The scandals and drama that follow around the stars on Hollywood’s boulevard often feel impossible to keep up with. One among them is the extremely sensational life and career of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

From a young teenage bodybuilder rising out of an Austrian village town, finding fame and exposure in the contests around Europe, and eventually garnering the spotlight in the land of opportunities in the US, Schwarzenegger’s life has been one incredible journey.

But with every great man comes a story worth retelling on tabloid cover pages and lengthy expose-style memoirs. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Steamy Affair With Sly’s Ex-Wife

The goddess of the ’80s, Brigitte Nielsen was more than a sensation and a phenomenon. Starting in the industry as a muse for famed photographers like Helmut Newton, she could give the models of the time a run for their money.

But the Danish singer and actress first garnered public recognition with her debut in Hollywood with films like Red Sonja (1985), Rocky IV (1985), and Cobra (1986).

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen in Red Sonja (1985)

The first of those three found Nielsen paired opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger whose Terminator (released the year before Red Sonja) had just found international fame and acclaim.

The pair hit it off instantly, and Nielsen later revealed in her compelling tell-all book, You Only Get One Life (2011):

“I was naturally very flirty and maybe there was already something there because of our roles in the movie, I don’t know: we were supposed to be in love on screen. We wanted to try everything and so we did. There were no restrictions, no promises, nothing, and it was a great time in my life.”

Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen

Their on-screen chemistry, although leading to a highly sensationalized affair with Schwarzenegger, would not go on to survive for much longer.

The pair broke it off after Nielsen discovered the Terminator actor was dating Maria Shriver at the time. Shriver and Schwarzenegger went on to get married in 1986, while Nielsen found romance on the sets of Rocky IV with Sylvester Stallone.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s & Brigitte Nielsen: A Hot Mess

At the time the Governator and Brigitte Nielsen hit it off, Arnold Schwarzenegger had already begun dating Maria Shriver, a member of the JFK family, the American political royalty.

On the other hand, Nielsen was yet to find love which was an arm’s length away on the sets of Rocky IV, where she would meet her future husband, Sylvester Stallone, Schwarzenegger’s 20-year-long rival on the big screens and off.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver

In his memoir, Total Recall, Arnold Schwarzenegger details the numerous affairs that he had during his relationship with Maria Shriver, Nielsen being one of them.

And although in the critics’ eyes, the memoir falls short of proving sensational in its depth and extent, the Danish beauty doesn’t hold back in her book that details highly-explicit accounts of her illicit affair with Sly’s Escape Plan co-star and long-time rival, Arnie.

During an appearance on 60 Minutes promoting his memoir’s release, Schwarzenegger revealed that Shriver was aware of his numerous affairs during their time together.

The admission received immense backlash at the time for intentionally throwing Shriver under the bus and painting her negatively as a passive partner in his life.