Matthew McConaughey Jokingly Defends 2005 Sexiest Man Alive Title: 'I'm Still Alive, Come On!' (Exclusive)

The actor also recalled how his mom reacted

Matthew McConaughey says his Sexiest Man Alive status never expired.

The Oscar winner is one of 11 stars featured on the cover of PEOPLE's 50th anniversary special issue. During the interview, McConaughey, 54, reflects on being named the 2005 Sexiest Man Alive.

"People tell me, 'You're no longer the Sexiest Man Alive, McConaughey,' for the last 19 years, every time someone else has been crowned. And I say, 'Well, I'm still alive. Come on!' " he jokes.

"If you're named it and you're still alive, you're still Sexiest Man Alive. That was my joke going forward with everything," adds McConaughey, who shares three kids with wife Camila.

Related: Matthew McConaughey Looks Back at His 30-Year Hollywood Ride — and Why Being a Dad Is His Greatest Gig

Looking back on that photoshoot, McConaughey stands by his choice to go with denim.

"That was a time where I noticed that the go-to on any photoshoot, especially for this, was denim. Go denim. Blue catches the eyes; denim, all-American. It was a good call," he says. "Denim still works for me today."

McConaughey recalls that "my family razzed me about" being given the title — and his mom Kay, 92, had one memorable reaction.

"She said what she's always said," he explains. "Any time I had any notoriety for anything, whether it was a role, whether it was getting the cover of PEOPLE Magazine, Sexiest Man Alive, my mom's reaction has always been the same: 'Yep, I see where you got it from.' "

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Also in this week's issue, McConaughey, who gives back through his Greenlights Grant Initiative, shared whether he'd give any advice to his younger self.

"Oh, I wouldn't tell him. I'd let him figure it out the same way I did," he says. "Take feeder roads off the highway. Get confused, get frustrated, feel lost, and overcome it."

For more on our 50th Anniversary, check out our special digital issue, and pick up a star-studded copy of PEOPLE, on newsstands April 12. 

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