Random top tens: The least convincing nuns ever

1 Sally Field, The Flying NunEven if you've never seen this popular American sitcom, its title alone should tip you off that we've entered hitherto unexplored realms of absurdity, brought about when the lightweight novice in the overlarge wimple takes flight through Puerto Rican skies.

||1816|| Mary Tyler Moore, Change of Habit Years before she went on to become the darling of American television, MTM appeared as an incognito novitiate in this howler, that also finds Elvis Presley playing a ghetto doctor. Who'll prove more alluring, The King or God? Well, I'm not going to spoil it for you!

3 Shirley MacLaine, Two Mules for Sister SaraWhen's the last time you saw a fully wimpled nun wearing false eyelashes and lashings of mascara? In the rough and tumble (ie: no running water) American West, no less? Could it be that she's not really the bride of Christ? Well, duh.

||1312|| Anita Ekberg, The Killer NunPerhaps the world's first nunsploitation film, it centres on a morphine-addicted nun recovering from neurosurgery, who is accused of a series of horrific murders. Contains scenes of torture, lesbianism and full-frontal nudity. Wanna run through those ten commandments again, girls?

||1110|| Carrie Fisher, Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackMaybe it was the title, so like one of her early triumphs, or just her sense of absurdity that enticed the former Princess Leia to join the cast of Kevin Smith's misbegotten sequel (above).

||98|| Stephanie Beacham, Sister KateTake one sexpot, hot off telly drama Dynasty. Stuff into full nun drag and hand her a script full of ethical platitudes. Film for telly. Cue laughter. But not for the right reasons.

7 Hattie Jacques, Carry on ChristmasA reworking of Dickens' Christmas Carol that never really engages its gears.

8 Zoe Lund, Ms 45A cult classic, Abel Ferrara's second film tells the story of a mute adrift on the streets of New York. She's raped and gets revenge, but not before attending a Halloween party in a strapless habit – complete with 45, suspenders, and the reddest lipstick known to man (right).

9 Jonathan Routh's nunsFormer Candid Camera star Jonathan Routh's footage of nuns looks real, until you notice that they're jumping on trampolines, driving racing cars or flying balloons. Finding it easy, he began painting nuns, which led to a successful series of kids' books.

10 Claudette Colbert, Thunder on the HillPlaying the irrepressible and lively sister in this film from melodrama maestro Douglas Sirk, Colbert gets to save the life of a convicted murderess (Ann Blyth) by unmasking the real killer. As if.