By Tom Bourton BBC News website

Ioan Gruffudd would love the chance to play Bond

But the role the King Arthur star really fancies would see him take to the saddle, don a Stetson and fire a six-shooter in a Western.

"I would love to play a cowboy," he said.

"Having been on a horse for six months for King Arthur, there is something very romantic about that idea."

Just days after reports that Pierce Brosnan would be hanging up Bond's Walther PPK for good, press speculation about who might take over his holster has been feverish.

And Gruffudd, from south Wales, would love the chance to become the next 007.

"If I got the call, I would do it in a second," he said.

"I love it - I think he's a great character, and you'd be mad to turn it down."

But he stressed that, at the moment, it was all just "very flattering rumours" linking him with the role.

It is quite a rewarding place to live - it is such a lovely way of life Ioan Gruffudd on Hollywood

After a hectic round of King Arthur promotion, he flies back to his Los Angeles home on Sunday, in preparation for filming to start on The Fantastic Four next week.

The sci-fi adventure will see him play Mr Fantastic, the leader of a gang of scientists who develop special powers to fight the evil plans of Doctor Doom in the movie based on the comic book.

Gruffudd said the role was a change from playing historical characters.

"I am aware of the fact I have played predominantly period costume dramas and characters from history or literature," he said.

But he is still keen to take these roles on, and identified Owain Glyndwr, a Welsh freedom fighter from the 15th Century, as a particular favourite.

"He is one of the heroes of Welsh history and it would be good to do a gritty real version of that - certainly there are many scripts of it around."

Ioan Gruffudd stars as Sir Lancelot in King Arthur

And he would be keen to recreate the spirit from the set of King Arthur, which opens across the UK on Friday.

"We had a good camaraderie on set," he said. "Being in Dublin, it was hard not to socialise.

"The leader of the pack was Ray Winstone - I don't know where he gets his energy."

As for other projects, Gruffudd went to see his friend and fellow actor Matthew Rhys playing Romeo at the RSC in Stratford this week.

He enjoyed the play, but is not sure the stage is for him.

"I don't think I could do a run for that long - he [Rhys] is there for a year," he said.

"To be honest, I think I would get bored doing it every night."

Ioan Gruffudd is not sure he will follow Matthew Rhys onto the stage

Before travelling back across the Atlantic, Gruffudd may try to make a flying visit to Wales' annual cultural festival, the National Eisteddfod, in Newport.

Last year, he received the honour of joining the Gorsedd of the Bards - an elite Welsh language group rewarded for their cultural achievements.

But he is getting used to living in Hollywood.

"Having lived there for a year, I am enjoying it," he said. "It is quite a rewarding place to live - it is such a lovely way of life and the climate is the biggest factor.

"But the reality is I am there because the meetings take place, where the auditions are - it is close to work and I don't have to commute."

British actors look after each other too. "Whenever there is an actor in town, you find out about it," Gruffudd said.

"I saw Jude Law the other day - he was there for a couple of days promoting something - there's always people having a few quiet drinks."