Playing the dastardly Commodus in Ridley Scott's period epic, Gladiator, he stole the show from leading man Russell Crowe comfortably, his cleft-like birthmark only helping his sinister characterisation.

To make his character as believable as possible, Joaquin put on weight and cultivated a pasty complexion for the duration of the shoot.

A strict vegetarian and PETA spokesperson, Joaquin refuses to wear any animal product. Which is why the 'leather' he wears in films has to be a synthetic substitute.

Heck, he once cancelled a Prada shoot because their leather shoes actually were leather!