People Magazine is about to reveal who the Sexiest Man Alive for 2024 is, and so, we’re reminiscing about previous winners.
Last year it went to Patrick Dempsey and the year before that, Chris Evans was honoured with the title.
Since the inception of People’s Sexiest Man Alive award in 1985, the majority of winners, like Patrick and Chris, have been American.
Not only that, but several Americans have won the title multiple times; for instance, George Clooney won in 1997 and 2006, and Brad Pitt won in 1995 and 2000.
There have been a fair few Brits honoured with Sexiest Man Alive — like Jude Law and David Beckham. And Irish actor (and former James Bond star) Pierce Brosnan has also received the honour.
But there’s only ever been three Australians to win Sexiest Man Alive…
Chris Hemsworth, 2014
While Chris was honoured to be the Sexiest Man Alive in 2014, he also thought it was “pretty funny”.
He joked to People that he couldn’t wait to tell his wife Elsa Pataky that he would no longer contribute to household chores.
“I think you’ve bought me a couple of weeks of bragging rights around the house. I can just say to [Elsa], ‘Now remember, this is what the people think, so I don’t need to do the dishes anymore, I don’t need to change nappies. I’m above that. I’ve made it now.’”
Hugh Jackman, 2008
In 2008, Hugh Jackman had the world in the palm of his hand.
He was uber famous for playing Wolverine in the X-Men movies and had just starred in Baz Luhrmann’s Australia opposite Nicole Kidman.
When he was crowned Sexiest Man Alive, Hugh’s then-wife Deborra-Lee Furness (the couple split in September 2023) told People she’d nicknamed his physique “the Body of Doom”.
“But I like what’s inside,” she added.
Mel Gibson, 1985
Yes, the inaugural Sexiest Man Alive award went to an honorary Australian: Mel Gibson (the actor was born in the US but grew up in Sydney).
In 1985, decades before his many controversies, Mel was a rising star thanks to the Mad Max films.
But the actor told People that the rate at which he was becoming famous was overwhelming.
“It’s all happening too fast,” Mel said at the time.
