Film actors Basinger and Baldwin married in 1993

The Hollywood couple, who divorced in 2002, are locked in an ongoing custody dispute over their daughter Ireland.

"Someone, an evaluator, needs to spend time with Ireland and the parents to work on that issue," said Superior Court Commissioner Maren E Nelson.

Neither actor attended the hearing in Los Angeles on Friday.

The judge is seeking to determine whether Mr Baldwin, 48, is fit to see his 10-year-old daughter more often.

Court papers

The actor has one week to accept the court-appointed psychologist. Failing that, Judge Nelson said she would select another.

In court papers filed in October last year, Mr Baldwin said Ms Basinger, 52, had a "pathological need" to turn their daughter against him and requested she undergo a psychological evaluation.

Ms Basinger's lawyers, meanwhile, said former husband Baldwin had "severe emotional problems" and was casting "terrible aspersions".