From Ant-man to sexiest man alive Paul Rudd takes the title. Video / Marvel
Paul Rudd has been crowned 2021's Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine.
Rudd, known for his starring roles in Marvel's Ant-Man films, This is 40 and Clueless, was revealed as this year's winner Tuesday night on CBS' The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The actor tells the magazine in an issue out Friday that some will be surprised by him receiving the honour.
"I do have an awareness, enough to know that when people hear that I'd be picked for this, they would say, 'What?'' he said. "This is not false humility. There are so many people that should get this before me."
But of course, Rudd won't turn down the honour. He jokingly hopes the new title will grant him an invitation to "those sexy dinners" with George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Michael B. Jordan — all recent winners.
52-year-old Paul Rudd is the sexiest man alive. Photo / Getty Images
Other past honorees include John Legend, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba, Adam Levine, Channing Tatum and David Beckham.
"I figure I'll be on a lot more yachts," Rudd said. "I'm excited to expand my yachting life. And I'll probably try to get better at brooding in really soft light. I like to ponder. I think this is going to help me become more inward and mysterious. And I'm looking forward to that."
Rudd's first major breakout performance came in the 1995′s Clueless, a cult classic starring Alicia Silverstone. He also made his mark in several comedies such as the Anchorman films, The 40 Year Old Virgin and This is 40, a spin-off from the comedy Knocked Up.
The actor reached superstar status in a slew of Marvel superhero films including Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame. He'll star in the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife and appear alongside Will Ferrell in the new Apple TV+ series The Shrink Next Door, which premieres Nov. 12.
Paul Rudd has had several iconic roles, including a stint on Friends. Photo / Getty Images
Rudd, 52, said his wife was initially "stupefied" after he told her the news. The couple has two kids, 17-year-old Jack and Darby, who is 12.
"But you know she was very sweet about it," he said of his wife, Julie, of 18 years. "After some giggling and shock, she said, 'Oh, they got it right.' And that was very sweet. She was probably not telling the truth, but what's she going to say?"
Rudd expects his circle of friends to give him "so much grief". He won't blame them, because he would do the same.
"I mean, I'm going to lean into it hard. I'm going to own this," he said. "I'm not going to try to be like 'Oh, I'm so modest.' I'm getting business cards made. But all of my friends will destroy me, and I expect them to, and that's why they're my friends."
Rudd has also previously been the focus of online memes with many questioning if the star ever ages due to his youthful appearance at age 52.
Paul Rudd in 1996 and 25-years later in 2021. Photos / Getty Images
