Every year, People Magazine lists its picks for the sexiest men, crowning one of its choices as the "Sexiest Man Alive." This year, the magazine has bestowed this honor to actor Matthew McConaughey.

In the issue, the 36-year old McConaughey offers a self-depreciating humorous take on being this year's recipient, saying, "Now I've made it. Wait until you see the roles I could take after this. You're going to see my gut hanging over, plus 22 (lbs.). It'll be a whole new kind of sexy!"

McConaughey has had a banner year, with two box-office hits -- Sahara and Two For The Money -- and a new personal love interest in his Sahara co-star Penelope Cruz. The two are set to co-star again in the upcoming McConaughey-produced film, The Loop. The actor also has several other projects on the burner, including Tishomingo Blues, co-starring Oscar-nominee Don Cheadle.

When asked what was the best part of the title, he responds, "I like the 'Alive' part."

But McConaughey isn't the only male to receive a hotter-than-hot nod from People this year. Others receiving honorable mentions and oh-so-sexy photo spreads are actors Patrick Dempsey ("Grey's Anatomy"), Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Viggo Mortensen (A History of Violence), Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers), Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain), Daniel Dae Kim ("Lost"), Ian McShane ("Deadwood"), Matt Damon (Syriana), Denis Leary ("Rescue Me") and Clive Owen (Derailed). TV news anchor Anderson Cooper and singers Nick Lachey and Keith Urban also get a nod.

The tradition of naming the Sexiest Man has been occurring annually since the magazine chose Mel Gibson for its first recipient twenty years ago in 1985.

The 2005 Sexiest Man Alive issue hits newsstands this Friday (November 18).