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Los Angeles (ANTARA News) - Hollywood heart-throb Hugh Jackman has become the first Australian to be crowned "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine, it was announced on Wednesday.

Jackman, 40, who stars alongside Nicole Kidman in Baz Luhrmann's sweeping epic "Australia" due for release in the United States next week, beat out a slew of rivals including Javier Bardem, David Beckham and Daniel Craig.

People described Jackman on its website as a 6ft 2in brawny triple threat who can "sing, dance, and wield a weapon."

Screen siren and co-star Kidman was quoted as saying that Jackman left people stammering: "Oh ... My ... God."

"Women's jaws drop when Hugh walks into a room," Kidman added of Jackman, who has been married to Australian actress Deborra-Lee Furness, for 12 years.

Jackman was quoted by AFP as telling People his wife had joked with him after being informed of the accolade. "God bless her, she said, 'I could've told them that years ago!' And then she said, 'Obviously, Brad (Pitt) wasn't available this year.'"

Jackman is best known for his role as Wolverine in the trio of successful Hollywood films based on the "X-Men" comic book series.

He also starred as Vampire hunter in the "Van Helsing" films and has completed filming on "X-Men" spin-off Wolverine.

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