10 Reasons Why Penélope Cruz Is the Sexiest Woman Alive

No one can deny it: Penélope Cruz is one sexy star. So we weren't surprised to wake up this morning to discover that Esquire magazine agreed with us and named her the sexiest woman alive on its November cover. The eleventh woman to take the title, she bested last year's two-time winner Scarlett Johansson.

What makes the Spanish actress earn such a title? We tend to think it's her knack for steaming up red carpets in dresses that aren't even all that scandalous. Sure, she loves high slits, off-the-shoulder necklines, and cocktail dresses with a corset-tight fit, but even when she's covered up, there's a certain je ne sais quoi that keeps our eyes fixated on her every move. Want to see what we mean? Just look at her exclusive Esquire shots and our countdown of her 10 sultriest red carpet moments.