The actor, who famously played Mr Darcy in the BBC's adaptation of Pride And Prejudice, admitted that women as old as 103 have been known to fall under his spell.

He told the Daily Record: "I actually find I'm increasingly lusted after by people who are collecting their state pension.

"I was told the story of one woman in hospital diagnosed with high blood pressure who was told not to watch any more of Pride and Prejudice because seeing me on screen was getting her pulse racing. She was 103."

The 47-year-old said he was surprised to have achieved pin-up status relatively late in his career, saying: 'It's so utterly bizarre to think of myself as a sex symbol at this age. I have no objection to being what Americans call 'a hottie' but it certainly isn't what I'm going for at this stage of my career.

"I guess if it had to happen, now isn't a bad time. When I was first starting, it would have been confusing. I would have had a very distorted image of myself and my power as an actor. And I would have spent the rest of my life wondering why no one was thinking of me as sexy anymore!"