NEW YORK - Matthew McConaughey has been named the "sexiest man alive" by People magazine. The actor is pictured on the cover of People's annual issue, on newsstands Friday.

McConaughey is the 20th "sexiest man" for People, who first bequeathed the honor to Mel Gibson in 1985. The magazine credited McConaughey's "heaping helping of Texas's finest Southern charm" for the choice.

But he says the part of the title that he's proud of isn't "sexiest": "I like the 'alive' part."

The actor, whose career began with "Dazed and Confused" and "A Time to Kill," starred this year in the action flick "Sahara" and alongside Al Pacino in "Two for the Money."