Not content with being one of the sexiest women on the planet, actress Jessica Alba wants to be a female icon too.

The stunning star reckons reprising her role as daring Sue Storm in the Fantastic Four sequel will prove she's much more than just a pretty face.

"I love playing a female character that's so strong and dominant," she says excitedly. "She's not a villain, she's not nasty, she's quite a noble character to play - she's a great female icon."

The eagerly awaited sequel Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer once again reunites Jessica with Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis as the family of superheroes.

In this latest instalment the invincible four find themselves up against the might of the Silver Surfer (voiced by Laurence Fishburne) along with the return of Dr Doom (Julian McMahon) at the same time Sue Storm and Dr Reed are trying to organise their forthcoming nuptials.

Though between them the clan possesses extraordinary powers such as invisibility and summoning fire at will, it's Sue Storm who proves to be the most fantastic of them all, boasts Jessica.

"I'm definitely the most powerful of the four because in this movie I can do everyone else's powers," she says with a delighted giggle.

But however much she protests about brains and brawn over beauty there's no getting away from it - Jessica is now one of the hottest women in Hollywood.

She consistently tops the lad mags' sexiest female polls and according to one website was ranked in first place in the world's top 99 most desirable women.

However, the star reckons her perfect proportions are often more of a hindrance than a help.

"I always get the whore scripts," she says with a wry smile. "Or the opening scene is me in the shower naked, but though I don't like being objectified I also know I'm young and you have to strike while the iron is hot."

At just 26 Jessica has proved to be not only one of the most beautiful women on the big screen but almost one of the most savvy. She has won a huge fan base with her performances in hit movies such as Sin City, Never Been Kissed and Honey, along with the cult sci-fi series Dark Angel.

But despite her phenomenal success the modest star says she prefers hiking in the hills around her LA home than shimmying up the red carpet.

"I don't need to be famous and to be honest I don't like being the hot girl. I can't connect to that," she states.

The down to earth star also shuns the modern cult of celebrity - a theme which is prevalent in the Fantastic Four sequel when our superheroes are suddenly thrust into the limelight.

"What the movie tries to say and which I completely agree with is that even though you may be a celebrity you still want to be a human being, you still want a very regular family life," explains Jessica. "But unfortunately when you're under a microscope, everyone's very critical of your version of what that means, so people are picking you apart and putting you on pedestals then ripping them down for newsworthy sound bites.

"Being an actor you lose your anonymity a bit, but it only means as much as you want to give them. If it really matters if you're wearing the right boots for the season or you're out partying too much, who cares? I think it really just depends on how much weight you put on it."

Jessica's grounded attitude can be put down to her close family roots. Born in California, the daughter of a Mexican father and French-Danish mother, Jessica says their relationship has always been a role model for her.

"They taught me about unconditional love," she says. "You have your ups and downs but you stick with it. My parents made a forever commitment and that is what I want."

Currently dating producer and actor Cash Warren, the star says her ultimate goal is to have a family of her own.

"I definitely want kids," she says. "Either mine or adopted and it has to be with the right partner."

For now though, the star is happy to continue with a career that looks like being far from invisible.

"I'm kind of hard to live with at the moment - I'm always away or working, but like I say you have to strike while the iron's hot," she adds with a smile that says she's clearly loving every minute of her fantastic life.