Charles Dance’s fitness secrets revealed as star confidently goes naked on the beach at 77 – after admitting he ‘wants to be looked at’ and ‘behaves like he’s 25’

Over the course of his 40-year career, he has played leading roles in James Bond, Game of Thrones and The Crown and performed for thousands of adoring fans at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

And this weekend Charles Dance proved that he is no shrinking violet even off screen.

The actor, 77, was pictured soaking up the sun on a nudist beach on the Spanish island of Formentera with his girlfriend Alessandra Masi, 55.

The father-of-three – who was married to Joanna Haythorn for 34 years until 2004 – proudly showed off his toned physique as he strolled along the beach before enjoying a dip in the sea.

Given the star’s fitness regime, it’s not surprising that The Crown actor still has the confidence to strip down into his 70s.

Here, FEMAIL reveals how Charles still looks as sharp as he did when he made his film debut in 1981 – after admitting that ‘it’s better to be overlooked than to be overlooked’ and still feeling ‘ 25 feels’.

‘Obsessed’ with swimming

In several interviews over the years, Charles revealed that he tries to swim daily to maintain his slim figure.

Speak with The Telegraph in 2021, the star said: ‘My obsession is swimming. For the past five or six years I’ve been trying to swim [in the Lido, a public pool on the Heath] Every morning.’

The star said his local lido is a ‘great place to think’ and joked that he follows the training with a ‘cardiac arrest breakfast’.

Elsewhere, Charles revealed he hasn’t always been happy with his physique in recent years.

He added, “You get something called ‘love handles,’ and that’s not fun. Either I’m on a very strict diet or I have to change into my swimsuit!’

In an interview with The mirror Last year, Charles revealed he spends much of the year wild swimming at Hampstead Heath in north London because he can cope with the cold temperatures.

The Game of Thrones and The Crown actor (pictured) has previously spoken about his ‘obsession’ with swimming

The father-of-three (pictured) proudly showed off his toned physique as he strolled along the beach before enjoying a dip in the sea

In several interviews over the years, Charles (pictured) revealed that he tries to swim daily to maintain his slim figure

Charles was spotted with his actress girlfriend Alessandra Masi during their holiday to the Spanish island

He said: ‘I lasted from March to November, but there is a point… six degrees is about my limit. It’s quite cold, it takes a long time to warm up. But you feel great afterwards […].’

Discussing the attention his slim physique has received in recent years, Charles said: ‘It’s better to be overlooked than to be overlooked.’

Talking about his daily swims with the Evening standardCharles added: “Last week I was in the shower and an old guy, one of the regulars, turned to me while I was soaping up and said, ‘So, Charles, are you going to swim all year round this year? ‘

‘I said I’d try and asked him what was the lowest temperature he’d ever swam in, and he said 0C. Now I happen to know that the thermometer at the Lido registers nothing below zero, so for all he knew it could have been -20 degrees Celsius.’

Love for cycling

Moreover, Charles has also previously discussed how he cycles on a daily basis.

Pictured: Game of Thrones actor Charles Dance cycled through the streets of Camden in 2019

In 2012, Charles told the Evening standard that he cycles to and from his home in London for his morning swim.

He explained: ‘After the swim it’s a five minute bike ride back home for the full cardiac arrest breakfast.’

The star has been photographed around London several times over the years, including when he rode his bike around Camden in June 2019.

Speak with Prostate cancer UK in 2013, Charles said: ‘I’m health conscious, an actor must be.

‘There is no sick pay, it is up to us to take care of our bodies, stay healthy and keep working, so I have regular check-ups. I cycle, I swim, when I have to take off my shirt in a movie, which is fortunately becoming increasingly rare, I pump some iron.

In an interview with The GuardiaN Last year, Charles revealed that his Italian producer girlfriend Alessandra Masi is also an avid cyclist.

Charles Dance and Alessandra Masi pictured themselves running errands in London in September 2020

Charles Dance depicted in the television miniseries Jewel In the Crown, released in 1984

He gushed: ‘She has a bike and goes everywhere with it.’

Yoga, Pilates and Weightlifting

When he’s not swimming or cycling, Charles also revealed that he likes to stay active with yoga, pilates and weightlifting.

In June 2010, he told Staysure magazine: ‘I do something every day, a bit of yoga, pilates and a bit of military stuff.’

Acknowledging that he is lucky to have been blessed with good genes, he told The Mirror last year: ‘I try to eat sensibly and I do a range of basic weightlifting exercises to work different parts of your body, but I’m not a bodybuilder . .’

Speak with The times in 2022, Charles revealed that he prefers to do his pilates and yoga at home.

He joked: ‘I hate gyms, you walk in and it’s all: “Hi! Nice training.” Get lost.’

As The Daily Mail reported in 2008, Charles’ daily fitness routine consists of a swim, followed by a hot shower and cycling home.

After this, he reportedly spends an ‘hour and ten minutes pumping iron, yoga and pilates’.

Charles Dance pictured with his ex-wife Joanna Haythorn in 1994. The couple separated in 2004 after 34 years of marriage

Alessandra Masi and Charles Dance attend a special screening of ‘The Good Nurse’ at The Soho Hotel in November 2022

In March, Charles revealed his marriage to Joanne Haythorn failed after openly admitting he ‘succumbed to some temptations’.

The veteran actor appeared on Gyles Brandreth’s Rosebud podcast and opened up about his “huge regret” that his relationship with sculptor Joanne Haythorn came to an end when they divorced in 2004 after he admitted cheating on her.

The couple – who had two children together, son Oliver, 50, and Rebecca, 44 – married in 1970.

The charismatic Dance blamed his behavior for becoming an unlikely sex symbol after starring in the 1984 TV drama The Jewel in the Crown, when he admitted he had succumbed to his libido.

But he said he is grateful his ex-wife was able to forgive him 18 months after he destroyed their marriage of 30 years and they are now “best friends.”

Pictured: Charles Dance in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, starring Roger Moore

Charles Dance attended the ‘Rumours’ Photocall at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival earlier this month

Earlier this year, Charles revealed he is “lucky to find love again” with Alessandra Masi, who is 22 years his junior.

While promoting the film The Book of Vision, Charles said his highlight during filming was meeting producer Alessandra.

He said: ‘Alessandra is fantastic. I’m very lucky.’

Discussing how his divorce has affected his life, he added: “I feel 35. I probably act 25. It’s definitely been a period of change for me.

‘Some of the time I handled it well, some of the time I didn’t. It was difficult to get back into family life after being away.”

After the divorce, Charles dated actress Sophia Myles, then in her 20s, who starred in films such as Thunderbirds.

In October 2012, Charles split from his ex-fiancée Eleanor Boorman, just months after she gave birth to their daughter Rose.

Dance missed the birth and left for South Africa for filming days later. Ms Boorman said at the time: ‘Charles was filming but he came straight down.’

In 2022, he said The guard: ‘Unfortunately I don’t see much of Rose, but that’s just the way it is.’