Josh Bowman has revealed why he got a prominent tattoo inked onto his ribcage.

The British actor who stars in hit TV show Revenge told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show that he got the design to help keep his spirits up.

The 24-year-old is dating his on screen love interest Emily VanCamp in real life, but told Ellen that he went through a phase in his life when he needed some encouragement.

"It's Latin for, Don't let the b******s get you down,'" he revealed about the tattoo.

"There was a time in my life when I was a bit rebellious, and I was like, Don't let them get you down, Josh!' So I just planted it on the side of my ribs. And they haven't gotten me down, not yet!"

Ellen then got a little bit mischievous and told him that she "read that you sleep in the nude."

"What are you going to ask me to get naked?" Josh laughed.

"If you are sleeping in the nude and you need to throw on a robe or something, I got you a little something," Ellen said pulling out a tiny robe from a bag.

"That is hilarious, shall I put it on?" Josh giggled at the thigh-length cover up. "It's a little bit short no?"