Elsa Pataky admires athletic women.

The 38-year-old actress has confessed she loves working out and is impressed by sportswomen's muscular physiques.

She said: ''I mean, I love fitness, I love sports - I've been into it since I was 15, working my body and just building it. I always admire sports bodies in women - that athletic look.

''Even when other people say, 'Oh she's too muscly,'' I always like it. I'll never be in that professional shape, but I like to get as close to that as I can.'''

The blonde beauty - who has three kids, India, two, and 11-month-old twin sons Tristan and Sasha with her husband, actor Chris Hemsworth - has always wanted to channel her athleticism into portraying a ''tough'' heroine in an action movie.

She said: ''I'm a fearless person and my dream was always to be in an action movie where the female characters are as tough as the men.''

However, for her recent role in the seventh installment of the 'Fast & Furious' franchise, the pretty star - who was expecting her twins at the time - wasn't even allowed to do her own stunts.

She told Women's Health magazine: ''I think they forgot I would be pregnant [when filming]. I did get excited about doing stunts, but then they won't let you do anything - like, nothing. You can't even break a nail.''

The full interview with Elsa Pataky is in the April issue of Women's Health - on sale Thursday 5 March.