100 years of fame

Alistair Cooke said last week that Monica Lewinsky 'must be the most famous 24-year-old in the world'. Which raised a question: age by age, from 1 to 100, who are the world's greatest celebrities?

1 LOURDES CICCONE

She gazes out of the pages of the current issue of Vanity Fair - but then having Madonna as your mother does give you a start in life.

2 REGAN GASCOIGNE

In a few years' time England football fans will be hoping he's inherited father Paul's talent for the game.

3 ABBIE HUMPHRIES

Kidnapped from a Nottingham hospital in the summer of 1994 before being safely returned to her mother, Karen.

4 NOAH BECKER

An early taste of controversy for the son of Boris and Barbara Becker, whose inter-racial marriage has exercised the racist tendency in Germany.

5 FRANCES BEAN LOVE

Showbiz offspring don't come much bigger than the daughter of Courtney Love and the late Kurt Cobain.

6 DAO and DUAN

Siamese twins from Thailand who were successfully separated in an 11- hour operation in Philadelphia. Featured on a Channel 4 documentary last year.

7 PRINCESS EUGENIE

She and her nine-year-old sister, Beatrice, (daughters of the Duke and Duchess of York) have clocked up more air miles than most under-10s.

8 ALEX D LINZ

Second-generation Home Alone star hoping that what happened to Macaulay Culkin won't happen to him.

9 SCOUT WILLIS

First-born of ultimate celebrity couple Demi Moore and Bruce Willis. Was at least spared the fate of his younger brother Rumer, the one in Mummy's tummy when she appeared pregnant and naked on the cover of Vanity Fair.

10 SATCHEL ALLEN

Youngest son of Woody and Mia. Another whose name wasn't exactly calculated to guarantee anonymity.

11 PIPPA WOODROW

Lavished with praise when she sang in a Royal Opera production of The Turn of the Screw last year.

12 MISCHA BARTON

Remember the girl who was too young to see her own screen debut in a 15-rated film? That was Barton, acclaimed for her performance in Lawn Dogs.

13 PRINCE HARRY

Of all the images surrounding the death

of the Princess of Wales, none was more poignant than that of the slight figure of her younger son, one hand in his suit pocket, as he bent down to look at the floral tributes at Kensington Palace.

14 ANNA PAQUIN

Precocity played no part when Paquin won an Oscar for her performance in The Piano - the youngest winner in the awards' history.

15 PRINCE WILLIAM

They don't come much bigger than the future King of England (assuming he wants it). But he'll never sell as many records as his contemporary LeAnn Rimes, country and western's newest sensation. James Bulger's killers, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, are both now 15.

16 SERENA WILLIAMS

Younger and, some experts say, more talented of the tennis-playing Williams sisters destined to become the game's first black women superstars. Look out for Dominique Swain, Lolita in the remake soon to open.

17 MACAULAY CULKIN

Home Alone star turned custody-battle victim who has paid the price of growing up in the spotlight - a fate that Venus Williams, sister of Serena, has avoided.

18 CHELSEA CLINTON

The President's daughter has done her bit for the family image since Dad took office six years ago. Now at university in California, her profile has been almost non-existent during the Lewinsky scandal. Swiss- born Martina Hingis is poised to dominate tennis for years to come, and there's an 18-year-old all football is talking about: Michael Owen, the youngest player this century to turn out for England.

19 RIO FERDINAND

Another rising star of English football, unenviably labelled the new Bobby Moore.

20 LOUISE WOODWARD

For a few emotion-charged days last autumn, the British au pair on a murder charge had the world stage to herself. And now it's happening all over again.

21 RONALDO

Undisputed as the world's best footballer - a classically Brazilian combination of power and skill, for whom the World Cup can't wait.

22 TIGER WOODS

Black golfing phenomenon who broke through the sport's racial barrier when winning last year's Masters. But we should not forget Kate Winslet or Baby Spice.

23 LEONARDO DiCAPRIO

Titanic sent him sailing to the top of the Hollywood big league.

24 MONICA LEWINSKY

Cooke was right - she is the most famous 24 year old in the world. Even fans of Mel C, Posh Spice and Ryan Giggs would have to agree.

