May 15, 2004
» The Many Faces of Helen — good slideshow at Slate. More pictures of Helen
What does drop-dead beautiful look like these days? As we become increasingly convinced that beauty — and truth, and almost everything else — lies in the eye of the beholder, we're less likely to concur about how Helen should appear. Already, critics who've seen the film quibble that the Helen in Troy is not beautiful enough. This is not the fault of the casting directors, who considered Victoria's Secret models and improbable pop stars alike. How can you find — or, in the case of artists, paint — a woman who everyone will agree is the most beautiful on earth?

