Jean Claude Van Damme had an affair with Kylie Minogue. The action hero romanced the diminutive pop star when the pair filmed the 1994 movie Street Fighter together. Although Van Damme regrets appearing in the much derided movie he is glad he did because he got to get up close and personal to Kylie.

He told Britain's Empire magazine: "'Street Fighter' was corny to me. But there were nice things. I got to see the land of Australia and had a mini-affair with Kylie Minogue. If you ever see her, say hello for me to Kylie."

The martial arts expert also insists he is a lover, not a fighter. He said: "My last fight was more than 20 years ago. I'm not a fighter, I'm a lover. If somebody's going to speak bad about me, I will walk away.

"But if a guy like Steven Seagal slaps me once, I will slap him twice as hard. Life is full of violence."