Why everyone loves new Netflix star Noah Centineo
Noah Centineo. By now you’ve heard his name and seen his face (and what a lovely face he has). If you haven’t, then I have some questions for you, like, “How is that possible?” And, “What is your life?”
The guy has ascended at a remarkable rate from relative obscurity to the internet’s boyfriend and (for a time) the №1 most popular celebrity on IMDb. His meteoric rise has no doubt been bolstered by his presence in two hit Netflix films at a time when movie fans have a seemingly unquenchable thirst for romantic comedies. But Netflix makes lots of films with lots of guys and gals, and they don’t all garner such sweeping adoration. So, I wondered, what is it that makes Noah Centineo so special?
While re-watching my favorite scenes from his latest films, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Sierra Burgess is a Loser, I realized that the correct answer is everything, but for the sake of this article, I chose to highlight four things. I present to you the four qualities that give Noah Centineo his endless charm, his unparalleled likability — his Noah Centineo-ness, if you will.
His smile
You know how sometimes a person’s smile in a photograph will look obviously fake? Well, Noah Centineo’s smile never looks like that. Each one is more dashing and heartfelt than the last. He smiles without a hint a vanity; it’s boyish and bashful, as if he doesn’t realize how perfect it is. He smiles not just with his mouth but with every inch of his face. His jawline seems to sharpen and become more defined. His eyebrows curve ever-so-slightly. And his eyes glisten in a way that when he smiles at you, he lets you know that you are really seen. And you are special. And you are safe.
His height/physique
Noah Centineo is 6'1", which is the perfect height. He’s the exact right level of tall where girls have to look up at him, but he’s not so tall that he looks awkward or threatening. Likewise, he has the perfectly charming physique. He’s fit but not so fit that it becomes intimidating or vain. He strikes the perfect balance of looking good without looking like he’s trying too hard to look good.
His hair
His hair, much like his physique, finds that sweet spot between not caring and caring too much. It’s messy but not in a reckless way. It’s messy enough to suggest he’s too busy writing love poems or purchasing thoughtful gifts for his sweetheart to spend much time styling his hair. Although he clearly uses some amount of product, it’s not enough to keep every strand of hair firmly in place all day. At some point his luscious locks fall over his brow and slightly cover his eyes. And he’ll just leave it there until that perfect moment later on when he’ll close his eyes, brush back the hair, then look up and smolder with the force of a thousand fires.
His voice
His voice is perhaps the most endearing of all these notable traits. The sound is warm and soothing with a flinty quality that is somehow both rugged and gentle. Its cadence and inflection make every word he speaks seem meaningful and memorable. When I first heard his voice, it was startlingly familiar. At first, I thought he was voice twins with Mark Ruffalo, but then I realized that he sounds like a combination of Mark Ruffalo and the creepy brother from Get Out (Caleb Landry Jones) — except not creepy. Say what you will about the creepy brother’s homicidal behavior, but that guy could tell a captivating story. I imagine that when Noah Centineo tells a story, he chooses the exact right moments to raise and lower his volume and emotion, drawing you into the story’s world and making you feel like you’re wrapped in the world’s snuggliest blanket.
I believe in a few things. I believe in Noah Centineo. I believe in Noah Centineo’s ability to carry a movie with his soothing voice and luscious hair. And I believe that Noah Centineo’s overall charm will continue to make him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and I believe in repeating myself to make my sentences longer.
It’s Noah Centineo’s world now — we just stream his movies in it.
