Hugh Jackman

[Rasputin]

Hugh Jackman, who we remember as Wolverine from the X-Men, was just picked as the sexiest man alive. His wife seconded the opinion and Nicole Kidman said women's "jaws drop" when the burly Aussie walks in a room.

Women around the world are swooning over newly crowned "sexiest man alive" Hugh Jackman, but Martine Bruce remembers the time she knocked him back.

He's a triple threat: a star who can sing, dance and wield a weapon.

At 6 ft. 2 in., all scruff and biceps, Hugh Jackman looms large in the epic Australia, which he says kept him "dirty 95 percent of the time" and left people stammering, "Oh ... my ... God," according to costar Nicole Kidman, who adds, "Women's jaws drop when Hugh walks into a room."

Jackman's wife of 12 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, calls his perfect form "the Body of Doom – but I like what's inside": a romantic who sings ballads at home and makes pancakes for Oscar, 8, and Ava, 3. A hard body with a soft center – 2008's Sexiest Man Alive sat down with PEOPLE's Elizabeth Leonard and Julie Jordan to reveal most of his secrets.

You turned 40 Oct. 12 and now you're the Sexiest Man Alive. What was your wife's response?
God bless her, she said, "I could've told them that years ago!" And then she said, "Obviously, Brad wasn't available this year." And I said, "That was a joke, right?"

Your marriage is a success story.
In my early 20s, I didn't have a regular girlfriend. I was single and really happy about it. And then when I was 26, I met Deb on [the Australian TV show] Correlli. She was my leading lady. It was just undeniable. I started planning to propose to her at about three months. We are happy. Deb and my kids have been the best things that have ever happened to me, without a doubt.

[crazy_awper]

Thanks guy,and nice to meet you ,good luck to you,all the best!

[Rasputin]

While the likes of Brad, Angelina, Kate and Mickey party-hopped through awards season, racking up accolades and air kisses on the road to Sunday's Academy Awards, Hugh Jackman's pre-Oscar dance card hasn't been quite as glam.

Tapped to be the show's 81st host and the second Aussie to do the honors (who can forget Paul Hogan's turn as co-host in 1987), Jackman has been hunkered down brainstorming material with a team of comedy writers and cramming back-to-back song and dance rehearsals.

"It's been hilarious," says the 40-year-old actor, who just last month wrapped X-Men Origins: Wolverine. "I don't know if the other billion people who watch it will find it funny but I'm finding it hysterical right now. I'm having the time of my life."

Jackman talks to PEOPLE's Elizabeth Leonard about being "dumbstruck" when he got the Academy's call, Oscar drinking games Aussie-style, and what else we can expect from the Sexiest Man Alive on Hollywood's big night.

Will you work your Sexiest Man title into the show?
Trust me, I'm trying! It's just too good to let go. Comedy writers love it. They think it's the best bit of fodder they could ever have. I think it's one of the first rules of being a host – you have to be self-deprecating and what better way to make fun of yourself than through that?

How did you hear you'd gotten the host job?
I was in London at the Claridges Hotel and I woke up to a phone call around midnight. I was dead asleep and I thought it was my wake-up call ... I was just dumbstruck. When it finally sunk in I was just quiet. Then Deb (wife Deborra-Lee Furness) actually was just coming to bed and I said, 'Oh baby, you're about to get in bed with the host of the 81st Academy Awards!' and she started jumping up and down on the bed!

What do your kids (Oscar, 8, and Ava, 3) think?
Oscar was quite funny and he said, 'Okay, so Oscar's dad is hosting the Oscars!' When I leave for rehearsal, Ava says, 'Good luck hosting the Oscars, daddddy! Good Luck!' She's been saying that every day. She thinks it's my day job right now. She thinks I'm hosting them every day.

Did you watch the Oscars growing up in Australia?
My dad was about strict bedtimes but he let us stay up to watch. Then at drama school, our biggest party of the year was on Oscar night and there were drinks involved. It's a very common drinking game in Australia: Whenever anyone thanks or mentions God or their parents, you have to "skull" (Translation: chug a drink).

Who is your favorite host?
Billy Crystal and I really like Steve Martin too. What I loved about Billy is the showman aspect. He's a true entertainer. Comedy is his main weapon but he would do the satires, songs, the videos and anything at his disposal to entertain and kind of send a message to everyone that this was going to be a fun celebration. If you break it down that's the host’s job – to set the tone. I'll probably use everything at my disposal to do the same thing hopefully. I've gone back and watched all eight of Billy's [shows].

Anything new we can expect this year?
I don't want to give too much away but there's a different [stage] configuration this year. The new configuration is really conducive to intimacy in that nightclub kind of way. We'll be able to see each other. We'll be able to chat. They'll be able to heckle me and I'll be able to hear them. Somehow I love that. I'm the kind of guy on stage that when things go wrong, I'm like, 'Yeah!' This will be great fun! Maybe it's just that there's an element of, 'Hey it's a once in a lifetime opportunity' and literally it may well be.

What does it mean to you that Heath Ledger's family will be at the Oscars on Sunday?
His death was a great loss in every way, not just as an Australian and as a friend of mine but for the acting community. If there's one thing the acting community does well it's appreciate its own and recognize them. It's very sad and tragic but it's also poignant that he's nominated and could well win. I would be surprised if he didn't – and deservedly so. I'm thrilled his family will there because I think it will be really important for them to see the effect he had on the community and the great respect there was for him.

What do you say to those who want you to re-enact your shower scene from Australia onstage?
It's definitely a possibility. I don't think people understand how hot it gets up there. So I might as well. It's going to be 3 hours, at least, so I want to be comfortable!

[Rasputin]

Set roughly twenty years before X-Men, film X-Men Origins: Wolverine will focus on Wolverine’s violent past, and his early encounters with William Stryker (Danny Huston). The Weapon X program and his interactions with other mutants will be explored. His relationship with half-brother Sabertooth (Live Schreiber) will also be included.

Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is the mutant and future X-Men member. Jackman will not only act in this film but be on e of the produces as well via his Seed Productions.

Jackman, born in Sydney, New South Wales, started acting early in life by starring in his grammar school’s musical production of My Fair Lady in 1985. He graduated with a degree in Communications from college and then attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts of Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia, from which he graduated in 1994.

Jackman’s early career includes stage, film and television work. He is an Australian actor and producer who continues to be involved in film, musical theatre and television. Being a singer, dancer and actor in stage musicals, Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, specifically those of action/superhero, period and romance characters.

In 2000 Jackman was cast as Wolverine, and the “metal claws” seemed to fit. From 2001 to present day he continues to work in a variety of areas in stage musicals and film.

To top it off Jackman’s latest accomplishments have been to be a three-time host of the Tony Awards and hosting the 81st Academy Awards in 2009. He will also be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And he has been appointed a goodwill ambassador of Seoul, South Korea. People magazine named Jackman,