It would seem that as far as US women are concerned, when it comes to men, British is best

Jennifer Aniston recently enjoyed a fling with Essex-born former bricklayer Paul Sculfor, making her the latest in a long line of American A-listers casting the net over these shores in search of a man.

Here are just some of the American beauties who have found happiness with a homegrown hunk.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie
Once known as a fun-loving, good-time girl, Madonna has embraced some good old-fashioned English values to teach her two children Lourdes and Rocco.

'Everybody has to chip in,' she says of the household rules. 'Even my children have to clean up their mess, clean up their rooms. Manners; thank you and please, take your dishes to the sink and gratitude, being grateful - that has to happen.'

Life with British director Ritchie has certainly tamed the 48-year-old, who even enjoys horse riding and other country pursuits at their Wiltshire estate.

'I'm definitely not a Material Girl anymore,' she says. 'My life is very different now; I have a husband and I have children. I like to think I've made some improvements.'

One of the things she most admires about her hubby of six years is his style, as well as his ability to stand up to her.

'I like it when my husband wears suits and I tell him that on a regular basis,' says Madonna, who was previously married to bad boy Sean Penn. 'Guy will sometimes laugh at what I wear. I'll put something on and he'll look at me and say, "Who are you going as then?"'

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin
It came as little surprise when the Oscar-winning actress found herself a Brit to settle down with. After all, people have been mistakenly assuming Gwyneth, 34, is from the UK for years.

'I think it is an image that has been created,' she says of her seemingly honorary British status. 'I know some people still think I'm English now but I am not unhappy about it. English actresses have a good image.'

The Shakespeare In Love star, who wed Coldplay singer Chris Martin in December 2003, is happy raising the couple's two children, Apple and Moses, in London as she has become attached to life across the Pond.

She says: 'I am always amazed that I get this look of disbelief when I say to people over here "I love living in your country". There's always a look of puzzlement that seems to flit across their faces.'

Martin's charm and patience with their two kids helps keep the spark alive in their marriage. 'He's a wonderful father and a wonderful husband,' she smiles. 'I'm lucky.'

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
As they approach their fifth wedding anniversary, Gwen remains as much under her charming husband's spell as ever. The singer, whose son Kingston was born last May, first met 41-year-old Bush frontman Rossdale in 1996 and they have been together ever since, dividing their time between LA and London.

'He's the most important part of my life and I make sure it is a number one priority,' says Gwen. 'British ska music had a huge impact on my life. I was obsessed with the whole London scene, the whole UK basically. And I end up marrying this guy who's English. Who would have though that?'

The two have even hung out in London with fellow trans-Atlantic couple Madonna and Guy Ritchie.

'She just invited us round,' adds Gwen, 37. 'We were talking about being American girls married to British guys. She was so sweet and lovely and Guy and Gavin just completely clicked.'

Liv Tyler and Royston Langdon
Liv says she has her rocker husband's English upbringing to thank for his well-mannered attention to her. The 29-year-old, who wed Langdon in Barbados in March 2003 and gave birth to son Milo in December 2004, couldn't be happier to have settled down with a polite Englishman.

'Roy's so funny and he's just a gentleman,' she gushes. 'He's so loving and incredibly supportive. He's got really beautiful manners; he was raised very well. He always treats me like a lady and he's very intelligent.'

After a hectic childhood (her father is Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler), Liv is delighted to have settled down with her man and has fallen in love with his hometown of Leeds.

'I love the Roman ruins and the rolling hills,' she admits. 'It's so beautiful. I've also become a big fan of Yorkshire pudding! I didn't know how much it meant to me until I was married and pregnant. It made me realise how much I wanted this traditional life. When you grow up in an unstable environment like I did, you develop a longing for your own sense of place and for roots.'

Kirsten Dunst and Johnny Borrell
The world raised a collective eyebrow when Tinseltown's princess hooked up with the prince of the UK indie music scene, but the couple seem to be going strong.

Kirsten, who used to date Hollywood hunk Jake Gyllenhaal, is keen to keep her new relationship low-profile but it looks set to get serious.

'Of course I would like to stay out of the press with personal stuff as much as possible,' she says. 'The trick is to stay under the radar. I want to have a family and a normal life and not have people following me around all the time.'

She also admits she is glad her man is famous in his own right, and not out to ride on her coattails. 'I live a really normal life, but then occasionally you've got to have a little bit of this stuff that's not so fun to deal with,' she adds.

'I need somebody who can deal with all aspects of who I am. I would stay away from somebody who wants to be part of that whole thing, pictures being taken.'

Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany
The 36-year-old actress married her London-born beau in January 2003 in Scotland and one of the things that delights mum-of-two Jennifer about Bettany is his unstinting support while she is filming.

Recalling the filming of Dark Water, she says: 'Paul cleared all his appointments and came down to the studio so that when I wasn't able to be with our son Stellan, he was.'

'He gave himself the rather appalling nickname of 'Set Bitch' but he was so supportive. He was remarkable - there all the time for us both.'

The pair live a quiet life together in New York. 'We're not going out to parties all the time and we like to be with our kids,' adds Jennifer, who isn't sure whether there will be any further additions to their brood.

'Paul would like to have tons,' she laughs. 'He's said he wants me to be like a factory, making all these babies, but a factory isn't going to happen.'

Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy
The pair met when they worked together on new film Evening and Hugh's British charm worked wonders on his co-star.

'He's such a good actor,' gushed 28-year-old Claire after filming ended. 'I mean, everybody in this film is kind of embarrassingly talented, but no, I wasn't all that familiar with his work, and was just so surprised by how carefully judged his performance was, and how sensitive it was.'

But the Romeo and Juliet beauty, who split from actor Billy Crudup in December, isn't planning to settle down with her new man just yet.

'I would love to have a family, maybe two kids, maybe three,' she says. 'But when I start making plans, everything goes wrong. I'm mapping things out a lot less now because I realise how little control I really have.'

And don't expect them to make London their home. Hugh, 31, has upped sticks and headed across the Pond to New York to be with his lady love. 'I'm seeing Claire and living in New York, downtown, which I love,' he says.

Neve Campbell and John Light
Neve, 33, wed the Birmingham-born actor in May at a small ceremony in Malibu after dating him for two years. The Party Of Five star met Light, 32, who has worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company, when they filmed Investigating Sex, and they have made their home in London.

'I'm honestly not that bold when meeting people,' says Neve of their first meeting. 'I tend to sort of wait to see who people are before I become bold with them.'

But she is delighted to have found her soul mate to settle down with after divorcing Jeff Colt in 1998.

'My journey is constant change, constant growth,' she says. 'I'm always looking to grow as a person and as an artist, and learn about people and more about myself.'