Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks of affair with maid Mildred Beana on 60 Minutes

Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed he regrets having an affair with his maid Mildred Beana, declaring it as “the stupidest thing” and admitting he “inflicted tremendous pain” onto his wife and children.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, 65, opened up in a pre-recorded chat with 60 Minutes – his first televised interview since the scandal broke in May 2011 – to broadcast on Sunday.

The actor married television journalist Maria Shriver in April 1986, going on to have four children together – Katherine, 22, Christina, 21, Patrick, 19, and 15-year-old Christopher.

However, in May of last year, the couple separated after 25 years due to his infidelities.

Had it simply been an extra-marital affair, there may have been a chance to save the marriage, but Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a child with maid Mildred Beana, who gave birth to their son Joseph 14 years ago.

During the interview, Arnold Schwarzenegger said: “I think it was the stupidest thing I’ve done in the whole relationship. It was terrible. I inflicted tremendous pain on Maria and unbelievable pain on the kids.”

The Terminator icon is currently promoting his autobiography, Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, and though he says Maria Shriver hasn’t read the tell-all tale, she does wish him the best.

The former Governor of California added: “I think that Maria is wishing me well in everything I do.”

Interestingly, despite his acknowledgment of the affair, Arnold Schwarzenegger fails to actually say sorry.

When interviewer Lesley Stahl probes him, asking: “She gave up her television career for you. I mean, wow, was this the most unbelievable act of betrayal to Maria?”

Arnold Schwarzenegger deflects the answer, simply elaborating about it being the “stupidest” thing he did.

Despite the scandal that threatened to topple him from his He-Man cave, Arnie continues to work.

He went on to reprise his role as Trench in The Expendables 2, and signed up to a further five titles.

Action film The Last Stand and thriller The Tomb are currently in post-production, while he is about to embark on fantasy Unknown Soldier and DEA drama Breacher.

It has also recently been announced he will reunite with Danny DeVito to star in Triplets – a sequel to Twins, where the unlikely brothers discover they have a third sibling.