George Clooney

Los Angeles, Nov. 16 (Reuters): Coming off a pivotal year in which he earned three Academy Award nominations and clinched an Oscar for his performance in Syriana, actor George Clooney was again named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” yesterday.

The accolade marks the second time Clooney, 45, has topped the magazine’s annual list of Hollywood beefcake, having been so honoured in 1997. His close friend and co-star Brad Pitt is the only other celebrity twice dubbed People’s “sexiest man”.

“This one’s going to be hard for Brad since he’s been ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ twice,” Clooney joked in an interview with People. “He’s enjoyed that mantle. I’d say, ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ to him, and he’d go, ‘Two-time’. So that’s been taken away.”

Cynthia Sanz, a member of the magazine’s editorial panel that selects its “sexiest man” honouree, said Clooney was chosen for a combination of factors.

“His big movies came out at the end of last year, he has been active in the campaign to help people in Darfur, obviously he’s great looking — we just thought he was the total package this year,” she said.

Sanz added that Clooney’s status as one of the world’s most eligible bachelors helped. “It’s a little more fun when the sexiest man alive is available,” she said.

Last year, Clooney’s status as a Hollywood heavyweight in front of and behind the camera was cemented by his work in two acclaimed films — Good Night, and Good Luck and Syriana.

Clooney feigned exasperation over the burdens of the new title. “There are all the events you have to show up for. There’s pressure to remain sexy,” he said, tongue firmly in cheek.