Crowe is bailed

Hands cuffed behind his back, a policewoman gripping his arm, Russell Crowe was learning yesterday that he should confine his tough-guy act to the big screen.

The fiery actor was held after allegedly throwing a telephone at a New York hotel clerk, cutting him on the cheek.

Crowe, 41, was held for six hours before being led in handcuffs to the Manhattan Criminal Court to be officially charged with second-degree assault and possessing a weapon - the telephone.

He was released by a judge and told to return on September 14. Theoretically he could face a maximum penalty of eight years in prison.

The New Zealand-born star is in New York to publicise his

film Cinderella Man. In it he plays boxer Jim Braddock, who won the world heavyweight championship in 1935.

The incident happened at

4.20am, hours after Crowe had flown back from Manchester, where he had watched Briton Ricky Hatton win the light welterweight world championship.

Apparently Crowe decided to ring his wife, the singer Danielle Spencer, at their home in Sydney.

A police spokesman said: 'He was upset because he couldn't get a call out to Australia. He threw a phone at the employee, hitting him in the face.

'The victim was a 28-yearold Hispanic male. He was treated in hospital for a minor cut to his cheek.' Last night Crowe's wife was with friends at the couple's £2million apartment. One said: 'She's still waiting for the full details but she is certainly far from happy about this.'

Following the birth of son Charles 16 months ago, it had been thought that the volatile Crowe was mellowing.

He has regularly been photographed taking his son for walks and on Charles's birthday his father posted a message on his website saying: 'I can tell you that it has been the most wonderful year of our lives. You are a very special little boy, so affectionate and lovely.'

The criminal complaint against Crowe makes less saccharine reading.

It says: 'Defendant picked up a telephone and threw it at informant, hitting him in the face and causing a laceration and substantial pain. Defendant-admitted that he picked up the phone and threw it at informant because he was angry.