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  • Hugh Jackman People’s ‘The Sexiest Man Alive’ 2008
  • Deborah Lee Furness with husband Hugh Jackman during the launch of ‘National Adoption Awareness Week’ at Icebergs in Sydney, Australia
  • Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman pose together with Brandon Walters during a press conference for the world premiere of ‘Australia’
  • Nicole Kidman and actor Hugh Jackman arrive for the world premiere of ‘Australia’ at the George Street Greater Union Cinemas in Sydney
  • Hugh Jackman arrives at the 4th Annual ‘A Fine Romance’ MPTV Benefit in LA
  • Hugh Jackman with his children Ava and Oscar play in Bronte Park on October 13, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. It is Hugh Jackman’s birthday today
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  • People

    Hugh Jackman People’s ‘The Sexiest Man Alive’ 2008
  • Getty Images

    Deborah Lee Furness with husband Hugh Jackman during the launch of ‘National Adoption Awareness Week’ at Icebergs in Sydney, Australia
  • Getty Images

    Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman pose together with Brandon Walters during a press conference for the world premiere of ‘Australia’
  • Getty Premium

    Nicole Kidman and actor Hugh Jackman arrive for the world premiere of ‘Australia’ at the George Street Greater Union Cinemas in Sydney
  • Getty Images

    Hugh Jackman arrives at the 4th Annual ‘A Fine Romance’ MPTV Benefit in LA
  • Getty Premium

    Hugh Jackman with his children Ava and Oscar play in Bronte Park on October 13, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. It is Hugh Jackman’s birthday today
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    Hugh Jackman
 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: November 19, 2008 9:24 AM EST
LAST UPDATED: November 19, 2008 12:10 PM EST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Joining the ranks of Matt Damon, George Clooney and Matthew McConaughey, Australian actor Hugh Jackman has been named “The Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine.

Hugh said his wife of 12 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, was amused by the news that he had made the list.

“God bless her, she said, ‘I could’ve told them that years ago!” Hugh told the mag. “And then she said, ‘Obviously Brad [Pitt] wasn’t available this year.’ And I said, ‘That was a joke right?’”

Hugh’s co-star in the upcoming epic “Australia” is not surprised he has been crowned “sexiest.”

“Oh…my…God,” Nicole said of Hugh, “Women’s jaws drop when Hugh walks into a room… He’s such an Aussie bloke – loyal and passionate. That’s a great combo.”

Hugh said he makes sure his big screen love interests and the leading lady in his real life get to know each other when he starts a new project.

“The first thing I always do in a movie is go to dinner with my leading lady and my wife,” he said. “When they meet Deb they like her more than me anyway.”

And Deborra doesn’t seem to mind Hugh staying in character when he gets home.

“She loves the idea of me coming home in costume because it makes her feel like she’s having an affair in a good way. When we met, I was cast as a prisoner with tattoos and she’d say, ‘Don’t take your tattoos off tonight!’… But what works best with her is the stockbroker.

As for any rumors that continue to plague Hugh?

“Gay, gay and gay…. When I played [flamboyant Australian entertainer] Peter Allen [on Broadway in ‘The Boy from Oz’], Deb saw the show about 50 times. She said the most infuriating times would be in the bathroom because all she’d hear is, ‘Is he or isn’t he gay?’” Hugh said, “And she used to call out from the stall, ‘He’s not gay! I’m telling you he’s not!’ And there would be silence until someone said, ‘I think that’s his wife!’ ”

Hugh and Deborra have two children together, eight-year-old Oscar and three-year-old Ava.

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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