An Evening With Arnold Schwarzenegger

You would be hard pressed to know that Leeds is where it al started for Arnold Schwarzenegger but in conversation with Jonathan Ross at the Centenary Pavilion, Elland Road on Friday night, Leeds is apparently where it all started for the former Mr Universe, Governor of California and ever present film legend.

Former Leeds United reserve player Reg Park (who went on to be crowned Mr Universe and starred in Hercules movies) was the blueprint and inspiration for Arnold.

"Whilst my friends used to have pictures of females on their bedroom walls, I had a picture of Reg Park" he shared. "He was my idol and I wanted to be like him, Reg Park was the most important motivator for me"

In the interview he revealed how he had a bad relationship with his father; "If I had a comfortable up bringing I would not have had the same drive that I have"

Now aged 67, he looked a picture of health. He informed the audience that he will be playing T-800 again in the fifth instalment of The Terminator which is due to be released next July. "It has all sorts of interesting stars in it and it is a great story but I cannot give the stars away, the twist and all that stuff"

Now best friends with Sylvester Stallone, it was not always that way "We used to have a rivalry but in1992 we became partners in the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain. We went to Cannes and there was a dialogue between us and over the years we have become best friends"

He went on to discuss his philosophy on life and his success "I like to always give something back, at the end of the day I always think, what have I given back?"

He still trains "I still like to work out, it also feels so good to ride and cycle in the morning".

The night ended with an auction of memorabilia for the Candlelighters fund for children with cancer. Arnold even bought a portrait of himself, now there is a man true to his words who likes to give something back.