Jedi Knights enjoy steamy nights

They may be known as masters of self-control and denial - but director George Lucas disclosed today that Jedi Knights enjoy steamy nights.

The creator of the Star Wars saga said that the master warriors are allowed to have sex, despite their monk-like existence.

Throughout the series of films - the fifth of which, Attack Of The Clones, premiered in London last night - movie buffs have seen the few remaining Jedis without partners.

But Lucas said: ‘‘Jedi Knights aren’t celibate - the thing that is forbidden is attachments - and possessive relationships.

The director and architect of the films was being questioned about the private lives of the lightsabre-wielding Jedis, away from their daring acts to protect their galaxy.

Samuel L Jackson, who plays Jedi Mace Windu, said they spent their time meditating ‘‘like most men are supposed to do in monk-like situations’’.

‘‘I actually try and treat my Jedi character like I would imagine most Shaolin monks do, because I watch Hong Kong films a lot.

‘‘I tend to see a correlation between how they meditate and work and train - and when they become men of action, they become men of very definite action.

‘‘All those other things don’t become part of the equation, because they lead to the Dark Side,’’ said the Pulp Fiction actor at a press conference to launch Attack Of The Clones in London today.

The film opens globally tomorrow and cinemagoers will see a romance begin to blossom between trainee Jedi Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Queen Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman)