Actor Paul Bettany may have played several memorable characters during his long acting career, but for some people, he is still best known as "the naked guy" from A Knight's Tale. The 55-year-old actor recently recalled the unexpected way the 2001 film continues to follow him. Speaking to PEOPLE at the 'D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026' earlier this month, Bettany said that while fans sometimes remember his famous lines from other projects, his role in A Knight's Tale remains a very different kind of introduction.

"Well, there is a line from WandaVision, which is, 'What is grief, if not love persevering?' But mostly, I live in New York City, and I was in a film called A Knight's Tale, right at the beginning of my career, where I walked down the street naked, and so, I'll get cab drivers to this day winding down their window and going, 'You're the naked guy!'" he told PEOPLE. "They have me at a disadvantage."

Paul Bettany played Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight's Tale, which starred the late Heath Ledger in the lead role. Directed by Brian Helgeland, the film also featured Shannyn Sossamon, Rufus Sewell, and Alan Tudyk.

In the film, Ledger's character William Thatcher comes across Bettany's Chaucer while he is walking naked through the streets after losing his clothes and money while gambling. The scene became one of the most remembered moments from the film.

Bettany and Ledger also became close friends after working together on the movie. Ledger died in 2008 at the age of 28 from an accidental overdose, as per PEOPLE.