The iconic Terminator actor pursued a steamy affair with his on-screen partner Brigitte Nielsen in the 80s. Although they were both dating other people at the time, there was no holding back

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen embarked on a passionate affair when they worked on the action film Red Sonja in 1985.

The lead actors were both involved with other people at the time, but there was an instant attraction and the pair didn’t appear to hold back.

However, their passionate romance was brief and Arnold went on to marry his partner Maria Schriver.

Brigitte, who admitted she didn’t know Arnie had a girlfriend, was dating Sylvester Stallone at the time and would go onto marry him shortly after her affair finished.

Decades after their steamy affair came to an end, Brigitte’s explosive book in 2011 shed light on the saucy illicit romance where she admitted that they wanted to try everything and there were ‘no restrictions’ under the sheets.

Arnold admitted to the affair in 2012 (Image: Getty Images)
In the book, You Only Get One Life, the 6ft1 Danish star detailed all areas of her life from childhood to becoming a model and her five husbands.

From meeting on the set, Brigitte recalled that there was a flirty atmosphere between her and Arnie.

“I was naturally very flirty and maybe there was already something there because of our roles in the movie, I don’t know: we were supposed to be in love on screen,” she wrote.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen stared in Red Sonja (Image: Rex)

Brigitte Nielsen said she slapped Madonna round the face and then slept with her husband for revenge (Image: FilmMagic)
Arnold came across, she recalled, as “very down-do-earth, though his body always seemed impossible – you couldn’t ignore it when we were running around half-naked in our battle gear”.

The juicy details of her affair with co-star Arnold revealed them embarking on a sensuous and romantic exploration.

“We wanted to try everything and so we did. There were no restrictions, no promises, nothing, and it was a great time in my life,” Brigitte said.

It was only in 2012, while Arnold was still married to Maria, that the Terminator actor finally admitted that he had the affair with the Danish actress.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen filmed together in the 80s (Image: Rex)

Arnold pictured with his daughter Katherine (Image: Getty Images North America)
In Arnold’s own autobigraphy Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, the actor-turned-governor confirmed he’d enjoyed a steamy romp with Brigitte during filming in the 80s.

At the time he was living with Maria, and the affair made him realise how much he wanted to marry her.

In his book, he also expressed his regret following the sensational revelations that he’d fathered a child with his housekeeper during his relationship with Maria.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Schriver split in 2011
“I think it was the stupidest thing I’ve done in the whole relationship. It was terrible. I inflicted tremendous pain on Maria and unbelievable pain on the kids,” he penned in his memoir.

Arnold and Maria, who share six children, called it quits on their relationship in 2011 when Maria challenged him over the paternity of their housekeeper’s son.

However, it took some years before their divorce was actually finalised.