Matt Damon has been named the Sexiest Man Alive 2007.
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The Bourne Supremacy actor beat close friend Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey to top the prestigious list compiled by People magazine.
Matt, 37, joked: ‘You’ve given an ageing suburban dad the ego-boost of a lifetime!’
The Hollywood star has enjoyed a career revival with the Bourne trilogy, and showed the softer side of his hard-guy actor when his wife, Luciana, gave birth to their first daughter, Isabella, earlier this year.
People staff writer Ericka Souter said: ‘Matt wrote us a letter turning down the position when we first decided he was the winner. But it actually backfired because the letter showed everything we liked about him – including his irresistible sense of humour, his dedication to his family, and his heart-melting humility.
‘He eventually gave in, and also gave us permission to print the letter in our latest issue!’
Scottish actor James McAvoy is a new addition to the list. His steamy sex scene with Keira Knightley in Atonement has cemented his status as a Hollywood sex symbol.
SexyBack singer Justin Timberlake rounded off the list in fourteenth place, after his relationships with Hollywood beauties Cameron Diaz and Jessica Biel proved his sex appeal.
Last year’s winner, George Clooney, didn’t make the 2007 list – undoubtedly to the amusement of his Ocean’s Thirteen co-stars.
On being crowned Sexiest Man Alive 2006, and becoming a two-time winner like Brad Pitt, George joked: ‘I felt bad for Matt Damon, because he really wanted it. He campaigned hard for it, but he came up short.
‘This one’s going to be hard for Brad Pitt since he’s been Sexiest Man Alive twice. He’s enjoyed that mantle. I’d say ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ to him and he’d go, ‘Two-time.’ So that’s been taken away. We used to call him Two Time. So Brad’s going to be upset.’
Last year, Matt revealed he was determined to steal the crown from George. He said: ‘I’m going to get a war chest going and save my money. George said I was close this year but I ran out of money for my campaign, which is why he won.’
The final list is decided by People editors, after readers send in their suggestions for who they think should be crowned the Sexiest Man Alive.
People’s Sexiest Man Alive 2007 list:
1. Matt Damon
2. Patrick Dempsey
3. Ryan Reynolds
4. Brad Pitt
5. James McAvoy
6. Johnny Depp
7. Dave Annable
8. Will Smith
9. Javier Bardem
10. Shemar Moore
11. Ben Affleck
12. Adrian Grenier
13. Will Yun Lee
14. Justin Timberlake
