Every year, People Magazine reveal who they have named the Sexiest Man Alive, and this year I think we can all agree with their choice…
The most recent winner is none other than Patrick Dempsey.
And it seems the actor is pretty humble when it comes to being awarded the title.
What he had to say was quite surprising!
But first, let’s take a look at who’s won Sexiest Man Alive over the years…
In 2021, Paul Rudd was People’s choice.
The star of Ant-Man won the accolade in 2021. He said: “I mean I’m going to lean into it hard. I’m going to own this. I’m not going to try to be like ‘Oh, I’m so modest.’ I’m getting business cards made. But all of my friends will destroy me and I expect them to. And that’s why they’re my friends.”
In 2020, Michael B. Jordan won the award.
He told People that, for the women in his life: “This is one that they’re definitely going to have a special place for.”
The year before it was ‘All of Me’ singer John Legend.
The musician won in 2019. He said: “I was excited, but I was a little scared at the same time because it’s a lot of pressure.”
Idris Elba was awarded the title in 2018.
The Luther star said: “To be honest, it was just a nice feeling. It was a nice surprise – an ego boost for sure.”
2017’s winner was country singer Blake Shelton.
He was the second-ever musician to win the award! However, it didn’t go down too well with some fans…
Dwayne Johnson was chosen as the sexy champion of 2016.
The Rock was only the second man of color to ever win the accolade, twenty-one years after the tradition began.
Former soccer player David Beckham won back in 2015.
We can’t quite believe this, but he said: “I never feel that I’m an attractive, sexy person.”
One winner that we all saw coming is Chris Hemsworth…
The Australian hunk won the award in 2014.
Adam Levine won 2013’s title.
He told People: “It’s going to hit me when I’m constantly the butt of every joke every friend and family member makes for the next twenty years of my life, but I’m ready to handle it.”
Actor Channing Tatum won in 2012.
In what we are sure must be a coincidence, this award came in the same year as his saucy performance as a stripper in Magic Mike…
Bradley Cooper was given the title in 2011.
He told the magazine he thought it was “really cool that a guy who doesn’t look like a model can have this.”
The hunky champion of 2010 was Ryan Reynolds.
He said: “The most difficult part is going to be organically working this title into a conversation with random strangers.”
Hugh Jackman won the title in 2008.
The Australian star of Wolverine was destined for the title looking like that!
Matt Damon was named Sexiest Man Alive in 2007.
He said: “You’ve given an aging suburban dad the ego-boost of a lifetime.”
Matthew McConaughey is another winner of the title.
The Texan won the award back in 2005.
British actor and star of The Holiday Jude Law won in 2004.
Naomi Watts called him a “perfect oil painting” of a man — what an endorsement!
Ben Affleck won the crown of Sexiest Man Alive in 2002.
This was back when Bennifer (AKA his relationship with singer Jennifer Lopez) was in its first full swing.
The year before this, Pierce Brosnan won the award.
The James Bond actor was crowned 2001’s sexy champion.
Then, there’s Richard Gere — he was 1999’s winner.
The American actor and star of Pretty Woman was fifty years old when he won.
In 1998, Harrison Ford was honored with the title.
He was fifty-six years old when he won the crown. Impressive stuff!
In 1996, Denzel Washington was the first ever man of color to win the award.
He told the magazine he doesn’t take himself very seriously: “I don’t stop in the mirror and go, ‘Hey, Sexy Man.'”
People took a break in 1994…
But Keanu Reeves was retroactively awarded 1994’s title in 2015.
In 1993, People took a turn from their tradition and named a Sexiest Couple Alive instead.
Richard Gere was dating supermodel Cindy Crawford at the time, so we totally can’t blame them for this decision!
Nick Nolte was 1992’s Sexiest Man Alive.
The now eighty-one-year-old had a big year in 1992, as he also starred in the Oscar-nominated film Lorenzo’s Oil.
Patrick Swayze won the title in 1991.
It’s no wonder why, seeing as he starred in Dirty Dancing and Ghost in the years preceding.
The winner of Sexiest Man Alive in 1990 was Tom Cruise.
This was following a run of box office hits, including Top Gun, Risky Business, and Rain Man.
The year 1989 saw another Bond star win the award — Sean Connery.
The Scotsman said: “For once, I’m speechless. It’ll all be downhill from here!”
John F. Kennedy, Jr. was awarded the title in 1988.
The former President’s son was one of the most eligible bachelors around at the time of winning!
Harry Hamlin was crowned winner in 1987.
He said: “Certainly when I look in the mirror, I don’t get turned on.”
The second-ever winner of the title was Mark Harmon.
The actor was the epitome of the eighties, and won the honor in 1986.
However, the first man to ever win the accolade was none other than Mel Gibson!
The Braveheart star was overwhelmed with the award, telling People: “It’s all happening too fast.”
But there were a few Sexiest Man Alive awardees that came up twice…
Any guesses at this point?
The man who first won the title of Sexiest Man Alive twice was Brad Pitt.
The star won the first time round in 1995.
Then, he won the first Sexiest Man Alive award of the new millennium.
He was dating Jennifer Aniston at the time.
Next up is none other than George Clooney.
The Ocean’s Eleven actor initially won the title in 1997.
Then, he won again less than ten years later in 2006.
He told People: “I don’t go on that many dates.”
Third and finally, the last man to achieve the honor of being People’s Sexiest Man Alive is Johnny Depp.
He won firstly in 2003, and said: “Life’s pretty good, and why wouldn’t it be? I’m a pirate, after all!”
Then, the actor won again in 2009!
The Pirates of the Caribbean star is the most recent man to be honored with the award twice.
However, there is one actor throughout the history of the award that has missed out.
Until last year.
Chris Evans, best known for playing Captain America, was finally been crowned Sexiest Man Alive in 2022.
The forty-one-year-old’s title was announced on both People’s website and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Evans first came onto the scene in 2000s The New Comers, before taking on the role of Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four films in 2005 and 2007.
We can argue that he should have won both years for that one.
Speaking about how he feels about winning the title, the Lightyear voice actor told People: “My mom will be so happy.”
Adding: “She’s proud of everything I do but this is something she can really brag about.”
He continued: “This whole thing is tough to be interviewed about. It feels like a weird form of humble bragging.
“Really this will just be a point of bullying. It’s ripe for harassment.”
And this year’s winner was none other than Patrick Dempsey!
“I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” the 57-year-old actor told People.
“It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive.”
Congratulations!