The Rock named Sexiest Man Alive

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has been chosen to be People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2016.

The 44-year-old action star will receive the annual honour and will be the cover star of the publication's special issue, according to website Gossip Cop.

Johnson - who still wrestles part-time for WWE - has been picked for his muscular physique, chiselled good looks and winning personality.

No magic formula or secret to success. I'm up at 4am daily and puttin' in the hard work that I already know my competition is not willin' to do. If they're willin' to get up at 4, then you bet your ass I'm gettin' up at 3. And if they're willin' to get up at 3am, then well... I'll be gettin' up at 2:59 cause that's just bullshit. I don't pretend to do it. I do it. Daily. It's my anchor and will always be my edge over my competition. You don't have to wake up at the ass crack of 4am dawn to find your anchor. Whatever it is that gives you "your edge" over everyone around you - then that's what you do. You find it, you apply it and you protect it. Whether it's your co-workers, teammates, classmates or business associates.. the #AnchorPhilosophy applies to every facet of our lives. #FindYourAnchor #CreateYourEdge #ProtectThemBoth #AndPlsDontGetUpAt4amCauseItAintPretty;)

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on May 1, 2016 at 4:18pm PDT

Since giving up wrestling full-time in 2004, the actor has gone on to become one of Hollywood's most bankable stars with roles in hits such as 'Pain & Gain', 'Central Intelligence' and the 'Fast & Furious' franchise.

Johnson's next film is the Disney musical 'Moana' and then in 2017 he will be seen in the next 'Fast and Furious' sequel, a big screen 'Baywatch' reboot and a remake of 'Jumanji' and will then start work on superhero film 'Shazam' and a follow-up to 'San Andreas'.

In the summer, Johnson was named by Forbes as the world's highest-paid actor with earnings of $64.5 million.

Out of 7 billion people in this world - the big, brown, bald, pick up truck drivin' tattooed man becomes TIME'S 100 Most Influential. This means we're doin' somethin' right and ain't screwin' things up too badly. Thank you Nancy Gibbs and TIME for the amazing honor. And most importantly THANK YOU FANS 'round the world who buy into our core belief that our past never has to dictate our future. That we're gonna get thru it and achieve it with hard work and our own two hands. And a few high class dirty jokes along the way. #Influencer #Disrupter #FuturePresident #PickUpTruckDriver #TIME100

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on May 5, 2016 at 7:36am PDT

Johnson follows in a long line of hunks to take People's honour starting in 1985 with the first winner Mel Gibson.

Other recipients include Chris Hemsworth, Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds, Channing Tatum and George Clooney - who, along with Johnny Depp and Richard Gere, has taken the title twice.

EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: #HOBBS #F8 When you strip a man of all he has. All that's important to him. You force him to return to his roots.. and sometimes that's a very dangerous and twisted place. If I was going to return for another FAST & FURIOUS I wanted to come in and disrupt the franchise in a cool way that got fans fired up and their blood pumping to see a new version of Hobbs and his "Daddy's gotta go to work" mentality and set the table in a cool way for where the character goes in the future. Maybe it's a spinoff movie. Maybe it's more #FF movies. Or hell maybe Hobbs just gets on his motorcycle and rides off into the sunset never to be seen again. Either way, I've had a solid first week of shooting, good to be back with the ohana, good to work again w/ my bud and director F. Gary Gray and our home studio of UNIVERSAL, as always have been the best partners to me and my #SevenBucksProds team. Most importantly... you guys around the world will really dig this new version of the role, 'cause as we always say, disrupters dent the universe. #Hobbs #TwistedRoots #1Disrupter #1Savage #F8

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on May 28, 2016 at 7:22am PDT

The 2015 winner was retired soccer star David Beckham - who is married to Spice Girl and fashion designer Victoria Beckham.