Russell Crowe picks on somebody his own size in a fight with his bodyguard

The Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe admitted attacking his own bodyguard yesterday after a "misunderstanding" at a drinks party.

The Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe admitted attacking his own bodyguard yesterday after a "misunderstanding" at a drinks party.

The star of Gladiator said that he became involved in the fight with Mark "Spud" Carroll, a former rugby league star and now his bodyguard, in Toronto where he is shooting the boxing film, The Cinderella Man.

In a letter to the Australian tabloid, the Sunday Herald Sun, Crowe explained that he had fought his employee after Mr Carroll made a comment about a conversation he was having with a young female extra at the party.

Mr Carroll approached Crowe and told him what he thought people might have been imagining the pair's conversation was about. "I thought he was accusing me specifically of something and I took offence to it," the actor said in the letter.

Mr Carroll also wrote to the newspaper and denied reports that Crowe had bitten his ear. "That never happened, simple as that," he said. "He did take a nip at my chest - I was trying to smother him at the time, so I can understand the move."

Crowe said the pair had not hurt one another seriously, but "wore badges of dishonour for a few days".They "called each other a few ripe names, had a hug and got on with the job," he said.