Los Angeles - Actress Christina Applegate, 37, on Wednesday topped People magazine's Most Beautiful People list.

The Samantha Who? star was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and had a double mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery. "It's a decision that you make to save your life," she told the magazine.

She noted one positive effect: "You have to get through the physical transformations, then buck up, go to work and try to be the normal, happy Christina for everyone around you."

Applegate come out ahead of Halle Berry, 42, R&B star Ciara, 23, actor Zac Efron, 21, and Christina Aguilera, 28.

Also on the list were Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto, actor Channing Tatum, Twilight star Robert Pattinson, country singer Taylor Swift, First Lady Michelle Obama and actress Angelina Jolie.