Not only is his latest film due out, but his wife, former soap star Jill Halfpenny, will be giving birth to their first child.

He said: "I can't wait to be a dad, I'm very much looking forward to the birth of our baby, it's such an exciting time.

"We haven't asked its sex because we'll be happy either way."

The 32-year-old spent about three months on set in South Africa filming Neil Marshall's film Doomsday.

The movie tells the story of an elite team of soldiers sent to Scotland 30 years after it has been walled off from the rest of the world, following the outbreak of a deadly virus.

They have to find a cure for the virus when it resurfaces in London, but come up against a gang of cannibals led by Conway, who plays Sol.

He said: "We're a revolutionary group really, it's very rock and roll.

"The costumes we wear are kind of punk, and my brother used to be one, so I enjoyed putting the mascara and eyeliner on every morning."

However, Conway, who lives in Northumberland, admitted it was hard spending such a long time away from his wife and home.

"Jill couldn't fly out and see me, and we only had four days to go back home before we were back filming again, so yes, it was hard, and I was ecstatic to be back in the north east."

But there's no chance of the actor putting his feet up before the new arrival – he's just released Romans 12:20, by Bafta Award winning author Geoff Thompson, and will be promoting Doomsday, which will be in UK theatres on May 9.

Conway added: "I'll be having a few weeks off when the baby is born, but I doubt there will be much time for a rest."