Idris Elba was named this year’s “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine, and we must say, this is something we can get behind. The actor, who shot down rumors he’d be playing James Bond in the franchise’s next film, told the publication that the title was an “ego-boost.”
“I was like, ‘Come on, no way. Really?’” he said. “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.” When he’s not acting and being sexy, Elba is deejaying and planning a wedding; he proposed to 29-year-old model Sabrina Dhowre back in February 2018.
The title of “Sexiest Man Alive” has been polarizing in the past, as many have argued that the top picks “aren’t sexy enough” and aren’t racially different from year to year. In 2017, People picked country singer Blake Shelton and received a mixed response.
Fun fact: Idris Elba is one of the few black men to hold this title; Denzel Washington was the first in 1996. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson won in 2016, and he identifies as Samoan and black.
Watch Elba open up about his awkward childhood years, how he stays in such amazing shape, and life as a doting dad in People’s full feature video below.
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