Schwarzenegger is the classic action hero

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's political ambitions are not expected to get the support of his wife's uncle, Senator Edward M Kennedy.

The Terminator star, who is married to TV journalist Maria Shriver, has often suggested he may run as a Republican candidate for California's governor.

But Mr Kennedy, who is a Democrat, told the Boston Herald newspaper: "Listen, Arnold is great. And I never argue with him, particularly when he's holding me by my ankles upside down. But I intend to support the Democrat."

The actor has said he may run for the political post if Californians vote to recall Governor Gray Davis.

His wife, who works for NBC News in the US, is the daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and R Sargent Shriver.

The actor's wife is related to John F Kennedy

She is part of the famous Kennedy clan, which included John F Kennedy, who was America's 35th president.

He was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in 1963.

Senator Kennedy, who represents Massachusetts, added: "I'm not sure where Arnold gets his political instincts.

"People often say that for Kennedys, it's in the water. Arnold seems to be a staunch Republican, so I've asked Maria to check their plumbing."

Schwarzenegger's new film, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, opens in the US on Wednesday, and the actor said at Cannes film festival he would be keeping busy.

'Full of energy'

Approaching 56, Schwarzenegger says there is nothing to stop him carrying on as an action hero.

"Is this my last Terminator? No. I've so many more years left," he said.

"I'm totally full of energy and thanks to my weight training and cardio-vascular training I'm in great shape.

"I consider this the middle term of my career."

With a huge budget of more than £100m, Terminator 3 is one of the most expensive films ever made.