NewBrad Pitt 'hit in the face' by attacker at screening for Angelina Jolie film

A man struck actor Brad Pitt in the face while he was signing autographs at the Hollywood premiere of a film starring partner Angelina Jolie, police said.

Pitt, a Golden Globe-winning actor, was at the premiere of "Maleficent", at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California, when the man leaped over a fence and hit him, said Sergeant Leonard Calderon of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Pitt was not seriously hurt and authorities quickly subdued the man, who was arrested for misdemeanour battery and remained in police custody yesterday evening (local time), Calderon said.

Pitt soon resumed signing autographs.

"The officers who were handling him said it looked like it was intentional, but at this point, it remains to be determined," Calderon said.

The suspect did not appear to be armed and investigators had not yet interviewed him to determine a motive, Calderon said.