Police examine Diaz assault claim

Diaz's next film, The Holiday, will be released in December

Actress Cameron Diaz has accused a photographer of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly driving a car at her, police have said.

The incident occurred as Diaz, 34, and boyfriend Justin Timberlake, 25, left a friend's house in Hollywood on Wednesday, officer April Harding said.

When the pair spotted a man trying to photograph them, they pursued him.

"The photographer got into his car and drove toward Diaz and Timberlake," said Ms Harding. No arrests have been made.

Ms Harding said the incident caused "Diaz to jump out of the car's way". The actress has since filed a police report in Los Angeles.

"The investigation is in its initial stages," said Officer Harding. No suspects have yet been identified.

Paparazzi crackdown

California governor and former Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed a bill approving hefty fines for paparazzi photographers who commit assault while chasing celebrities.

Actresses Lindsay Lohan and Scarlett Johannsson both had minor car accidents while allegedly being pursued by photographers last year.

Last year, a photographer who took topless pictures of Diaz at the age of 19, then tried to sell them back to her for $3.5m (£1.9m), was jailed for more than three years.

John Rutter was convicted of forgery, attempted grand theft and perjury at Los Angeles Superior Court.

In a civil action earlier this year, Mr Rutter was ordered to pay Diaz undisclosed damages.