Put on a happy face — but beware Phoney Tony
How a person smiles can apparently tell much about their personality or mood.
Peta Heskell, an expert on body language, believes she has identified five main smile types:
"The Phoney Tony", after British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is characterised by clenched teeth through either open or closed mouth, with cold eyes.
"The Flirty", which is far warmer and uses the whole face, involves close eye contact, with perhaps the tongue peeking through the teeth.
Flirty smilers include TV presenter Cat Deeley and pop star Rachel Stevens, according to Ms Heskell.
"The Sunshine Smile", as flashed by actress Julia Roberts and TV host Cilla Black, is the most genuine, said Ms Heskell.
Characteristics are creased-up eyes with the lids folded slightly down. Lips are open and teeth are in full view.
"The Wicked Smile" is typically accompanied by a mouth that quivers, slowly blinking eyes and nostrils that flare. Sported by actor Sean Connery and TV presenter Graham Norton.
"The I'm Afraid to Smile" type, of which Hollywood actress Renée Zellweger and former That's Life host Esther Rantzen are examples, involves slight widening of the cheeks but the mouth remains closed and the lips quiver.
"Smiling is one of the most powerful and influential forms of communication," said Ms Heskell, the author of flirting books and who runs flirting courses to build people's self-esteem.
"As the research reveals, a smile is more than just an outward gesture, there's a lot going on behind our smiles.
"For example, 'Phoney Tonys' tend to wear a mask and are very concerned about what others think about them. They will do anything to present a good picture, even if that means being untrue to what they really believe.
"Whereas 'Sunshine Smilers' take a more carefree attitude to life and are less preoccupied by what others think about them they live for the moment.
Her research was commissioned by Philips Oral Healthcare.
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