25 LIAM GALLAGHER

His music may have gone off, but his talent for hell-raising remains unimpaired.

26 WINONA RYDER

Waif-like beauty on whose private life (relationships with Johnny Depp and Christian Slater) the Hollywood gossip factory feeds. Gifted actress in her spare time.

27 ALAN SHEARER

Football's Mr Clean is also one of its most potent goal scorers (when not injured). But only just strong enough to hold off the challenge of Naomi Campbell.

28 STEFFI GRAF

Success on the tennis court tempered by injury and her father's imprisonment on charges of tax evasion. Shadows with which Gillian Anderson can only compete in her X-Files guise.

29 RIKKI LAKE

Queen of the TV confessionals with more mileage in her than racing driver Michael Schumacher. Also 29: singer Celine Dion, actress Jennifer Aniston and Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh.

30 JULIA ROBERTS

A recent Hollywood "power list" put her second only to Harrison Ford. So move over Pamela Anderson, Noel Gallagher and Paul Gascoigne.

31 MIKE TYSON

The heavyweight boxing champion for whom notoriety goes hand in glove with ferociousness. No contest in a straight fight with Chris Evans.

32 LIZ HURLEY

Sympathies to Cindy Crawford for meeting her match in the all-round fame dame who remains Hugh Grant's loyal companion. Damien Hirst is also 32.

33 PRINCE EDWARD

A career in TV has made him the least "royal" of the lot.

34 BRAD PITT

Hollywood heart-throb edges it over Whitney Houston, Elle Macpherson, Quentin Tarantino and George Michael.

35 MICHAEL JORDAN

An entire shoe industry has built up around the world's greatest basketball player, who out-leaps even Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jodie Foster.

36 JIM CARREY

A recent addition to the Hollywood super-league, along with George Clooney - both now moving quicker than legendary sprinter Carl Lewis.

37 HUGH GRANT

A brief encounter just off Sunset Boulevard was all it took. Even Diego Maradona has to hold up the Hand of God in acknowledgement.

38 DUCHESS OF YORK

Whatever you think of her, you can't deny she's, er, big. And in age terms, at any rate, she'll always be with Prince Andrew.

39 MADONNA

The biggest celebrity of them all? Motherhood and a new album have done nothing to lessen her fascination. Bad luck Michael Jackson and Sharon Stone.

40 ARNOLD

SCHWARZENEGGER

First he built his body, then his reputation as an actor.

41 TOM HANKS

Turned regular-guyness into a prized Hollywood commodity. Second most famous 41-year-old spot to be decided in a mixed singles between Bjorn Borg and Martina Navratilova.

42 BILL GATES

Everyone's logging on to him, the dollars stack up by the second, and world leaders are worried.

43 ROWAN ATKINSON

Sorry, but across the globe, Mr Bean really is that popular. John Grisham reaches similar numbers, while Bob Geldof needs to find a fresh cause to adopt.

44 OPRAH WINFREY

The fact that her first name alone is sufficient to command recognition says it all. A controver- sial choice in a field that in- cludes Tony Blair. Also 44: John Travolta.

45 CHRISTOPHER REEVE

One day he was Superman, the next his life was shattered in a riding accident. His forthcoming autobiography promises to be one of the most poignant Hollywood has ever produced.

46 STEVIE WONDER

A strong age for music, in which Julian Lloyd Webber, Luther Vandross, Elaine Page and Sting also figure. Perhaps Pierce Brosnan can sing, too.

47 PRINCESS ANNE

The royal we've come to respect most . Also 47: Richard Branson and Phil Collins.

48 RICHARD GERE

He's handsome; he's big box office; he married Cindy Crawford; he rallies the world to the cause of a free Tibet. That's an impressive CV. But honourable mentions for Sigourney Weaver and Bruce Springsteen; less so for celebrity villain Carlos the Jackal.

49 THE PRINCE OF WALES

He never wanted fame. But it goes with the job. Musicals maestro Andrew Lloyd Webber can content himself with his many millions. What would either have to say to Gerry Adams?

