Aidan Turner has said he does not feel “objectified” by the attention heaped on his topless scenes.

Poldark fans were delighted when the 33-year-old bared his torso for the now-famous scything scene in series one, and series two has already seen him remove his shirt while working in the tin mines.

The Irish actor, who plays Ross Poldark in the Cornish period drama, told The Times: “I don’t feel objectified, it’s funny! It’s just a couple of people admiring your body. It’s like doing any other scene. It’s the same as me galloping on a horse on a beach.”

He added: “I have always felt these semi-naked scenes, or ‘Ross with his top off’, work.

“If he is down the mine, he is hammering away – on Sunday night we saw it – so it wouldn’t make sense with a shirt on. It would look odd. In those days as well!”

Aidan said the focus on his topless scenes was “hilarious”.

The actor has also starred in the Hobbit movies, as well as vampire drama Being Human and Agatha Christie adaptation And Then There Were None.

But with Poldark back on screens, he admitted he is getting recognised on the street more than ever these days, explaining: “Right now it’s dialled right up because my hair is a particular length and the disguises don’t work so well.”

Aidan also revealed his secret hobby is painting.

“Just rubbish abstracts,” he said. “I thought I had some sort of talent when it comes to painting but it turns out I don’t. I realised that this summer.”

And the actor plans to keep his artworks under wraps, explaining: “I am not into showing off.”