He might be the next biggest British hard man actor since Vinny Jones, but Danny Dyer insists he's a big softy really.

The actor, currently starring in Dead Man Running with 50 Cent, says that the full range of his acting abilities hasn't been fully explored due to his "bad boy" image.

Danny told the Mirror: "I need to show this vulnerable side to me, which I have got. I am quite a tearful person. I'm very affectionate.

"I just like a cuddle, I do like a cuddle. I get this image of a bad boy and a hard man, I don't know where it comes from, maybe it's the way I speak. But I want to try and break away from that, it's just about someone taking a risk with me really."

And "cuddly" Danny showed a bit of his gooey centre whilst talking about the disadvantaged kids who worked on the set of his latest movie.

"They are grafters, man. It was a tough gig. There were a lot of night shifts out in the freezing cold. They are not doing it for the pound note, they are doing it to keep themselves focused and busy.

"They worked their b*llocks off and it shows if you give them a chance, they'll take it. If you don't give them an opportunity they'll go and do other things. And the other things are not very nice at the moment.

"It's very easy to go and pick up a blade and start swinging it at people."

Not for you though, eh Danny?

He might have a soft centre, but Danny's a long way from being a girly boy...