Chris Hemsworth named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive

Chris Hemsworthmastered Formula Oneracing inRush and wielded the hammer of a Norse god in Thor, and now the Australian-born actor is brandishing the distinction of People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.

The 31-year-oldtold the celebrity publication that he thought it was "pretty funny" when he was given this year'spop culture honour atitle most recently held by Maroon 5 frontmanAdam Levine.

• VIDEO|Rush star ChrisHemsworthtalks racing in the '70s

JimmyKimmelmade the announcement on his late-night talk showTuesday night, with Hemsworth joining the broadcast via Skype.

• On mobile? Watch the clip from Jimmy KimmelLivehere

"I learned everything there is to being sexy from Matt [Damon],to pursing the lips in the right way, to squinting at the essential time,"Hemsworthjoked,taking a playful jab at 2007's Sexiest Man Alive.

The honour comes with a cover story on an upcoming edition of People, butHemsworth, a married father of three, told the magazine that the best bonus will be the "bragging rights around the house."

"I can just say [to my wife, Spanish model, Elsa Pataky]: 'Now remember, this is what the people think, so I don't need to do the dishes anymore, I don't need to change nappies. I'm above that. I've made it now.'"

Pasthonourees include actors:

• Canadian-born Ryan Reynolds.
• Channing Tatum.
• Bradley Cooper.

MelGibson,the Mad Max starand now scandal-plaguedactor,was the first to receivethehonour, in 1985.