Actor Terrence Howard has stepped up his ugly divorce battle by asking a court to grant a restraining order against his estranged wife.

The Iron Man star's partner Michelle Ghent filed divorce papers in February just weeks after they celebrated their first wedding anniversary, and earlier this month, a Los Angeles judge granted her a protective order after she claimed her husband hurt her during their short marriage.

Howard has now filed his own legal papers at L.A. County Superior Court, asking for a restraining order against Ghent.

In the documents, he accuses her of transforming from a "loving, gentle" person... into a monster," according to TMZ.com.

The matter will be heard in court on January 17th.