People magazine has named Idris Elba as 2018’s Sexiest Man Alive, and the British actor says the honour has given him a boost of self-confidence.
Elba, who recently starred in The Wire and Luther, was surprised at being crowned this year’s winner.
“I was like, ‘Come on, no way. Really?'” he told the magazine. “Looked in the mirror, I checked myself out. I was like, ‘Yeah, you are kind of sexy today.’ But to be honest, it was just a nice feeling. It was a nice surprise — an ego boost for sure.”
.@IdrisElba is PEOPLE’s #SexiestManAlive 2018: It’s ‘an Ego Boost for Sure’ https://t.co/zUiNS2FyqE pic.twitter.com/zLChsSQzeZ
— People (@people) November 6, 2018
Elba’s selection was revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, with the actor appearing via satellite from London. Fallon had Elba perform poses to match the magazine’s cover description of him as a “sweet, smoldering superstar.”
Speaking of his selection, Elba said, “My mom is going to be very, very proud.”
The actor has also starred in Marvel’s Thor franchise and as Nelson Mandela in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Elba, 46, also performs on the side under the deejay name DJ Big Driis and has his own clothing line. He is also planning a wedding with fiancée Sabrina Dhowre.
Elba told People about his upbringing as an only child of African immigrants growing up in East London. The actor said his parents were strict and he got picked on often while attending an all-boys school despite playing an array of sports including football, basketball, cricket, hockey and rugby.
“I was very tall and skinny,” recalled the father of two, who stands at 6-foot-3. “And my name was Idrissa Akuna Elba, OK? I got picked on a little bit. But again, as soon as I could grow a moustache, I was the coolest kid on the block. Grew a moustache, had some muscles, bonkers.”
The actor said he tries to live life without few regrets.
“Life isn’t about thinking about what you should have done,” he said. “I think everyone should adopt the philosophy that tomorrow is not promised so just go for it today. You might as well do it to your heart’s content.”
Elba is also reported to be the next James Bond, succeeding Daniel Craig as the next incarnation of 007.
Past winners include Dwayne Johnson, David Beckham, Chris Hemsworth, Adam Levine, Channing Tatum and last year’s honoree, country star Blake Shelton.