Ewan McGregor didn’t have an ideal woman “checklist”.

The ‘Beginners’ actor – who is due to celebrate his 16-year anniversary with wife Eve Mavrakis next week – explained while he doesn’t know what the secret to their lasting romance is, he “fell in love” with her instantly.

He said: “I don’t know what keeps us together. I hit 40 this year and I’ve got friends of the same age who haven’t found a partner yet.

“I didn’t have a checklist for my ideal woman. I was very young when we met, and I just fell in love with her and knew I wanted to be with her, and I still want to be with her.”

The 39-year-old star – who raises four daughters with Eve, biological children Clara, 15, and Esther, 10, as well as adopted kids Jamiyan, nine, and a baby girl whose name has not yet been revealed – explained the couple are raising their brood with traditional Scottish values passed down from his own parents.

Ewan added to the Daily Mail newspaper: “We go back to visit my mum and dad in Crieff every summer and the kids love it. My knowledge of parenting comes directly from the way I was raised by my parents – I think that politeness and manners are very important.”