Hugh Jackman: The Sexiest Man Alive

He's a triple threat: a star who can sing, dance and wield a weapon.

People Magazine has selected Hugh Jackman as their 2008 Sexiest Man Alive!

At 6 ft. 2 in., all scruff and biceps, Hugh Jackman looms large in the epic "Australia", which he says kept him "dirty 95 percent of the time" and left people stammering, "Oh...my...God," according to costar Nicole Kidman, who adds, "Women's jaws drop when Hugh walks into a room."

Jackman's wife of 12 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, calls his perfect form "the Body of Doom – but I like what's inside": a romantic who sings ballads at home and makes pancakes for Oscar, 8, and Ava, 3.

A hard body with a soft center – 2008's Sexiest Man Alive sat down with PEOPLE's Elizabeth Leonard and Julie Jordan to reveal most of his secrets.

People Magazine (P): You turned 40 Oct. 12 and now you're the Sexiest Man Alive. What was your wife's response?

Hugh (H): God bless her, she said, "I could have told them that years ago!" And the she said, "Obviously, Brad wasn't available this year." And I said, "That was a joke, right?"

P: Your marriage is a success story.
H: In my early 20s, I didn't have a regular girlfriend. I was single and really happy about it. And then when I was 26, I met Deb on [the Australian TV show] Correlli. She was my leading lady. It was just undeniable. I started planning to propose to her at about three months. We are happy. Deb and my kids have been the best things that have ever happened to me, without a doubt.

P: How do you keep the passion alive?
H: It's easy with my wife. 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!" and I'd be like, "All right!" But what works best with her is the stockbroker look. She also says, "Do your sexy dance for me," [an '80s-like, hip-swiveling number] and that works for me.

P: Are you self-conscious about any body part?
H: When I was younger, I had chicken legs. My nickname was Sticks.

P: What part do people like best?
H: My smile. Lately my pecs. I'm being honest!

P: What do you wear to bed?
H: I didn't wear anything until my daughter was born and we had a night nanny because I was working. I walked out stark naked, and she was reading a book. Now I like boxer briefs.

How the Sexiness Began ...

FIRST GIRLFRIEND
"Martine Craswell, in kindergarten. My dad said, 'Oh, I always knew you were romantic because you were running in a race and Martine fell over and you stopped and went back and picked her up.' Chivalry was there."

FIRST KISS
"With Sarah Dowsett when I was 9. I was going from a coed school to a boys' school and I thought, 'If I don't kiss a girl before I go to this school, I won't get to kiss a girl.' And my friend goes, 'Sarah Dowsett kisses. I kissed her once.' So I said to Sarah, 'I want you to know that I love you.' And she said, 'I love you too.' And I said, 'Do you want to go down to the bush and kiss?' She said yes. It was just [he purses his lips]. I remember thinking, 'What is this all about?' Then, when I had my first tongue kiss, I thought, 'What the hell is this?'

FIRST LEARNED ABOUT SEX
"When I was 9, Scott Whitehead, who lived down the road, had an older brother who had Penthouse magazines. I was kind of shocked."
For more of Hugh's interview, pick up PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive issue, on stands Friday!