Danny Dyer was "a lunatic" for "many years", but he now feels "more settled".
The \'EastEnders\' actor - who has kids Dani, 24, Sunni, 12, and six-year-old Arty with wife Joanne Mas - admitted it took him "a long time to grow up", but he is now grateful for what he has in his life.
He said: "I feel more settled now that I am in my forties. I am going to be 43 this year.
"I feel really grateful for everything that I have got in my life and I think went through many, many years of being a lunatic.
"It took me a long time to grow up, I feel. Like it does with most men.
"It does change your life and it changes your whole outlook and you have a responsibility to be a good role model I suppose."
The 42-year-old star - who has been with Joanne for 30 years - feels "lucky" to have role in \'EastEnders\'.
He added to The Sun newspaper: "I am just bringing up my children and I am lucky to have a job that I love to do and I feel blessed for that."
Danny recently insisted \'EastEnders\' have taken soaps "to a new level" during the programme\'s 35th anniversary week, and he wishes the show could "stay at this level every episode".
He said: "It\'s real shock who goes, I\'m telling you.
"I think we\'ve taken the soap thing to a new level. Every ep starts at the disaster and we jump back seven hours earlier and then it\'s four different characters and their routes to being on the boat, and why they\'re there and what their storyline is.
"It\'s very clever. We\'re very proud of it.
"We knew we were doing something special. It\'s really inspiring. I wish we could stay at this level every ep."
