British actor Jude Law is facing legal action from a female photographer he allegedly hit (photo here) during a night out in London.

The Alfie star was surrounded by snappers as he exited Automat nightclub in the early hours of Thursday morning and was pictured lashing out as he tried to get to his car.

Law, 36, was accused of hitting Harsha Gopal on the head and slapping her in the face as she tried to take his picture.

He has since denied the accusations. A statement from his lawyer, Graham Shear, reads, "This is all nonsense. Last night's incident was an accident.

"Jude was blinded by the camera flashes when he left the restaurant, raised his hand to shield himself and inadvertently struck somebody standing very close.

"He apologized and left. Pictures of this sort can often be misleading."

But Gopal visited Charing Cross police station on Thursday night to report the incident. She told The London Paper, "I felt his hand come across my face... There was a massive thud and my face is still stinging."

A police spokesman says, "On the evening of Thursday, 23 July, a 28-year-old woman attended a central London police station to make an allegation of common assault.

"The woman alleges that she was assaulted by a man, aged in his 30s, earlier on 23 July. Westminster officers are investigating the allegation."

The Brit actor came face to face with Gopal again on Thursday night, as she snapped him leaving London's Wyndham Theatre, where he was booed by onlookers berating him over the incident and demanding he apologize.

Law was previously accused of assaulting a paparazzi photographer in 2007 - he was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after attempting to grab a camera outside his London home. He was later released without charge.

Jude Law Gallery

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)