spooks - series 6

Acting runs in the Penry-Jones family, his dad is actor Peter Penry-Jones, his mother is actress Angela Thorne and his little brother Laurence is an actor too.

In 1995 Rupert appeared on screen with his mum on the television series Cold Comfort Farm.

Bad boy Rupert was kicked out of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for being what his tutors called 'a disruptive influence on the other students'.

In 1999, he briefly dated singer Kylie Minogue, but is now married to actress Dervla Kirwan whom he met in a theatre production of Dangerous Corner in 2001. The couple have two children together.

A self confessed metrosexual, Penry-Jones says he has more grooming products than his wife and even goes for monthly oxygen facials to keep him looking radiant on and off screen.

He used to be a mod and hang about in Carnaby Street wearing Sta-Prest trousers, parkas, bowling shoes and Fred Perry shirts.

His performance in "Don Carlos" for the Royal Shakespeare Company earned him the prestigious Ian Charleson Award in 1999.

At one point the hot actor considered a career in the police force, but luckily for us he changed his mind. “I thought about joining the cops when I was at school, failing my exams and not quite sure what to do with my life. If I wasn't going to make it as an actor, I thought maybe I could either join the police force or the Army.”

Penry-Jones was never much of an academic and claims to have actually fallen asleep during his Economics A-Level exam!

He’s a keen swimmer and particularly likes swimming outdoors in the middle of winter. He has swum the Thames and the Dardanelles but not the Channel as he thinks it would be too cold. His biggest fear is being eaten by sharks.

Some might call it a little excessive, but punctual Penry-Jones is happy to admit to owning four TAG Heuer watches.

At the age of 17, he and a friend decided to get tattooed and sought a place in Soho to have them done. Sadly, only his wife Dervla is allowed to see it. Lucky lady!

A massive James Bond fan, Penry-Jones quite fancies himself as the next 007 when Daniel Craig throws in the towel.

He keeps his body honed and toned using a rowing machine and cross trainer that he keeps in a shed at the back of the garden.

He used to be a motorbike enthusiast but gave up biking when he had children. The last bike he owned was a Suzuki SV650.