Kiefer Sutherland’s life tattoos

Kiefer Sutherland says his tattoos are “like a disease”.

The ‘24’ star marks any important events in his life with a new piece of body art, and although he sometimes regrets the inkings he generally sees them as a “nice map of life”.

He said: “I have a lot of tattoos – it’s kind of disease. You get the first one and then if it matters to you, you get more.

“I got my first tattoo when I was 16 and had just left home. I was really scared so a couple of friends and I got tattoos as a bonding thing. From then on, anytime I went through something in my life that mattered to me I had this desire to make a tattoo out of it.

“I have a lot. There are times when it is difficult. When I work I have them covered up and sometimes see a picture of myself when I had none and think maybe I shouldn’t have had any. But most of the time it’s a nice map for myself about the journey of my life.”

Kiefer - who has a reputation for partying hard and has spent time in prison for drink driving charges - claims he has now curbed his wild ways, and credits his young grandson for being a calming influence.

Despite his love for the youngster – the son of his step-daughter Michelle Kath – the actor says four-year-old Hamish looks “like a failed boxer”.

Kiefer added to Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper: “His name is Hamish Adam Kiefer Sinclair and he’s a train wreck. He already looks like a failed boxer. He falls down a lot and he gets cut up and he’s just beautiful.

“He’s one of the great pleasures in my life.”