl in her village.
* Tadashi Hamada from ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6''. While he looks like a male model (and he can be described as every girl's wet dream), he's a huge dork who's skilled with robotics.
** Honey is a chemist, [=GoGo=] studies mechanical engineering, and Wasabi studies physics. All three of them go to school at a highly prestigious science academy and all three are very conventionally attractive.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Joseph Carrion in the ''Literature/MediochreQSethSeries'' doesn't seem that nerdy [[OvershadowedByAwesome next to Mediochre]], but he's still a PopCulturedBadass, university professor, [[HotScientist scientist]] and former TeenGenius, and is described as well-built and handsome.
* Lissa Dragomir from ''Literature/VampireAcademy'' has model-like looks but Rose refers to her as a nerd for taking advanced calculus as a class, and acing all her tests.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/AdamAnt in the early days of the Ants, when he wore glasses. [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/adam_ant_wearing_glasses_5304.jpg]]
* Andy "Fletch" Fletcher from Music/DepecheMode
* Music/FallOutBoy, especially in the video for "Dance, Dance". Nobody is going to believe these guys couldn't get dates.
* Music/JohnLennon
* Music/KatyPerry in her video for the song "Last Friday Night". The makeup people did a pretty impressive job of making the extremely beautiful (and almost 30 year-old) Perry into a nerdy teenage girl complete with huge glasses and an elaborate set of braces/retainer. During the video she gets an extreme makeover that leaves her with a distinct resemblance to Creator/KellyLeBrock.
* Taylor Swift wore glasses for her music video "You Belong With Me". They utterly failed to make her look ugly; if anything, [[{{Meganekko}} she looked even cuter.]]
** For extra [[ProgressivelyPrettier Fail Polish]], the super-hot cheerleader she can't compete against? Her. [[ActingForTwo Taylor Swift]] in a brown wig, ''with exactly the same eye shadow''.
* Music/TearsForFears: In the "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsHiG-43Fzg Head over Heels]]" music video, NerdGlasses were put on Curt Smith and Canadian model Joan Densmore in an attempt to make them appear as a dorky library custodian and a nerdy librarian, respectively. However, Smith's [[PrettyBoy prettiness]] is still very apparent (in fact, he liked the look enough that he kept the fake glasses on during a Creator/{{CBC}} [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hVA807yy0U&t=3m38s interview]]), and Densmore's character is a HotLibrarian.
* Rivers Cuomo from Music/{{Weezer}}.
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[[folder:Podcasts]]
* Walter Shoemaker from the ''Podcast/CoolKidsTable'' game ''Creepy Town'' comes the closest due to being a D&D nerd.
* The voice actor Cecil Baldwin, from ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'', says this is [[http://darkowlrecords.tumblr.com/post/64731075839/momolafey-cecil-baldwin-the-actor-talking-about how he pictures Carlos the Scientist]].
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[[folder:Theatre]]
* Elphaba in the stage versions of ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}.'' Being dressed in a gray schoolmarm outfit with glasses, frumpy hair, and green skin to boot, does nothing to detract from the stunning beauty of Idina Menzel, or any of her successors.
** Still, she's not ugly because she's a nerd, she's ugly because she's green. And though she has a beautiful face (and stunning body), she still has an unnatural color, and that's mainly why people are scared of her.
[[/folder]]