Idris Elba has been named the sexiest man alive by American celebrity magazine People.
The British actor and star of The Wire, Luther and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom was revealed as this year’s winner on Monday’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
London-born Idris, 46, is People’s 33rd sexiest man alive and joins previous winners including Mel Gibson, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and David Beckham.
Who’d have thought it! Thank you @people & all the fans for naming me #SexiestManAlive. Don’t forget to grab your issue this week https://t.co/WI7eWfXOPB. I’m honoured & thankful. What’s even more important is your vote in the midterm elections. Your vote can make a difference!👊🏾 pic.twitter.com/TBQapjxJsT
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) 6 November 2018
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Last year, American country singer Blake Shelton took the title.
Idris told People how he reacted to the news. He said: “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.”
On Twitter, Idris said he was “honoured” by the accolade before urging fans to vote in Tuesday’s midterm elections in the US.
He said: “Who’d have thought it! Thank you @people & all the fans for naming me #SexiestManAlive.
“I’m honoured & thankful. What’s even more important is your vote in the midterm elections. Your vote can make a difference!”
Idris, who was among the favourites to take over Daniel Craig as James Bond, said he endured an awkward stage while growing up.
Idris, now 6ft 3ins, told the publication: “I was very tall and skinny. And my name was Idrissa Akuna Elba, okay? I got picked on a little bit.
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“But again, as soon as I could grow a moustache, I was the coolest kid on the block. Grew a moustache, had some muscles, bonkers.”
Idris has two children – a 16-year-old daughter, Isan, and a four-year-old son, Winston.
He proposed to his model fiancé Sabrina Dhowre, 29, in February.
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