Hugh Jackman named Sexiest Man Alive

Summary

People magazine's executive editor, Jess Cagle, said Jackman is a "surprising choice," but he'd been on the editors' minds "for a long time and it seemed like this was the year to do him."

Story Published: Nov 19, 2008 at 8:24 AM PST

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 4:58 AM PST

Hugh Jackman named Sexiest Man Alive

Hugh Jackman attends The Museum of Modern Art Film Benefit honoring Baz Luhrmann on Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in New York.

NEW YORK (AP) - Hugh Jackman has been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.

The magazine's executive editor, Jess Cagle, told NBC's "Today" show that Jackman is a "surprising choice," but he'd been on the editors' minds "for a long time and it seemed like this was the year to do him."

Cagle pointed out that not only is Jackman's career at its peak, with the "X-Men" movies and his upcoming epic with Nicole Kidman "Australia," but he's "built like a tank."

Kidman throws her two cents in, telling People that "women's jaws drop when Hugh walks in a room."