Channing Tatum Is Sexiest Man Alive 2012

CHANNING TATUM

When PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive 2012 agreed to star in the summer blockbuster Magic Mike, he embraced the role wholeheartedly, from working out three hours a day to waxing his legs. The 32-year-old even tapped into his experience as a onetime male dancer – handy for filming tricky scenes in G-strings. Tatum's wife of three years, Jenna Dewan, liked what she saw. "She thought it was hilarious," he says. "You know, she married an ex-stripper."

02 of 12

BLAKE SHELTON

2012 has been a banner year for the country singer: He's the breakout star of The Voice, the Academy of Country Music's reigning male vocalist of the year, and just earlier this month, he nabbed three CMA Awards, even sharing an emotional win with his wife of 18 months, Miranda Lambert, for song of the year. But what makes Shelton, 36, a true star in her eyes? He's "very caring and loyal," Lambert tells PEOPLE.

03 of 12

CHRIS HEMSWORTH

In less than four years, Hemsworth, 29, went from Aussie soap star to Norse god, fabled Huntsman and, next up, leader of a guerrilla-style resistance group in the remake of Red Dawn. With the rise came working alongside today's hottest actresses – including Natalie Portman and Charlize Theron – but it's Hemsworth's Thor director Kenneth Branagh who best summed up the rugged star's appeal to Out magazine: "[Chris] is built like a concrete shipyard and looks very fetching with his shirt off."

04 of 12

MAX GREENFIELD

If you don't recognize Max Greenfield, his abs or pecs might look very familiar since he plays the mostly shirtless scene-stealing character Schmidt on New Girl. But going bare-chested takes work, Greenfield, 32, reveals to GQ. "I always tell people I'm not one of these guys that was, like, born with like a halfway decent body," he says. "Depending on how naked I am in the next episode, that's how much I go to the gym the week before."

05 of 12

BEN AFFLECK

While Affleck admits turning 40 (Aug. 15) was the actor is undeniably at the top of his game. Already generating Oscar buzz for Argo, the actor has settled in to married life with wife of seven years Jennifer Garner, with whom he welcomed his third child in February. Adding to Affleck's appeal, Garner recently revealed her husband "excels" at "playing babydoll" with his girls Violet and Seraphina.

06 of 12

RICHARD GERE

At 63, the 1999 Sexiest Man Alive still has the ability to make women swoon – even when he's playing a morally compromised financier in this fall's Arbitrage. His longtime leading lady Diane Lane, who's costarred in three movies with the actor, sums it up best, telling PEOPLE, "I always felt so exposed around Richard. Then I realized that Richard has that effect on every woman!"

07 of 12

MATT BOMER

Usually buttoned up in dapper suits for his role as a suave con artist in USA's White Collar, Bomer, 35, showed an altogether different (and bare) side of himself in Magic Mike. He told EW he got into character by "[pretending] I'm in a documentary." His female fans were won over: Twitter and Facebook campaigns are in full swing to get him into Christian Grey's necktie.

08 of 12

OSCAR PISTORIUS

Before the 2012 London Olympics, much of the world didn't know Oscar Pistorius. But the South African runner changed that when he became the first double-amputee sprinter to compete at the Summer Games. Nicknamed Blade Runner, Pistorius, 25, didn't medal but he inspired millions. His attitude? "Being disabled doesn't have to be a disadvantage."

09 of 12

DENZEL WASHINGTON

The Oscar winner, 57, is already garnering positive reviews for his gripping performance as a pilot with inner demons in Flight. A consistent star, 1996's Sexiest Man Alive is equally proud of his other achievement – his 28-year marriage to wife Pauletta Pearson, with whom he has four children. So what's the secret? "Do what your wife tells you and keep your mouth shut," Washington told PEOPLE.

10 of 12

DAMIAN LEWIS

"I don't really believe in judging art, but I showed up just in case," quipped the first-time Emmy winner in his acceptance speech for Homeland. And with that the self-proclaimed "pesky Brit" showed American audiences he had both acting chops and a sly sense of humor. At 41, Lewis uses that same self-deprecating humor to approach filming tough scenes for the Showtime series – namely sex scenes opposite costar Claire Danes. "I'm full of self doubt and self analysis – just like in real life," he told British GQ.

11 of 12

PAUL RUDD

Seventeen years after starring as Cher's lovable stepbrother in Clueless, Rudd is as funny as ever in comedies like Knocked Up, I Love You, Man and, now, This Is 40. But with success comes magazine profiles in which friends of the low-key actor reveal embarrassing moments, like how he "always liked to get naked" during his University of Kansas days. "I'm no Harvey Keitel or anything," Rudd, 43, told EW, "but over the course of the last 20 years, there's a chance that maybe once or twice I have gotten naked for a cheap laugh."

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BRADLEY COOPER

When Cooper, 37, earned the title of PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive last year, he thought he was being Punk'd. That modesty combined with box office appeal, good looks and fluency in French are reasons the Philly native remains one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors. Now dating Zoë Saldana, the Georgetown grad says, "[I] don't see myself as a ladies' man."