PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Arnold Schwarzenegger was given a standing ovation at one of his first public appearances following news he fathered a love child.
The former California governor - who was honoured by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce - made his first speech in the state since confirming in May that he had a son with his former maid Mildred Baena, and since announcing his divorce from wife Maria Shriver.
He didn't mention his personal problems during his appearance before a business group, but instead stuck to matters such as recounting his years in office.
The crowd gave him a standing ovation, and applauded him warmly after he recalled how he teamed up with business leaders to reform the state's workers' compensation laws.
Sporting a deep tan, the muscle-man spoke for about ten minutes and joked that he was running for president in 2012 - of a bodybuilding association.
The speech comes in the midst of his divorce, which is unfolding largely behind closed doors. Last month he withdrew a request for a judge to terminate Maria's right to spousal support, and he clarified that he is willing to pay his estranged wife's lawyer.
The film star and politician has appeared in public only sporadically in recent months.
In the days after he split with wife Maria, he told his talent agency to postpone his movie projects, and his Twitter account - once busy with posts and photos from afar - fell out of use.
He started tweeting again in late June when he travelled to his native Austria for an environmental conference, far from his troubles in the US. Last month, he announced he will return to acting with a starring role in the Lionsgate film Last Stand.