In 2006, Biel played a turn-of-the-century duchess in the period piece "The Illusionist", co-starring Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti. While her casting was met with a mixed response, her performance was ultimately praised. James Berardinelli of "Reelviews" called her the "film's real acting revelation", while Todd McCarthy of "Variety" wrote, "Handily employing a refined English accent where the others lay on a light Austrian veneer, Biel is entirely stunning enough to fight to the death over." Biel played an Iraq War veteran in the 2006 film "Home of the Brave", a drama about soldiers struggling to readjust to society after facing the hardships of war. In "Next" Biel starred alongside Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore. She appeared in the summer comedy "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry", co-starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James. In late 2007, Biel signed on to play a stripper in "Powder Blue", alongside Forest Whitaker (who also produced the film), Ray Liotta and Patrick Swayze. In 2007, "Stuff" magazine's named her No. 1 on their "100 Sexiest Women".