Sherlock and Potter girl top poll to find world’s sexiest film stars

Cumberbatch, 37, beat Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson and The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper in the men’s section of the poll, carried out by the movie magazine and website Empire.

British stars James McAvoy (16), Tom Hardy (17) and Daniel Craig (24) also made the men’s top 25, along with famous US names Johnny Depp (13) and Brad Pitt (19). Tom Cruise ranks at 47.

Watson, 23, triumphed over US actresses Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis and Angelina Jolie in the women’s chart.

She was the only British woman in the top 10, with Keira Knightley (17), Kate Beckinsale (19), Gemma Arterton (20), and Emily Blunt (21), missing out on the top spots.

Cumberbatch, who plays freedom of information campaigner Julian Assange in new film The Fifth Estate, has previously spoken about becoming an unlikely pin-up, saying: “It puts a bit of a spring in your step. It’s nice, you swagger a little bit, it’s enjoyable. I’ve punched well above my weight this year. I find it hysterically funny. It’s a giggle. I wield it with a massive smile.”

More than 50,000 movie fans took part in the poll, on www.empireonline.com.

Its editor James Dyer said: “It’s a great result for British stars. This list also reflects the continuing popularity of superhero movies six of the top 10 men have played superheroes and five of the top 10 women have appeared in comic-book movies.”