Movie beauty Megan Fox is battling her protective mother over the actress' plans to add to her tattoo collection.

The Transformers star has eight etchings on her body, and reportedly wants to cover her entire right arm with a tattoo 'sleeve'.

But her mum Darlene is begging Megan to reconsider - fearing the body art will put off movie bosses and jeopardise her career.

A source tells the National Enquirer, "She has never understood why her daughter would want to cover her gorgeous body with tattoos. After each new tattoo, Darlene pleaded with Megan not to get more. Darlene believes that when Megan is a 40-year-old woman wanting to play more mature roles, people won't want to hire her because it will be too hard to cover her tattoos."