Movie action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger believes he has what it takes to ‘go naked on screen’, aged 72

Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed that he almost died during a heart operation

The Terminator star also said that he can still “arrive naked” on screen aged 72 – some 35 years after he swaggered in to movie history at the start of the sci-fi classic.

The Hollywood star boasted: “I can still do that. I can still arrive naked.”

It may not have been though, as Arnie revealed that he was close to death during his sixth heart operation.

While having a ‘routine procedure’ on the operating table, the situation took a turn for the worse as surgeons looked to tackle a faulty pulmonary valve in his heart.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has opened up about his near fatal heart operation (Image: WireImage)

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in Skydance Productions and Paramount Pictures’ Terminator: Dark Fate (Image: Kerry Brown)
Despite being close to meeting his maker, Arnie was more concerned that he would meet the schedule set down for the filming of the latest instalment in the Terminator franchise – Dark Fate.

In the movie, Arnie reunites with Linda Hamilton for the first time since they were onscreen together in 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

With the latest in the series about to hit the cinemas, Arnie revealed that he was back in the gym just a week after returning home from hospital.

Arnie was back in the gym just weeks after the op (Image: Startraks Photo/REX)
He told The Sun: “It’s no problem. It gets a little bit harder the older you get. The body is not as forgiving as it used to be.

“But you just have to train more, you have to do more reps. That’s what it’s all about.”

Speaking about the op in March 2018, which almost proved fatal, Arnie was very relaxed about what could have been.

Arnie has now had six heart operations (Image: WireImage)
He continued: “It was kind of a surprise. I never get scared about these things.

“For a minute I was worried it was too close to doing Terminator 6 but I realised right away the movie is a good means to get back into shape again.

“I was home in no time and was back to the gym in no time. Most people baby themselves too much after surgery.”