Ray Winstone had a "wild" night out with Sean Penn

Speaking to Loaded magazine, he said: "I met Sean probably for the first time 10 years ago and had a night out with him, one of the wild ones. And we had a terrific night together. We had a drink, you know - we were out. He drinks like an Irishman or an Englishman - he knows how to have a booze, you know."

However, the veteran actor insists his partying days are well and truly behind him.

He explained: "You go to work and you go home and every now and then you'll have a beer.

"When I worked with [Sean] on 'The Gunman', you know, we'd have a quick beer or something, but most of the time he was on set all day long, every day, and he was training, keeping himself in shape - he looks magnificent for his age."

Meanwhile, in a time when so many stars are finding themselves in rehab due to alcohol addiction, Ray believes it's crucial that actors and actresses stay sober because too much booze can lead to "career suicide".

He added: "When you're in work mode, you don't [drink alcohol]. Maybe when you were 25 you could do that, but it's career suicide if you start on the booze and you can't do your job properly."

The new issue of Loaded is on the shelves now. For more info please visit loaded.co.uk