Christian Bale has clashed with security guards in China

The `Dark Knight Rises` actor was pushed and punched by four men dressed in plain clothes as he attempted to see his personal hero Chen Guangcheng, who has been under house arrest in east China for the past 15 months, but he was unable to see him due to the fracas.

The Oscar-winning star - who was accompanied by a CNN camera crew - was heard saying, "I am here to see Chen Guangcheng".

And he repeatedly asked the security officers: "Why can I not visit this free man?"

Christian was unable to visit the 40-year-old activist - who has been confined to his home along with his wife, mother and daughter since being released from prison in September 2010 - due the security guards` physical resistance.

Following the incident, the Hollywood actor said: "What I really wanted to do was to meet the man, shake his hand and say what an inspiration he is."

Christian first learned about the injustice Chen and his family had faced when he was in the country filming his latest movie `The Flowers of War`, which is set in 1930s China and sees his character attempt to save a group of schoolgirls from invading Japanese soldiers.

Upon his return to the country to promote the film, the 37-year-old actor has sought to raise international awareness of the activist.

He added: "This doesn`t come naturally to me, this is not what I actually enjoy - it isn`t about me. But this was just a situation that said I can`t look the other way.

"I`m not brave doing this. The local people who are standing up to the authorities, who are visiting Chen and his family and getting beaten or detained, I want to support them."

sections: Celebrities