Love your mother, watch Sex and the City and get a dog - it's easy to be sexy, according to Matthew McConaughey. Of course all this helps, but there's no doubt that being tall and blonde, with chiselled looks and a six-pack has helped Matt land the title of Sexiest Man Alive - just a little

The magazine poll amuses the 36-year-old actor, who stole the crown from Hollywood's more famous A-list hunk, Brad Pitt. He's also managed to quietly steal away his own movie beauty in the form of Penelope Cruz, whom he met on the set of their desert action romp Sahara two years ago.

Now Matt is back, breaking more hearts in romantic comedy Failure to Launch opposite another love of his life, Sarah Jessica Parker. The film sees Matt play Tripp, a 35-year-old no-hoper who still lives with his parents. SJP plays the lucky woman who might just prise him from his loving mother's apron strings.

So, how does it feel to officially be the sexiest man alive?

It's cool, it's an honour and I like it. I'm happy to be called that. When I got the call, I laughed, and then I called mom who said, 'It's about damn time.'

Tripp likes to keep his relationships in what he calls 'the fun zone' - do you like to keep things in the fun zone with Penelope?

God, I hope so, man - life's hard enough! We've been together for almost two years and it's even more fun than it was. It's easier because you know the other's sense of humour and you know what each other like. When you can do things together and also appreciate when they're doing something that they really dig - even though you may not - that's very important too I believe.

What have you learned from Penelope about Spain?

That I like it, I like it a lot. They like to eat and they like to talk, and they like to do it at the same time! I can get by in Spanish, but when they get going at the dinner table, I'm breaking a sweat staying in the conversation.

Now you are officially the Sexiest Man Alive, can you still go out and not be mobbed?

Sure. It's how you carry yourself. Sometimes someone will want something and I'll be like, 'Not right now, I'm eating or I'm watching the movie.' Sometimes you have to remind people! But going out in public for me is something that I will never not do because I think that's insane.

What made you want to play a guy who's 35 and still lives with his folks in Failure To Launch?

For me it was 'can I make this a real dude?' You know - not emasculate him; he's living at home, and his parents and friends all think he's got a problem, but he thinks he's got it figured out. Life's good; the rent's paid, mom's a great cook, she folds the clothes. What's not to like?

Unlike Tripp, you left home early, was this because you had big plans from the start?

No, I left because I didn't know what the hell I wanted to do, as most kids don't when you're 18, graduating and heading to college. I knew that I liked travel and adventure and so I packed up a duffel bag and went to Australia for a year. That was a wild adventure and I can honestly say that I don't think I would be here doing what I do if I hadn't taken that year. I had some real-life questions to answer and had no crutch - I didn't have mom and dad to ask. I didn't have friends to ask. I think the best time to find answers is when you are put into a place where you are alone - you have to answer them sooner or later.

What was it like romancing SJP in the movie?

Fun! I've had a crush on her for a long time, since Honeymoon In Vegas and then all through Sex and the City. I watched all of that and I like her - she's manicured, mischievous, and she's sophisticated, but yet she can blush. She's fun to work with, and incredibly easy to be attracted to!

There are a couple of big stunts in the film - do you do your own stunts?

Yeah I fell off the cliff in a free fall, but I was not the man who slammed into the rock wall - that was my stunt man. Those things make the day fun for me, when I can do something athletic. I like to be fit and active - I don't do it to look buff, I do it for myself. It's just exercise - there's no secret to it. So if I get to do a scene like that, it's cool.