Actor Idris Elba, 46, has taken out the prestigious title of People magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ in 2018 – and we can’t say we’re surprised in the slightest.
The attractive British actor stole hearts across the globe when he starred opposite Kate Winslet in the 2017 romantic drama The Mountain Between Us, a film about two plane crash survivors who fall in love.
While the film certainly boosted Elba’s popularity (and female fan base!), the versatile actor had already starred in a number of high profile TV series and movies by that point, including crime drama Luther, Marvel’s Thor movies (Elba plays Asgardian gatekeeper Heimdall), Netflix’s Beasts of No Nation and TV series The Wire.
When he’s not starring in blockbuster films, Elba spends his time producing movies, deejaying, playing music and is planning a wedding to fiancée Sabrina Dhowre (sorry, ladies).
Idris with his fiancée Sabrina Dhowre at Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s royal wedding.
Elba, who is rumoured to be the new James Bond, was surprised by his win, telling People: “I was like, ‘Come on, no way. Really?’ Looked in the mirror, I checked myself out. I was like, ‘Yeah, you are kind of sexy today.’
“But to be honest, it was just a nice feeling. It was a nice surprise — an ego boost for sure.”
Despite his Sexiest Man Alive status, Elba admits he wasn’t always good-looking or fit, telling People that he was “very tall and skinny” through school.
“My name was Idrissa Akuna Elba, okay? I got picked on a little bit. But as soon as I could grow a mustache, I was the coolest kid on the block. Grew a moustache, had some muscles, bonkers.”
There you have it, if you want to be the Sexiest Man Alive, it pays to have the two M’s – a moustache and muscles!
Having said that, if you take a look at the previous winners of People‘s Sexiest Man Alive title, you don’t see too many men with moustaches…
People magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive throughout the years
1985: Mel Gibson
1986: Mark Harmon
1987: Harry Hamlin
1988: John F. Kennedy, Jr.
1989: Sean Connery
1990: Tom Cruise
1991: Patrick Swayze
1992: Nick Nolte
1993: Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford (Sexiest Couple Alive)
1994: Keanu Reeves
1995: Brad Pitt
1996: Denzel Washington
1997: George Clooney
1998: Harrison Ford
1999: Richard Gere
2000: Brad Pitt
2001: Pierce Brosnan
2002: Ben Affleck
2003: Johnny Depp
2004: Jude Law
2005: Matthew McConaughey
2006: George Clooney
2007: Matt Damon
2008: Hugh Jackman
2009: Johnny Depp
2010: Ryan Reynolds
2011: Bradley Cooper
2012: Channing Tatum
2013: Adam Levine
2014: Chris Hemsworth
2015: David Beckham
2016: Dwayne Johnson
2017: Blake Shelton
2018: Idris Elba
Scroll through the gallery below to see the Sexiest Men Alive of the past 10 years…
The Voice coach and musician Blake Shelton was controversially named last year’s Sexiest Man Alive.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson took out the title in 2016. No idea why.
Always a favourite for Sexiest Man Alive, David Beckham took out the title in 2015.
Thor star Chris Hemsworth was named Sexiest Man Alive in 2014. Of his win he joked: “I think you’ve bought me a couple of weeks of bragging rights around the house.I can just say to her [wife, 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.'”
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine was the 2013 winner.
Bradley Cooper was given the 2011 title of Sexiest Man Alive. And after seeing A Star is Born, we’re thinking he could be a contender for the 2019 title!
Ryan Reynolds was People‘s 2010 Sexiest Man Alive, it’s very obvious why…
Johnny Depp took out the the title for a second time in 2009. The actor and musician won the award for the first time in 2003.
