Russian streaming service KION and dating app Mamba teamed up to survey the biggest cinema sex symbols from the past four decades. On the Russian side, Anna Samokhina, Ekaterina Klimova, Svetlana Khodchenkova, and Lyubov Aksenova dominated each decade. Internationally, Kim Basinger, Sharon Stone, Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, and Sydney Sweeney topped the polls.
The survey broke down respondents’ favorite actresses by decade and geography, revealing clear generational favorites. Among Russian actresses, 36% of voters named Anna Samokhina the sex symbol of the 1990s. Ekaterina Klimova led the 2000s with 27%, Svetlana Khodchenkova took the 2010s at 35%, and Lyubov Aksenova topped the 2020s with 38.2%. Close contenders included Vera Sotnikova, Anastasia Zavorotnyuk, Ekaterina Guseva, and Aglaya Tarasova.
On the international front, the results were more predictable. Kim Basinger led the 1980s with 30%, Sharon Stone took the 1990s also at 30%, while Angelina Jolie surged ahead in the 2000s with a commanding 48.4%. Scarlett Johansson won the 2010s at 40%, and Sydney Sweeney leads the 2020s with 38% of the vote.
- 1990s Russia: Anna Samokhina, 36%
- 2000s Russia: Ekaterina Klimova, 27%
- 2010s Russia: Svetlana Khodchenkova, 35%
- 2020s Russia: Lyubov Aksenova, 38.2%
- 1980s International: Kim Basinger, 30%
- 1990s International: Sharon Stone, 30%
- 2000s International: Angelina Jolie, 48.4%
- 2010s International: Scarlett Johansson, 40%
- 2020s International: Sydney Sweeney, 38%
The survey also captured a strong generational effect: 80% of men said the actresses they considered sex symbols in their youth remain attractive to them now. Only 15% admitted their tastes shifted significantly over time. When asked which fictional heroine they’d invite on a date, Lara Croft from ”Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” was the top pick.
When respondents described the ”ideal appearance,” Angelina Jolie led with 6% of mentions, followed by Monica Bellucci, Sharon Stone, Pamela Anderson, and Salma Hayek. This shows not just star recognition but also the lasting pull of media presence: Mamba has been active since 2003, and KION, an MTS ecosystem streaming service, launched video offerings in 2021. For both platforms, these polls serve dual purposes-audience research and cross-promotion.
Interest in these rankings reflects how screen icons evolve with new generations. Whereas Angelina Jolie’s lead in the 2000s was nearly double that of rivals, the 2020s have seen a more even spread, with newer actresses rising amid the rise of streaming platforms and social media influence. For online cinemas, star recognition remains a reliable draw despite the growing dominance of recommendation algorithms and personalized feeds.