Walters dubs Rowling most fascinating of ’07

Barbara Walters has unveiled her annual “Most Fascinating Person” list and “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling has been crowned the winner.

This year, Rowling released the final installment of her hit series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows,” and pushed one of her characters, Professor Albus Dumbledore, out of the closet. The fifth installment of the film series, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” also premiered huge in theaters.

The “Potter” scribe shares list honors with an impressive lineup of celebrities, entertainers and public figures including: Victoria and David Beckham, Justin Timberlake, Katherine Heigl, Jennifer Hudson, radio shock jock Don Imus, former President Bill Clinton and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

“I think it is a great list because we have people from business, we have people from politics, we have movie stars, we have sexy stars, we have singing stars,” Walters told Access Hollywood.

Many of the listmakers surpassed Barbara’s expectations.

“I was surprised at the Beckhams because I thought that they were going to be very spoiled and difficult and come in late and so on, (but) they couldn’t have been easier. They kind of bicker like an old married couple, but they are also very sweet together, so I was very pleasantly surprised.”

Although Walters commented on how pleasant Victoria Beckham was, she encouraged the Spice Girl to indulge in sweets a little more.

“She is also the skinniest thing I have ever seen! I said, ‘Do you ever take a piece of chocolate cake?‘” Walters said of Victoria.

Another beauty on Walters’ list is “Grey’s Anatomy” star, Katherine Heigl. She was picked for winning her first Emmy and for her successful transition to the big screen in the runaway comedy hit, “Knocked Up.”

Walters, like millions of viewers each week, was taken aback by Heigl’s beauty, saying,” (She has) that fresh scrubbed look, so even when she is very glamorous, she is kind of the girl next door. Provided, the girl next door is beautiful.”

Justin Timberlake’s appearance on the list caused the seasoned talk-show host to edit herself while describing what got him there.

“I think he is adorable. I interviewed him six years ago and he was a cute kid, and now he is a very sexy young man,” Walters said. “He has got this album, that is all about sex, and then he has got — how do I put it? A Christmas present in a box! Which is — I just can’t describe it. We would not be on the air if I did!” referring to Justin Timberlake’s hilarious Emmy-winnig “SNL” digital video short “D*ck In A Box.”

Along with co-hosting “The View,” Walters is writing an autobiography, due out in May 2008.

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