Arnie goes political

On screen he may be the Terminator - that most fearsome of cyborg killing machines - but even Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted he can only seek a new career in politics if his wife lets him.

The muscly Hollywood actor - in London for the premiere of his latest movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines - told the Evening Standard he was pinning his hopes on receiving the approval of his wife, Maria Shriver, to join the race to become governor of California.

Schwarzenegger, 55 next month, said: "The final decision rests with my wife - and I hope to get the go-ahead in a couple of weeks." He said the decision had to be a joint one, adding: "I have a wife and family to consider now, you know. It's not like when I did Mr Universe and decided on a career of my own."

Speculation about his plans to enter politics, representing George Bush's Republican party, has been rife for weeks, but his latest words appear to be the clearest indication yet he has decided to concentrate on politics. The decision also rests on whether California - the US's most populous state - decides to stage a vote of no confidence in current Democratic governor Gray Davis, who is under pressure over a £23 billion state budget deficit.

If Schwarzenegger does seek the Republican nomination in California, he will be following in the footsteps of another famous actor-turned-politician - Ronald Reagan. After a Hollywood career in some 50 films, Reagan became the

state's governor in 1966 before going on to serve two terms as US President from 1981-89.

Currently Schwarzenegger is ruling nothing in or out. Despite his advancing years, he floated the prospect of another Terminator movie: "If this one is received well, and tickets sell, I'll do a T4."

The Austrian-born actor was reportedly paid £20 million plus a percentage of box office takings for T3. With a budget of £175 million, it is the most expensive independently financed movie of all time. It sees the Terminator return to earth to protect John Connor, a human vital for mankind's future survival, from a rival cyborg, T-X, played by modelturned-actress Kristanna Loken.

About 5,000 fans turned up to welcome Schwarzenegger - and a cavalcade of nine chauffeur-driven limousines - to Leicester Square. They were rewarded with a 10-minute walkabout by the star.

Later he said London was one of his favourite cities - it was here he started his career by winning Mr Universe 36 years ago. He added: "I am buying a black London cab. I'm a bit concerned I won't fit in the driving seat, so I am having the glass screen removed so I can. I'm shipping it back to Los Angeles to drive my kids around in."

Accompanied by his wife, who was dressed in a black suit and steel-toed cowboy boots, he said that getting back into shape for T3 brought back memories of Mr Universe. He left the theatre in true Terminator tradition, uttering: "I'll be back."

Schwarzenegger was not the only one who trained hard. Loken gained 15 pounds of muscle to play T-X. She said: "I did weapon, mind and weight training and hired a nutritionist. It was an empowering role to play." In a pink suede outfit slashed to the thigh, she showed guests how, as a model, she earned the nickname Skyscraper Legs.

Claire Danes, who plays John Connor's love interest, attended the premiere in a black Alexander McQueen kimono. Other celebrities present - and at the subsequent party at Victoria House in Holborn - included Rik Mayall, Jemma Kidd, Jenson Button, Nell McAndrew and Rachel Griffiths.