Homer Simpson has been named the greatest TV and film character of the last 20 years, according to a Entertainment Weekly survey.

The cartoon character, best known for his love of eating, beat schoolboy wizard Harry Potter to the top slot.

People relate to Homer "because we're all secretly propelled by desires we can't admit to," creator Matt Groening told the US magazine.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, came third.

In fourth place was Tony Soprano from US drama series The Sopranos, followed by comic book villain The Joker, played by late Australian actor Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight.

Other famous characters which were included in the top 10 were Rachel from Friends, Johnny Depp's Edward Scissorhands and Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter.

Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw from Sex And The City and cartoon character Spongebob Squarepants rounded out the list.

爱喝啤酒、爱吃油炸圈饼的卡通人物荷马・辛普森(Homer Simpson)当选过去20年最伟大荧屏形象。

《娱乐周刊》调查发现，卡通剧《辛普森一家》中的荷马・辛普森，打败“魔法小子”哈利・波特和“捉鬼者”巴菲，傲居荧屏形象排行榜榜首。

《辛普森一家》在超过90个国家播出，至今已播出21季，是美国黄金时段播放最久的连续剧。

哈利・波特排名第二，由丹尼尔・雷德克利弗(Daniel Radcliff)扮演的哈利・波特被公认为“全球偶像”。

莎拉・米歇尔・盖拉(Sarah Michelle Gellar)主演的吸血鬼猎人巴菲则位居第三；第四名是《黑道家族》中的托尼・瑟普拉诺；第五名是《蝙蝠侠前传2:黑暗骑士》中的“小丑”。

第六名是《老友记》里的瑞秋；第七名《剪刀手爱德华》里的爱德华；第八名：安东尼・霍普金斯饰演的汉尼拔・莱克特(Hannibal Lecter)；第九名《欲望都市》里的凯莉。第10名是卡通形象海绵宝宝。

《娱乐周刊》周一公布过去20年最伟大的100个荧屏形象，纪念该杂志创刊20周年。