Tricia Helfer launched an OnlyFans page because she is in a "do what I want" stage of her life.

The 52-year-old actress - whose credits include TV shows Battlestar Galactica and Lucifer - set up a page on the raunchy subscription site last month and regards it as something she can be "in control of".

Tricia told People: "At my age, I am in my 'do what I want' phase of my life.

"I'm tired of being told what to do and how to do it. I'm looking at it as something to have fun with and something that I can be in control of."

Helfer explained that her OnlyFans content will feature a combination of professional photography and self-shot imagery and video footage, with livestream Q+A's also promised.

The Two and a Half Men star, who started out as a model before moving into acting, said: "I'm keeping with my brand - albeit the sexier side of my brand.

"It'll be a mix of artistic shots with great photographers and pictures and videos of quiet and silly time at home feeding my goats or weeding my garden. I posted a picture (recently) of me out in my garden watering my plants and I had my work boots on, but it was hot outside so I was in a bikini."

Tricia continued: "I enjoy shocking a little bit. Would I shock my parents with the images? Probably. But they saw (me in) Playboy, and they appreciated why I had done it. My passion is my job as an actor, and I'm using this platform as an extension of my creative, fun and flirty side."

Helfer - who has previously appeared on covers of publications such as Maxim magazine - explained that she has been "pleasantly surprised" by the reaction from fans to her OnlyFans launch.

She said: "Most people I've talked to have been very supportive. I've had a few people that are not involved with my page be concerned, and rightly so. I'm not saying there shouldn't be concern. But I tell them, 'Hey, this is what I'm doing. I'm in control of it. I don't have to put anything I don't want to post. I'm not being pushed into anything, and I can shut it down whenever I want if I decide to.'

"Am I pushing some of my own boundaries? Probably. But I have to press the upload button, right?"