Richards became an actress after working as a model

The computer hit two women in the lobby below, but neither was seriously hurt. Police were called to the scene, but no action was taken against the star.

Richards, 35, is in Vancouver filming the movie Blonde and Blonder.

The film's producer Dean Bornstein told the Associated Press that a "number of unauthorized persons" got on set and began "harassing members of the cast".

"While trying to stop the paparazzi, Denise Richards was involved in an altercation," he said.

"To protect her safety she instinctively knocked the paparazzo's laptops off a ledge.

"Royal Canadian Mounted Police were called to the scene as a precaution and the case was soon closed. No charges were filed against Ms Richards."

Richards' publicist Nicole Perez, in Los Angeles, said: "Based on the actions of the paparazzi they are lucky their laptops were the only things that were thrown off the ledge."

The actress divorced fellow Hollywood star Charlie Sheen in 2005, after three years' marriage.

Richards played James Bond's love interest Dr Christmas Jones in The World Is Not Enough, and has also appeared in the films Wild Things, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Scary Movie 3.