Hugh Jackman named "sexiest man alive"

Australian actor Hugh Jackman, 40, was named the "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine Wednesday, topping the annual list ahead of James Bond actor Daniel Craig who came in at number two, and past favourites such as Brad Pitt, George Clooney and last year's winner Matt Damon.

"You can't go wrong with Hugh Jackman," People correspondent Michelle Beadle told CBS after revealing the selection. "He's Australian, first of all. He's adorable. He's got one of the best bodies ever. And he's a family man. We all love that.

"He's not on the party scene. He loves his kids, he loves his wife. He likes to stay home and make pancakes. He's almost too perfect!"

Hugh Jackman and his wife of 12-plus years Deborra-Lee Furness, are "a very romantic couple," Beadle added. They have two children - Oscar, 8 and Ava, 6.

Other big names in the list of 16 were Hairspray actor Zac Efron, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, actor Javier Bardem, Chinese pianist Lang Lang and football star David Beckham.

Hugh Jackman is this year's 'Sexiest'

We were certain this would be the Year of the Hamm -- "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm -- but a Wolverine from Down Under took People's "Sexiest Man Alive" title for 2008. (George Clooney and Brad Pitt can't win every year.)

"X-Men" hero Hugh Jackman, who stars with Nicole Kidman in the epic "Australia," got the nod for his biceps and his baritone (he starred as flamboyant performer Peter Allen in Broadway's "The Boy from Oz.") "Hugh is tough and romantic at the same time," Kidman says. "Australian men are a different breed. They're rugged and they sweat."

The editors also dwelled on Jackman's devotion to his wife of 12 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, who is eight years his senior.

Keeping the passion alive is easy, Jackman tells People. "She loves the idea of me coming home in costume because it makes her feel like she's having an affair in a good way. When we met, I was cast as a prisoner with tattoos and she'd say, 'Don't take your tattoos off tonight!' and I'd be like, 'All right!'"

The debonair Hamm did make the list, along with Craig, Daniel Craig; a trio of teen dreams, "High School Musical" star Zac Efron, Ed Westwick of "Gossip Girl," and "Twilight" hunk Robert Pattinson; Spanish actor Javier Bardem, sans the "No Country for Old Men" pageboy; swimmer Michael Phelps; Chinese pianist Lang Lang; country singer Blake Shelton; soccer (and underwear ad) icon David Beckham; and TV's Joshua Jackson ("Fringe"), Robert Buckley ("Lipstick Jungle"), Mark-Paul Gosselaar (in spite of his hideous homeless-man shag in "Raising the Bar"), and Blair Underwood ("Dirty Sexy Money").