Bale blames grief over Ledger for hotel incident

Batman star Christian Bale's arrest over an alleged assault on his mother and sister may have been linked to a build-up of stress and grief over the loss of his friend Heath Ledger.

Sources told Britain's Daily Mail that Bale had been deeply affected by the Australian actor's death from an accidental overdose, and that Ledger's loss had affected Bale's ability to communicate with those around him.

Meanwhile, Bale has swept into Barcelona to attend a glittering Spanish premiere of The Dark Knight.

The 34-year-old star greeted hundreds of fans who had thronged the red carpet outside the Mediterranean city's Coliseum Theatre and spent half an hour signing autographs before entering the cinema, where hundreds more waited to see the film.