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He’s the hunky star of Looking, The Pass and Him & Her.

And Russell Tovey has delighted many a fan by shedding his clothes to showcase his chiseled torso to pose for a portrait to raise money for HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust.

The actor, 36, popped on his pants, tied a sheet round his neck, put on a mask and became a homemade superhero for the painting with his fiancé Steve Brockman in the kitchen and their French bulldog running around at the same time.

Super man: Russell Tovey has posed in just his PANTS for Terrence Higgins Trust's latest HIV campaign... as plans get underway for his wedding to fiancé Steve Brockman

Super man: Russell Tovey has posed in just his PANTS for Terrence Higgins Trust’s latest HIV campaign… as plans get underway for his wedding to fiancé Steve Brockman

The painting, by artist Christopher Garrington, is being auctioned by the charity at Christie’s in London on Monday.

Tovey is already a major art fan; his Instagram is littered with him on his downtime, at galleries.

He also had a portrait commissioned of him and his pet dogs Archie and Rocky.

Garrington said of the project: ‘I actually reached out to [Russell] through social media. He came back quickly and was really enthusiastic. 

Setting the scene: The actor, 36, popped on his pants, tied a sheet round his neck, put on a mask and became a homemade superhero for the painting with his fiancé Steve Brockman in the kitchen

Setting the scene: The actor, 36, popped on his pants, tied a sheet round his neck, put on a mask and became a homemade superhero for the painting with his fiancé Steve Brockman in the kitchen

Arty: He also had a portrait commissioned of him and his pet dogs Archie and Rocky

Arty: He also had a portrait commissioned of him and his pet dogs Archie and Rocky

‘I wanted to paint someone who had passion for this important cause and he was top of that list.’

The painter’s inspiration for the piece, which is titled Homemade Superhero, came from the actor’s most recent role as gay superhero The Ray. Tovey also said in a recent interview that ‘growing up, I always wanted to be a superhero’.

‘The superhero concept felt right. I knew I wanted to do something sexy and this felt in keeping with his character,’ says Garrington. ‘I decided to strip him down to his pants and use a bedsheet cape to show you don’t need superpowers to become a homemade superhero. 

Painting a picture: Tovey is already a major art fan; his Instagram is littered with him on his downtime, at galleries

Painting a picture: Tovey is already a major art fan; his Instagram is littered with him on his downtime, at galleries

‘Russell’s openness and success shows everyone growing up that can their dreams are achievable. On the day, I was nervous but Russell and Steve made me feel really comfortable and he threw himself into the character.

‘Usually people sit for hours while I paint them, but that wasn’t an option for Russell, who was just back from America.’

The project has taken ten weeks – with Garrington taking snaps of the star and working on the piece for the past couple of months.

Tovey donated two tickets to the sold out run of Angels in America, which he was starring in as repressed Joe Pitt, followed by a behind the scenes tour, last year to an auction for the charity. It raised an incredible £5,50.

Loved up: Meanwhile, Tovey and his fiancé announced their engagement earlier in the year, with plans for the wedding underway 

Loved up: Meanwhile, Tovey and his fiancé announced their engagement earlier in the year, with plans for the wedding underway 

‘I always want to do my bit for Terrence Higgins Trust and this was a completely different way to do it,’ the actor has said of his most recent contribution to the cause, the painting.

‘I absolutely love Chris’s concept. He’s a very talented artist. All that’s left is for it to find a good home and raise lots and lots of cash to make sure Terrence Higgins Trust can keep supporting people living with HIV.’

Other lots in the auction include a painting by the charity’s Turner Prize-winning patron Tracey Emin, dinner with Poldark hunk Aidan Turner and Gideon Mendel’s tender photograph of two men on a hospital bed shot in London’s first AIDS ward.

Meanwhile, Tovey and his fiancé announced their engagement earlier in the year, with plans for the wedding underway.

Good cause: 'I always want to do my bit for Terrence Higgins Trust and this was a completely different way to do it,' the actor has said of his most recent contribution to the cause

Good cause: ‘I always want to do my bit for Terrence Higgins Trust and this was a completely different way to do it,’ the actor has said of his most recent contribution to the cause

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This article belongs to Daily mail

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