RON HOWARD - TAUTOU INSPIRES DIRECTOR RON TO GROW A BEARD

Movie maker RON HOWARD decided to grow a beard for the first time after seeking approval from actress AUDREY TAUTOU.

The CINDERELLA MAN director let his daily shaving routine slip while shooting THE DA VINCI CODE in France, and his leading lady found his rugged look quite appealing.

He says, "I kinda got into this pattern of not really shaving in the week, maybe shaving on the weekend and my wife CHERYL was always kinda saying, 'Why don't you try a beard, you might look good,' but I ignored her.

"One weekend I let it go and into the next week I kinda started to have a beard and Audrey said, 'Oh, you must keep this.'"