ARNIE: UNCUT

Clashes with his parents. 'Childish' Stallone rivalry. Battles with movie chiefs

BY MATT ROPER H E WAS the world's greatest bodybuilder, then one of Hollywood's biggest stars, before becoming California's governor.

Now 76, Arnold Schwarzenegger is reinventing himself again, sharing the secrets of his success with new self-help book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life.

During an event at London's Palladium this week, the action hero provided a fascinating insight into his life, career and motivation...

On criticism from his parents: My mother came into my bedroom and said, "Why are all these naked men hanging on the wall above your bed? All your friends have girls hanging up."  

She called the doctor. He looked at the wall and said, "This is quite normal. Don't worry." And so my mother finally stopped crying.

My father said that if I wanted to get muscles, I should chop wood for the old lady next door and not just look at myself in the mirror. This is what I went through. It wasn't easy.