Jason Bateman ended his partying ways because he knew he needed to grow up.

The former child star is married to actress Amanda Anka - together they have children Francesca, six, and Maple, one - but he insisted his family life wasn't the reason behind him toning down his lifestyle.

He said: ''No, it was just a natural progression of growing. You do certain things in your twenties that are just not appropriate in your forties.

''Eventually you even the scales and it's time to move on and become an adult and start working hard again and going to sleep a little bit earlier.''

The 'Arrested Development' actor is able reflect fondly on his early years in the industry - helped by roles on the likes of 'The Little House on the Prairie' at the age of 12 - and admitted he thrived on the ''attention''.

He told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper's Seven magazine: ''I was a really fun, enjoyable time. Any kid that age is looking for attention and I was getting so much of it.

''I paid the price, though, when it all slowed down and then I had to weather the adjustment, the correction into normalcy. That took some growing up, but I've certainly no complaints about where I sit now.''