Colin Farrell was ''terrified'' when he first had sex sober.

The 37-year-old actor had a very ''gentle'' experience with a woman after giving up drugs and alcohol eight years ago but found it nerve-wracking because it was so new to him.

He said: ''I made love to a woman about two and half years after I got clean, and it was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. It was in the afternoon. The windows and the curtains were open. It was lovely, and to be crass, it wasn't f**king. She was very gentle. But it was terrifying.

''Because I was just used to drunkenness and dark rooms and clubs and toilets and wherever.

''I worried I wouldn't be able to talk, full stop. I hadn't uttered a word sober in about 15 years.''

In 2005, the 'Winter's Tale' star - who has children James, 10, and Henry, four, from previous relationships - was offered $5 million for the rights to a sex tape he made with Playboy Playmate NICOLE NARAIN but he sued his former fling to stop the sale and distribution of the footage, though it was later made available online.

Colin says he took action because he found making the video ''horrifying'' and was worried his mother might accidentally stumble across the raunchy footage.

He told the new edition of America's Elle magazine: ''It certainly wasn't a validation of my prowess. The whole thing was horrifying. You know, press record. Taboo. Isn't this interesting?

''I was deposed for four hours explaining why I didn't want it to be released. God forbid it's an on-demand movie in a hotel room and my mother says, 'Oh, I haven't seen this work of my son's,' and hits purchase.''