Hypatia was, if we are being honest, one of the sexiest women ever -  not because of looks, on that we have no clue, but because this fourth century citizen scientists discovered the sun was the center of the universe a thousand years before Copernicus did.  Smart women rule.

And, if you go for that sort of thing, she was a total pagan in a land of Christian expansion, and she kept boytoys around for her amusement.   

Rachel Weisz Hypatia

Hollywood seems to recognize her awesomeness also but since movies are visual, they had to make her charisma more obvious, so they landed Oscar winner Rachel Weisz for the part.   Go check out the SF Gate interview where she talks about tackling a female land in a period piece where men are usually carrying the swords.