Barbara Walters declares Amal Clooney the Most Fascinating Person of 2014

NEW YORK, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Amal Clooney, the stunning human-rights lawyer who recently married longtime bachelor George Clooney, has topped Barbara Walters' list of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2014.

"How do I introduce her?" Walters wondered.

"I guess the question is, 'What does it take to fascinate one of the most fascinating men in the world?' She is known primarily through her spouse, and while we know little about her, we know a great deal about him. And he has fascinated many women, especially me," Walters said.

"Everything she does, says or wears is officially fascinating," the veteran broadcast journalist said, comparing Amal to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton.

As photos of the glamorous couple -- and George with some of his ex-girlfiends -- appear on the screen, Walters can be heard saying that getting the Oscar-winning actor to tie the knot was "really one of the greatest achievements in human history."

"Everyone said that no one would ever get George Clooney to the altar. In fact, George Clooney -- who had been married briefly in his 20s -- said it himself, to me, in 1995."

While honorees Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, Neil Patrick Harris, Michael Strahan, Chelsea Handler, Elon Musk, George R.R. Martin, David Koch and Scarlett Johansson were previously announced, Amal Clooney was not revealed as the Most Fascinating chart-topper until Sunday night's two-hour ABC News special.

Walters, 85, retired from co-hosting the daytime talk show The View earlier this year.