A Thanksgiving Bounty of Hot On-Screen Native Americans, Pilgrims and Puritans

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a time of remembrance; a time to sit down with your family and reflect on the blessings bestowed you during the past twelve months—whilst ingesting as much turkey as one can stomach, of course.

This year, before plopping yourself down to watch the NFL Thanksgiving extravaganza, be thankful for something else, something much more important: lists that give you reasons to gawk at hot people (in this case, actresses who played Native Americans, pilgrims and puritans):

9. Pocahontas (Q'orianka Kilcher) – New World: The movie was terrible, and Colin Farrell is a blight upon humanity. Still, Q’orianka was nice to look it – at times.

8. Stands With Fists (Mary McDonnell) -- Dances With Wolves: Before her role on Battlestar Galactica, President Roslin Mary McDonnell co-starred alongside Kevin Costner. Who cares if she doesn’t look anything like a Native American?

7. Falling Leaves (Brandon Merrill) – Shanghai Noon: OK, so she’s in the movie for all of what—five minutes? Who cares… I still swooned. [Note: She has a manly name, but she’s all woman!]

6. Priscilla Mullins (Jenny Agutter) – Mayflower: The Pilgrims’ Adventure: I imagine many of you have never heard of this film, and I don’t blame you; it was before all our times. But, given the nature of the photograph in the gallery (which isn’t from this movie, per se), I think you’ll agree Jenny warranted a spot on the list.

5. Hester Prynne (Demi Moore) – The Scarlet Letter: From Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlett Letter to Striptease to G.I. Jane, we can all safely agree that Demi Moore has had one colorful career.

4. Cora Munro (Madeleine Stowe) – Last of the Mohicans: This 1992 adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper’s classic novel took many creative liberties with the novel, including casting every main character with models. My English professor may have cringed, but I applauded their efforts.

3. Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder) – The Crucible: Before anyone complains, yes, I am aware Puritans do not equate to Pilgrims. They’re a couple of centuries apart, but for everyone’s sake, Winona Ryder as Hester Prynne needed to be on this list.

2. Alice Munro (Jodhi May) -- Last of the Mohicans: As I mentioned before, this film was chockfull of gorgeous leading women. Too bad none of them had a fruitful career after this movie.

1. Pocahontas (Pocahontas) – Disney’s Pocahontas: You all fantasized about her when you were younger, and some of you still do. Admit it…