Arnold Schwarzenegger is famous for his many catchphrases (Picture: REUTERS)

Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed that he was surprised that his best-known catchphrase ‘I’ll be back’ went on to become one of the the most quoted lines in film history.

The action hero, 66, who is currently promoting his new film Sabotage, is famous for his many quotable catchphrases but claimed he was puzzled as to why some of them were such a success.

Asked if he’ll be repeating the line in the new Terminator: Genesis film, he told The Sunday Times: ‘I don’t even know sometimes why certain phrases become popular.

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‘When I said “I’ll be back,” I didn’t have the foggiest idea that it would become the most quoted line in movie history.

‘I think it’s just how you say it. Like the line, “Get to the chopper.” I sometimes visit a university to do a speech and people are screaming, “Get to the chooooper!” and then they ask me to say that in the microphone, in my way, with my accent. I mean, what’s funny about that?’

He added: ‘When I wanted to go from body-building into the movie business, the thing that agents and studio executives always told me was, “You will never, ever become a leading man because of your accent.”

‘But I didn’t accept that. As Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” I made it possible.’

Sabotage is released in UK cinemas on May 9.