Chris Evans has been named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.
The Captain America star was announced on Monday night on Stephen Colbert’s late-night show and on the magazine’s network.
Evans has played the Marvel superhero for nearly a decade and takes the baton from another Avenger, Paul Rudd.
“My mom will be so happy,” he told the magazine, which comes out on Friday. “She’s proud of everything I do, but this is something she can really brag about.”
He said he knows he is likely to be teased by close friends, joking: “Really this will just be a point of bullying. It’s ripe for harassment.”
Previous winners
He’s likely to be in for a good deal of ribbing from co-stars and previous winners such as Rudd, Ryan Reynolds and Chris Hemsworth.
Hemsworth, who plays Thor in the Marvel films, was the first Avenger to win People’s annual honour.
The award was first handed to Mel Gibson in 1985 and other recipients include John Legend, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Adam Levine, Richard Gere, Channing Tatum and David Beckham.
Ryan Reynolds promoting Deadpool 2. Pic: AP
Better work-life balance
People interviewed Evans, 41, at a Georgia Farmhouse where the actor talked about finding a better work-life balance. “The most enjoyable aspect of my career right now is feeling secure enough to take my foot off the gas,” he said.
Evans’ first film role was in The New Comers in 2000 and he played superhero Johnny Storm in two Fantastic Four films released in 2005 and 2007. He gained widespread fame in 2011 with the release of Captain America: The First Avenger.
He has played the superhero in 10 Marvel films and laid down his shield after saving the universe in Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
Idris Elba attends the world premiere of Beast. Pic: AP
Marriage ‘absolutely something I want’
The actor told People he is thinking about marriage and having a family, saying: “That’s absolutely something I want.”
He said he did not expect to talk publicly much about his private life, though. “Some things you want just for you, or just for my family and my friends.”
He said he expects People’s honour will be a milestone in his life and career.
“It’s something that as I become old and saggy I can look back on and say ‘I remember then…'” Evans said. “I’m lucky to be in the discussion in any capacity.”
