Burt Reynolds is attracted to "forceful women".

Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds

The 80-year-old actor loves romancing "smart" members of the opposite sex, who speak their minds and take control because he finds meek women utterly boring.

He told The Times magazine: "I like forceful women. I'm attracted to women who have probably gotten their own way most of the time. In Hollywood, you see men who'll date a beautiful actress just to have as an ornament, but who wants that? You want somebody who'll come back at you, not just someone to drag around. You want to have fun... I also like older women. They're smarter and they always tell you exactly how they feel."

The 'Deliverance' star was a heartthrob in his heyday and was married to Judy Carne from 1963 to 1965 and Loni Anderson from 1988 to 1994 and dated Sally Field - who he said was the love of his life - for five years in the early 80s.

However, he didn't enjoy his sex symbol status because it meant he was overlooked as a serious actor and it was harder to get good movie roles.

Speaking to The Times magazine, he said: "It can be frustrating being a sex symbol, whatever the hell that means. You get angry that people won't let you come out from under that. But you just have to keep going, and eventually you'll get a role where you can show them what you can do."