After toying with the possibilities for a bit over drinks at Duplex in Uptown Minneapolis, Melissa Anne Murphy finally decides on how to describe her dream man.

"Something like a Humphrey Bogart who plays Dungeons & Dragons," she says.

Why not? After all, it's that diametrical pairing of sultry sophistication and utter geekdom that makes Vita.mn's female Hotness 2011 victor so enticing. Hotness voters and judges couldn't resist this stylish and charming actress with pinup looks, who takes annual sabbaticals to a sci-fi convention. And can you really blame them? Here's a breakdown of Melissa Anne Murphy's many facets:

THE ARTIST

The porcelain-skinned, doe-eyed Melissa, 28, is all about passions. Her first -- the arts -- led her to the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy boarding school in her home state of Michigan. In 2000, she joined the University of Minnesota's first-ever BFA offering in conjunction with the Guthrie. "Theater is something that I'll always do," Murphy says, citing Shakespeare and Chekhov as favorites. "I can't help but be moved by the heights of ecstasy and doldrums of despair." Currently she's starring in Walking Shadow Theater Company's Bram Stoker-inspired drama "Drakul," coincidentally opening Friday at the Red Eye.

THE ACADEMIC

"Abraham Lincoln is it for me -- I love that man so much," Melissa gushes with the giddiness of a Backstreet Boys fan. Her eyes light up when talking Victorian-era American gender roles. Geeky? Absolutely. Endearing? You bet. Melissa's able to stoke her love of the past with a day job at the Minnesota History Center. She's thoughtful, too, referencing WikiLeaks, class rifts, nihilism, Susan Faludi's article "Feminism's Ritual Matricide" and Emily Brontë in a dizzying two-hour span. She plans on picking up a master's degree -- possibly in the arena of folklore -- in the near future.

THE PINUP

But she isn't all brainy-hot. Murphy -- who draws inspiration from vintage fashion designer Lena Hoschek and burlesque diva Dita Von Teese -- is also hot-hot. Get this: She owns only one pair of jeans, and it's part of an old costume. "I feel a sense of occasion and really presenting yourself is lost," she says. "I lament the advent of sweatpants as everyday wear." Like Rita Hayworth and Greta Garbo, she is timeless hot. Yet Melissa, who adores shopping at "small-town, rinky-dink antique shops," is also modest. "I feel like I'd be the hottest person, circumstantially, through votes," she blushes, reflecting on her odds of winning the contest. "I would be the hottest person for people who dress retro and like nerds."

THE HOT, SINGLE GEEK

Melissa's ideal man is every bit as vintage as she is. "I'm a sucker for tall, dark and handsome," she confesses, adding passion and a sense of adventure to the list. Melissa is single, but busy and a tad discriminating. "I don't want to be in a relationship because I'm supposed to," she says, "I want to be in a relationship because I can't help it."

Interest piqued? Here's how to woo our Hotness queen. Take her dancing. She frequents Clubhouse Jäger and hangar dances in South St. Paul -- but you'd better know the Lindy Hop. Nerd out on some episodes of Joss Whedon's "Firefly." Better yet, shred some D&D or ask her to the annual CONvergence sci-fi convention; she participates seriously in both. Buy this self-confessed "gin girl" a French 75 with Hendrick's, her drink of choice. Oh, and the same person who gets a thrill over Mamie Eisenhower's dresses also fancies hiking and camping. You just can't make up Melissa Anne Murphy.

Melissa Anne Murphy

  • Age: 28.
  • Sign: Leo.
  • Neighborhood: Uptown.
  • Status: Single.
  • Education: University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program (inaugural class); history minor.
  • Occupation: Historical interpreter/educator. Actress.
  • Favorite hangouts: Lee's Liquor Lounge, Clubhouse Jäger, the Saloon (Mondays), Tatters, my friends' dining room tables -- playing Dungeons & Dragons!
  • Turn-ons: Science-fiction nerds, people who wear vintage 1940s-'60s, men who read ... a lot
  • Local celebrity crushes: The Reckless Ones, Davina and the Vagabonds.
  • About me: I am a huge nerd (history, sci-fi, dinosaurs, board games) who loves to be glamorous every day. Nerds are hot ... right?

Nominated by: My friend John McGuinness!
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