The `X Men` actor insists he doesn`t look "cool" enough when he is clean-shaven and claims directors always ask him to show up on set with a few days of stubble.

He said: "The truth is, there`s rarely been a role in any movie where I haven`t had to have facial hair as I have a bit of a baby face.

"Every time I turn up on set the director says, `I think a four-day growth would be good!` And every photo shoot I go on I get a call beforehand saying don`t shave because I don`t look cool enough apparently.

"It`s an occupational hazard."

The 42-year-old star turned down the role of Billy Flynn in movie musical `Chicago` in 2002 because he felt too young for the part, but later regretted his decision when he saw how successful the film went on to become.

He added: "I turned down `Chicago` because I was too young for the part, which Richard Gere played.

"I`d always wanted to do a movie musical and this one came along relatively early in my career. I thought I was too young as there was this one line where he said, `I`ve seen it all kid` and I was about 30! I thought, `How am I going to sell this line?` It didn`t make sense to me.

"A year later it went on to win all the Oscars and I remember thinking that perhaps with a bit of make-up it could have worked."
sections: Celebrities