diff --git a/clutter/clutter-actor.c b/clutter/clutter-actor.c
index 424144436..6a30c1c11 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-actor.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-actor.c
@@ -7564,3 +7564,28 @@ clutter_actor_allocate_preferred_size (ClutterActor *self,
 
   clutter_actor_allocate (self, &actor_box, absolute_origin_changed);
 }
+
+/**
+ * clutter_actor_grab_key_focus:
+ * @self: a #ClutterActor
+ *
+ * Sets the key focus of the #ClutterStage including @self
+ * to this #ClutterActor.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.0
+ */
+void
+clutter_actor_grab_key_focus (ClutterActor *self)
+{
+  ClutterActor *parent;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR (self));
+
+  parent = clutter_actor_get_parent (self);
+  if (!parent)
+    return;
+
+  parent = clutter_actor_get_stage (self);
+  if (parent && CLUTTER_IS_STAGE (parent))
+    clutter_stage_set_key_focus (CLUTTER_STAGE (parent), self);
+}
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-actor.h b/clutter/clutter-actor.h
index e964a9ef0..1874e283b 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-actor.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter-actor.h
@@ -561,6 +561,8 @@ void clutter_actor_apply_relative_transform_to_point (ClutterActor        *self,
 
 gboolean clutter_actor_get_paint_visibility           (ClutterActor *self);
 
+void clutter_actor_grab_key_focus (ClutterActor *self);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* _HAVE_CLUTTER_ACTOR_H */