Colin Farrell has revealed his son has given him a reason to live.

The Irish actor, who checked himself into rehab seven months ago to be treated for exhaustion and an addiction to prescription painkillers, claims it is his child James who inspired him to seek help and change his wild ways.

He revealed in an interview with Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I was burning the candle at both ends and the flames met in the middle. But now I have a new-found appreciation of life. I wasn't suicidal but I never had much of a will to live for a long time.

"Now I want to watch my son grow up, be his friend and his father, and hang around with him. He's the greatest priority in my life."

Farrell, 30, has also revealed he has no time for love, despite reports romantically linking him to 27-year-old actress Lake Bell.

The one-time hellraiser - famed for his womanising and heavy drink and drug use - says he is 100 per cent focused on his son, from his relationship with ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave, and doesn't want a relationship.