50 ELTON JOHN

Westminster Abbey, 6 September 1997: a performance that puts him ahead even of Hillary Clinton. Other half-centurions: Steven Spielberg, Jose Carreras, and David Letterman.

51 BILL CLINTON

President of the United States is a high-profile enough job without any extra publicity. The Sultan of Brunei is famous for his riches, but you'd recognise Donald Trump, David Bowie and George Best more easily.

52 DOLLY PARTON

Country and western icon complete with her own theme park. Eric Clapton merely fills the Albert Hall for a month every year. Also 52: German football legend Franz Beckenbauer.

53 DIANA ROSS

A duet with Rod Stewart would be appropriate. Also 53: Mia Farrow.

54 MICK JAGGER

Original rock god, and the only one still at it (book now for the Stones' August shows at Wembley). Kiri Te Kanawa provides another voice to reckon with. Also 54: Robert De Niro.

55 PAUL McCARTNEY

The trappings of fame couldn't interest him or his fellow ex-Beatle George Harrison less. Not so Barbra Streisand. Hollywood studio executives might nominate Harrison Ford. They reckon he puts bums on seats like no other actor. And then there's Colonel Gadaffi.

56 MUHAMMAD ALI

Will always be "The Greatest" - the scale of his personality and achievements now thrown into poignant relief by his long battle with Parkinson's disease. Hard on another icon of post-war American culture, Bob Dylan.

57 PELE

The beautiful game's most beautiful practitioner. Now a presiding spirit across the football world, where Tina Turner is usually on hand to sing "Simply the Best". Placido Domingo is also 57.

58 JACK NICKLAUS

Greatest golfer of the post-war era, hits a slightly longer drive down the fairway of fame than either John Cleese or Francis Ford Coppola.

59 TED TURNER

TV moguldom would put him on the map even without marriage to Jane Fonda.

60 SADDAM HUSSEIN

David Hockney, Bobby Charlton, Jane Fonda and Robert Redford make an admirable quartet of 60 year olds, but nobody commands attention quite like the current scourge of the West.

61 JACK NICHOLSON

Some say he's squandered his talent; not his talent for life. Also 61: the Aga Khan.

62 WOODY ALLEN

Those who seek out Allen the clarinettist in his New York bar every Monday night do so because nobody in the entertainment world fascinates us quite like he does. The appeal of Luciano Pavarotti is rather simpler.

63 BRIGITTE BARDOT

From screen goddess to loose-cannon politico, who certainly wouldn't approve of anything in leopardskin by Giorgio Armani. Sophia Loren might, though.

64 ROMAN POLANSKI

Child of the Warsaw ghetto, husband of murdered Sharon Tate, exiled in France for more than 20 years while on a charge of having sex with a girl of 13, it's been a life like no other for the man whose greatest film, Chinatown, is many people's all-time No 1.

65 MOHAMED AL FAYED

An inescapable, tragic but vexatious figure since his son Dodi died alongside the Princess of Wales. Probably not as rich as cricket-loving American John Paul Getty. Also 65: Yoko Ono.

66 MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

It's been forgotten too quickly how he helped change the world. Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Rupert Murdoch have also made their differing contributions. Elizabeth Taylor evokes the glamour of an earlier age.

67 NEIL ARMSTRONG

His small step for man puts him in a class of his own, even if many more people now would recognise Princess Margaret, Clint Eastwood, Sean Connery, Boris Yeltsin or Imelda Marcos. George Soros is also 67.

69 FIDEL CASTRO

What makes an icon? In this instance a combination of not shaving while leading one of the last bastions of Communism for 40 years. Pol Pot provides dubious company.

70 ROGER MOORE

The oldest of the 007s embraces a purer celebrity than any of them; ie always turns out for the cameras on Derby Day.

71 THE QUEEN

In good company with fellow animal-lover David Attenborough, whose programmes are watched the world over.

72 MARGARET THATCHER

It would be interesting to listen in on a conversation between her and contemporary Gore Vidal.

73 MARLON BRANDO

Cinema had never seen anything like him; and they've seen only pale imitations since. Same vintage as Paul Newman, and two former presidents, Jimmy Carter and George Bush. Not forgetting Idi Amin - still alive and living in Saudi Arabia.

