Arnold Schwarzenegger has put his acting career on hold to "focus on personal matters".

The former politician - who is alleged to have fathered a love child with his family's housekeeper Mildred Patricia Baena 13 years ago - will not be committing to any work on "projects currently underway or being negotiated" in the immediate future.

Patrick Knapp, entertainment counsel to the 63-year-old star, said in a statement posted on the Creative Artists Industry website: "At the request of Arnold Schwarzenegger we asked Creative Artists Agency to inform all his motion picture projects currently underway or being negotiated to stop planning until further notice.

"Governor Schwarzenegger is focusing on personal matters and is not willing to commit to any production schedules or timelines. This includes 'Cry Macho,' 'The Terminator' franchise and other projects under consideration. We will resume discussions when Governor Schwarzenegger decides."

Meanwhile, it has been revealed Arnold's wife Maria Shriver - with whom he has four children, Katherine, 21, Christina, 19, Patrick, 17, and Christopher, 13 - initially confronted Mildred about the alleged love child, forcing the actor to admit to the affair.

A source told media: "Maria has suspected this for a long time and she asked the housekeeper. The housekeeper admitted it. Maria then went to Arnold and he confessed."