British Actor Idris Elba has been crowned PEOPLE’s first Black Sexiest Man Alive for 2018. The 46-year-old thespian succeeds last year’s winner Blake Shelton.
The honor was announced as Elba appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday night.
The media was beside themselves with excitement as they announced Elba’s new title.
Vulture magazine declared “People Unites the Nation by Naming Idris Elba 2018’s Sexiest Man Alive.”
Idris, who is engaged to Sabrina Dhowre, admitted the title was an ego booster and he was flattered by the honor.
Idris said: “I was like, ‘Come on, no way. Really?’ 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.”
He added to host Fallon that he’s “really happy with that one. My mom is going to be very, very proud.”
Former winner Matthew McConaughey, who starred with Elba in movie The Dark Tower, backed him to take the honor.
“Elba is the perfect answer for the next Sexiest Man Alive,” Matthew previously told People.com of his co-star.
And Idris responded: “That’s such a compliment coming from this man”
Idris is dad to daughter Isan, 16, and son Winston, 4. He is best known for his role as a ruthless drug lord in HBO’s The Wire.
Photos by David Burton for People magazine, Gareth Fuller – WPA Pool/Getty Images
