PIX: The Sexiest Men in the World

People magazine took everyone by surprise when their Sexiest Man Alive for 2011 was unveiled. Actor Bradley Cooper, who's risen to Hollywood's A-list club gradually working his way to stardom through small roles, was an unlikely choice, many believed.

But then, the list, introduced in 1985, has been nothing if not interesting.

In this two-part special, we look at the past winners of the title. You judge if they really deserved the title or not.

Ryan Reynolds (2010)

The hunky Ryan Reynolds was named People's sexiest last year. The The Proposal actor, who has millions of girls swooning over his rock hard abs, was married to the gorgeous Scarlett Johansson and is now rumoured to be dating Gossip Girl hottie Blake Lively.

Johnny Depp, holds the rare distinction of being named People's sexiest man alive twice -- first in 2003 and again in 2009.

Captain Jack Sparrow, now 48, has stood the test of time and still figures prominently in the hottest Hollywood lists. The actor has also dated some high-profile Hollywood girls -- from actress Winona Ryder to supermodel Kate Moss, his list of former flames is pretty enviable!

Australian hunk Hugh Jackman was named People's sexiest in 2008. The X Men actor has the most coveted body in the whle industry and has women eating out of his hands.

What's even more attractive about him is that he's madly in love with his wife. On his recent trip to India, he floored his Bollywood contemporaries with his charm and quick wit.

Sample this: When actor Matt Damon, then 37, was named People's sexiest man alive in 2007, he told the magazine, 'You've given an aging suburban dad the ego-boost of a lifetime.'

That perfectly demonstrates many of the reasons why he was chosen for the title in the first place: irresistible sense of humour, rock solid family man, heart-melting humility.

And it's always a treat to watch him in The Bourne films.

Actor/director George Clooney is one of the sexiest men in th ewhole world. At 50, the Up In The Air actor gives men half his age a run for their money.

A confirmed bachelor, the actor has proved his mettle as an actor with films like Ocean's Eleven and as a director in Confessiona Of A Dangerous Mind and the recently released The Ides Of March.

Actor Matthew McConaughey won the title in 2005, after campaigning for it! Settled in Texas with Brazillian model girlfriend Camilla Alves, McConaughey is hailed for his muscular body and washboard abs.

The actor has done some well known romantic comedies like Failure To Launch and How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days.

British actor Jude Law has been named one of the best dressed British men by British GQ not once or twice but as many as four times.

Apart from his excellent sartorial choices, the actor was also seeing hottie Sienna Miller and has appeared in memorable films like Sherlock Holmes and My Blueberry Nights.

Considered a sex symbol of the thinking woman, Ben Affleck is a doting father to two girls with actress wife Jennifer Garner. The actor first rose to fame when he won the Oscar for the screenplay of Good Will Hunting with his chum Matt Damon.

There's been no looking back for him ever since. He's actively involved in politics and charitable causes and has had a very publicised relationship with Jennifer Lopez before he met his present wife.

Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan looks good even at 58. Good deeds. Good looks. Charm. Manliness. The magazine described its sexiest man of 2001as having all the said qualities and more!

We don't blame them for being so smitten.

Fight Club's Tyler Durden has come along way. Brad Pitt has had six kids with partner Angelina Jolie and is contemplating to quit as an actor in three years.

One of the finest specimens of brawns and brain, Pitt has some amazing movies to his credit -- Ocean's Eleven and Babel being a few of them.

Richard Gere may be 62 today but his good looks and charm are very much in place.

He first floored us as the distant millionaire Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman and acclaimed films like Primal Fear and Chicago.