Eddie Murphy thinks people should have as many children as they can afford

Eddie, 64, told the new issue of People magazine: "It just happened.

"I never knew I would have 10 kids, but now it's the best thing ever. If you can afford that many kids, you should have as many kids as you can afford. That is fun."

The star has Eric, 35, with Paulette McNeely, Bria, 35, Myles, 32, Shayne, 30, Zola, 25, and Bella, 23, with Nicole Murphy, 57, Christian, 34, with casting director Tamara Hood, 18-year-old Angel with Spice Girls member Mel B, 50, as well as Izzy, nine, and Max, six, with his 46-year-old wife, actress Paige Butcher.

Eddie has been compared to 45-year-old actor Nick Cannon - who has 12 children - for having a large brood, but one difference is that Eddie did not have lots of children at Nick's age.

He wondered: "I've never talked to Nick. Did I ever meet Nick Cannon?"

The Shrek actor then said: "I didn't give him any parenting advice. People always say, 'Nick Cannon, he got, like, 12 kids.' I didn't have that many when I was that young. God bless him."

Eddie feels joyful when he is with his family.

Asked what makes him happy, the Hollywood legend said: "Just being Eddie. I love having my family around, and I love that I've been in this amazing business for so long.

"Coming from super humble beginnings and having this longevity, just to be around and see all the different changes and all that stuff. There's just so much to be happy about."

The Beverly Hills Cop actor recently admitted that his 10 children are at the "centre of everything" in his life.

Speaking in his new Netflix documentary, Being Eddie, he said: "My kids are the centre of everything, before kids it's just about you, once you have kids it's all about them.

"I used to stay up two days sometimes before going to bed. When I met [second wife Paige Butcher], I got more on her schedule and now we watch two episodes of Seinfeld and go to bed."