Breast-cancer survivor Christina Applegate has been named People magazine’s most beautiful person of the year.

The honor comes at a pivotal moment for the actress, who rose to stardom playing a teenager on "Married With Children." After discovering she had the early stages of breast cancer, Applegate made the tough, emotional decision to have a double mastectomy last July. In her first interview since undergoing reconstructive breast surgery in November, the "Samantha Who?" actress says she feels more confident than ever before.

"I used to be really shy but I started to come into my own in my late 20s and early 30s," Applegate, 37, tells People in the cover interview for the annual Most Beautiful issue. "Now I’m not afraid to speak up in a room full of people and be a part of the conversation."

Applegate also credits her musician boyfriend, Martyn Lenoble, "who loves me from head to toe," for helping her take a new approach to life.

"I’m very grateful to Martyn for coming along at a time that he did because he’s been my rock through all of this," Applegate says. "He gave me something to really want to live for and something to smile about."

Applegate last year discovered she has the BRCA1 gene mutation, commonly called "the cancer gene." Those who carry the gene have a 36- to 85-percent chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer and a 16- to 60-percent chance of getting ovarian cancer, according to statistics from the National Cancer Institute.

Other women who made People’s 100 most beautiful list include Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie and "Slumdog Millionaire" actress Freida Pinto.