Denise Richards – Wild Things – 1998
A blue suit, water cascading, and a look that said more than dialogue ever could. Denise Richards stepping from the pool in Wild Things was sultry and theatrical at the same time, a perfect fit for the film’s twisty tone.
Her momentum started a year earlier with Starship Troopers, then rolled right into Bond territory with The World Is Not Enough as Dr. Christmas Jones. She balanced allure with steel, big budget spectacle with a wink. You remember the swimsuit, sure, but you stay for the presence.