Keira Knightley has been voted the sexiest woman in the world.

The 21-year-old beauty - who shot to fame in British film 'Bend it Like Beckham' - topped the annual poll, conducted by Britain's FHM magazine.

She pushed last year's winner Kelly Brook, 26, into fifth place and narrowly beat actress Scarlett Johansson, who came third.

FHM Editor, Ross Brown, said: "Keira Knightley truly deserves to be the winner of our 2006 poll and she's an English Rose like no other."

The gorgeous 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star came 18th in last year's poll, which is voted for by readers of the magazine. This year's competition attracted two million votes.

The top ten included British pop singer Cheryl Tweedy, who slipped from second to sixth this year, mum-to-be Angelina Jolie, who came fourth, and screen siren Jessica Alba who came ninth.

Britney Spears, who topped the poll in 2004, failed to even make the top 100 this year.

FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006:

1. Keira Knightley

2. Keeley Hazell

3. Scarlett Johansson

4. Angelina Jolie

5. Kelly Brook

6. Cheryl Tweedy

7. Beyonce Knowles

8. Evangeline Lilly

9. Jessica Alba

10. Jessica Simpson