74 PRINCE RAINIER

In a castle overlooking the Mediterranean, an elderly moustachioed gent presides over his moneyed domain where the memory of family tragedy can never be banished.

75 LUCIAN FREUD

The world's greatest living artist, many believe. Contemporary of pioneering heart-transplant surgeon Christiaan Barnard.

76 PRINCE PHILIP

A life of duty that has not been as dull as that sounds. But whether as exciting as Deborah Kerr's in From Here to Eternity, who can say.

77 THE POPE

Right up there in contention for the title of most recognised man on earth. He's certainly played to the biggest audiences.

78 SIR EDMUND HILLARY

The scaling of Everest was the moon landing of its day - with Hillary as its Neil Armstrong. Also 78: Zsa Zsa Gabor.

79 NELSON MANDELA

Whatever Brian Walden may think, he'll surely be the one to beat in any Man of the Century poll. Billy Graham has likewise had his followers, while JD Salinger and Alexander Solzhenitsyn are giants on the literary landscape.

80 ARTHUR C CLARKE

Having a year for a book title worked for George Orwell; so, too, with Clarke's 2001, which will be his passport to immortality.

81 YEHUDI MENUHIN

He started so young that his violin-playing still spans most of the century. Vera Lynn carries with her the spirit of wartime Britain; Hollywood great Gregory Peck also survives.

82 FRANK SINATRA

The greatest entertainer of the 20th century has as his contemporary a giant of American literature, Arthur Miller.

83 ALEC GUINNESS

Self-deprecating master of stage and screen with a nice sideline as a diarist.

84 LARRY ADLER

Who says a mere harmonica player can't be a great artist?

85 LORETTA YOUNG

Even in 1930s Hollywood, when stars rolled off the production line, the elegant Ms Young shone as brightly as any.

86 MILTON FRIEDMAN

Father of the free-market economy whose ideas have affected millions without their knowing it.

87 RONALD REAGAN

Straddled showbiz and politics at a level never seen before.

88 ERNST GOMBRICH

In the world of art history, he's the tops.

89 HENRI

CARTIER-BRESSON

Master photographer with four exhibitions in Britain alone to mark his 90th birthday later this year. Veteran broadcaster Alistair Cooke and professional dandy Quentin Crisp each retains his own inimitable style.

90 KATHARINE HEPBURN

She was, famously, Woman of the Year in the 1942 film with Spencer Tracy. And in Hollywood terms she's now Woman of the Century. And to think she was in the same year at school as Lord Hailsham.

91 BILLY WILDER

Started in the German film industry in the 1920s. Can now look back over one of the great directing careers (Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity). Librarians everywhere have cause to be grateful to Catherine Cookson.

92 LORD LONGFORD

Veteran campaigner, and a singular figure in English public life.

93 SIR JOHN GIELGUD

Still winning over new audiences, even if it's just in commercials for the BBC.

94 BOB HOPE

Grandfather of film comedy had an honorary knighthood bestowed on him by the Queen only last month. "After a lifetime of ad-libbing, I'm speechless," he said. They named a golf tournament after him, of which the same cannot be said of baby-care guru Benjamin Spock.

95 LENI RIEFENSTAL

When future generations want to learn how the rise of German fascism came about, they will need to see the legendary German film-maker's masterpiece, Triumph of the Will.

96 BARBARA CARTLAND

The titles of her books fill more than a page in her Who's Who entry. A woman who knew how to sell herself long before public relations came along.

97 THE QUEEN MOTHER

The Clarence House well-wishers know a star when they see one. Recovery from a broken hip only emphasised her serene indestructibility.

98 MADAME CHIANG

KAI-SHEK

It might have been her husband who was supposed to be running China all those years, but in reality it was a team effort. And she's still around to tell the tale.

99 NINETTE DE VALOIS

Doyenne of British ballet - founded the Royal Ballet in 1947.

100 NAOMI MITCHISON

Writer who lists her recreation in Who's Who as "surviving so far". Would- be celebrities take note.

Additional research by Amanda Kelly.