Hugh Jackman’s wife probably said it best, his fans would concur: “I could’ve told them that years ago,” Deborra-Lee Furness commented upon learning he had been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive of 2008.

The 40-year-old Australian actor now joins a wondrous roster of actors who share one particular honor: being named Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine. Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, George Clooney and Matt Damon have all held the title over the years, some even more than once.

Jackman is taking it all in good humor though. He told People magazine his wife of 12 years gave him a complex feedback, both supporting and lovingly ironic. “God bless her, she said, ‘I could’ve told them that years ago!’ And then she said, ‘Obviously, Brad wasn’t available this year.’”

Jackman is hailed by the celebrity magazine as a triple threat, since he can sing and dance but also wield a weapon. Nicole Kidman, his co-star in the newly released epic film Australia, testifies that women’s jaws drop when he enters a room, due to his impressive physique. Those interested are already familiarized with said body, since the actor has been immortalized by paps on the beach – preparing for his starring role in the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine included some serious buffing up.

The actor, who has covered a variety of roles, in romantic comedies like Kate & Leopold, action blockbusters like Swordfish and the X-Men installments and providing a voice for cartoon characters in animated films Happy Feet and Flushed Away, had some serious competition for the top spot.

Second on the list of uber-sexy men of 2008 is British actor Daniel Craig, who has brought new life to the James Bond franchise. Quantum of Solace opened last week in North America and rapidly climbed to the top of the box office with a mind-staggering $67.5 million.

Jon Hamm, of Mad Men fame, was third on the list, while teen heartthrob Zac Efron, star of the High School Musical franchise, found himself competing with real men and covered the fourth spot. Lipstick Jungle’s Robert Buckley follows at six, while seventh place went to Dirty Sexy Money actor Blair Underwood.

Rounding up the top fifteen are Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick, Olympian Michael Phelps, country singer Blake Shelton, piano virtuosos Lang Lang, former Saved by the Bell heartthrob Mark-Paul Gosselaar, first Spanish Academy Award winner Javier Bardem, Twilight star Robert Pattinson, former Dawson’s Creek cutie Joshua Jackson, and last, but not least, soccer star David Beckham.

Last year’s Sexiest Man Alive was actor Matt Damon, who humbly said he considers himself an “aging suburban dad” but thanked People magazine for the honor and for the ego boost.

People magazine has been announcing one male celebrity as the Sexiest Man Alive for more than two decades, with slight variations, such as 1993’s Sexiest Couple – Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford.