Ralph Fiennes -- Cheeky or Compulsive?

Feb. 16, 2007— -- Membership in the "mile-high" club never used to be seen as a warning sign of a clinical condition.

Yet, following the recent high-altitude antics of 44-year-old British actor Ralph Fiennes, some wonder whether the actor may be exhibiting the signs of compulsive sexual behavior.

Last week, the star of "The English Patient" and "Schindler's List" was caught leaving the same airplane lavatory as a 38-year-old Qantas flight attendant during a long-haul flight, according to a report in the British paper The Sunday Telegraph.

But this naughty behavior is likely a far cry from clinical compulsion. Marian Dunn, director of the Human Sexuality Center of SUNY Downstate Medical Center, says that while certain actions may be seen as deviant, it is hard to tell whether it could be a symptom of sexual compulsion.

"It's a delicate line," she says. "Some of these things, such as having sex in a public place, are kind of bipolar in terms of the excitement factor."

And sexuality expert Don Dyson, a professor at the human sexuality program at Widener University in Chester, Pa., says Fiennes' fame could have much to do with the public's interpretation of his behavior.

"One of the things that is unfortunate when you are dealing with someone in the public eye is that as soon as news of a certain sexual behavior arises, people automatically take their personal value system and apply it to whomever that person may be," Dyson says.

"So, people say to themselves, 'would I do that?' If the answer is no, they automatically judge and say the person is sick, that they need professional help."

"Compulsive behaviors are those that generally interrupt or get in the way of daily function or relationships," Dyson says. "Some people practice compulsive eating behavior, gambling or alcohol consumption."