Nicolas Cage says he believed he was an alien growing up and was shocked when doctors told him otherwise

Nicolas Cage has bizarrely claimed that growing up he thought he was an alien and was shocked when doctors confirmed that he was human.

The Hollywood star, 57, said that the belief stemmed from him having trouble relating to people and that he was socially awkward.

He also said it inspired his decision to become an actor.

Speaking to Rampstyle magazine, he explained: “My father told me he felt like he had to introduce himself to me because I was such an alien.

“I was shocked the day I went to the doctor’s office as a child and I found out that I had normal organs and a normal skeleton because I was certain I was from another planet.”

He continued: “I had difficulties connecting with other people. When I saw David Bowie in The Man Who Fell to Earth, I realised I needed to do something. So I became an actor.”

It has been a big year for the Con Air star as he welcomed a daughter with wife Riko Shibata, who is 30 years his junior.

It’s the pair’s first child together and Cage’s third as he also has two sons, Kal-El, 16, and Weston, 31, from previous relationships.