Paul Rudd: 5 things to know about 2021's Sexiest Man Alive

Paul Rudd was recently named People magazine's 2021 Sexiest Man Alive. Photo: AP

Paul Rudd is getting all the bragging rights this year, after being named People magazine’s 2021 Sexiest Man Alive.

The actor is no stranger in the film industry. Who can forget his breakout role in 1995’s Clueless that made him a popular celebrity crush? He went on to showcase his comedic chops in films like Anchorman and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

Newer fans of Rudd will know him as a member of the Avengers, joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ant-Man.

Rudd is back on the big screen for the long-awaited sequel to the iconic franchise, Ghostbusters: Afterlife on Dec 2 and will soon be putting on his superhero suit once again in 2023’s Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania.

In the meantime, here are five facts about this year’s Sexiest Man Alive.

1. Both his parents are British and are second cousins

Rudd grew up in Kansas, the United States but his parents were both from London. As a kid, he would frequently return to Britain with his parents to visit his relatives and was a big fan of their culture.

In 2019, the actor discovered that his parents are actually related while on the show Finding Your Roots. “Which explains why I have six nipples,” he jokingly replied to the new information. He also went on to ask: “Does this make my son also my uncle?”

2. He takes his tea seriously

This comes as no surprise based on his love for the UK. Speaking with The Guardian back in 2015, Rudd said: “I’ve always felt genuinely at home here, just from the little things.”

He recalled being able to have chocolates that couldn’t be found back in the US.

Like a true Englishman, he also loves tea. “Tea has always been a big thing in my life. And I’m not talking about Liptons with lemon or iced tea, or any of that nonsense. Has to be hot PG Tips with milk,” he emphasised.

3. Theatre geek

Despite having much success in the comedy genre over the years, Rudd previously revealed that it was never part of life’s plan.

“I didn’t want to just do specifically comedy. I still don’t want to just specifically do comedy. I never went to (popular improv comedy troupe) Second City. I didn’t do stand up. I studied classical theatre. That was my thing,” he shared with Vulture in 2010.

The star made his Broadway debut in 1997 in the play The Last Night Of Ballyhoo. This went on to score him a nomination for a Fans of NY Theatre (Fany) award for his performance.

4. Hey Mr DJ!

While still in acting school, Rudd auditioned to be a DJ for a bar in Kansas after they didn’t give him a job as a waiter. Despite not knowing much about music at the time, they accepted him for the job.

He was later hired by a company that would organise weddings and bar mitzvahs. “It was a job that I didn’t love so much as I felt like a bit of a douche,” he revealed in an interview with Sirius XM. This was due to the fact that he would always try and get people to dance.

An organiser would later give him the stage name "Donnie Dweeb" after going onto the dance floor himself and dancing with the kids at a party.

5. He has no social media accounts and isn’t a fan of them

During an interview with Elle in 2018, the actor shared that he is not on social media. “I don’t need things in my life to distract me from my life. As my world gets bigger, I try to keep it smaller,” he said.

The only people he prioritises keeping around him are his own family. He married TV producer Julie Yaeger in 2003 and they have two children.

He added: “I don’t really want to talk to the people I know. Let alone people I don’t (on social media).”