Christian Bale has apologised for the "incredibly embarrassing meltdown" which saw him berate a photography director in an expletive-laden rant.

The British actor, whose mother Jenny, 61, and sister Sharon, 41, both live in Dorset, said: "I was out of order beyond belief", adding that he regretted the foul-mouthed outburst during the making of Terminator: Salvation.

It follows the circulation of a recording of the tirade in which Mr Bale is heard yelling foul-mouthed insults at a film crew member.

In the clip he also is aggressive and swears at director of photography Shane Hurlbut and threatens to "trash" his lights.

The apparent cause of the outburst was an interruption by Mr Hurlbut during a scene in the making of the latest Terminator movie last July.

The outburst has seen the 35-year-old actor become ridiculed. His swearing has even been turned into a dance record.

After days of silence, Mr Bale yesterday took to the American airwaves to apologise.

He told KROQ radio hosts, Los Angeles based DJs Kevin and Bean: "It has been a miserable week for me."

He continued: "Listen, I know I have a potty mouth, everybody knows this now.

"The thing that I really want to stress is I have no confusion whatsoever. I was out of order beyond belief. I was out of order. I acted like a punk. I regret that.

"There is nobody that has heard that tape that is hit harder by it than me. I make no excuses for it. It is inexcusable. I hope that that is absolutely clear."

He explained that he was in character at the time and that some of the "fact and fiction" mixed, resulting in the "incredibly embarrassing meltdown".

He said: "I put so much into what I do and care so much about it and sometimes the enthusiasm just goes awry."

Mr Bale added that he and Mr Hurlbut had since put the episode behind them.

In July last year the actor was arrested at Belgravia police station in central London over claims he assaulted his mother and sister within hours of the first European screening of the new blockbuster, The Dark Knight.

His mother and sister made a formal allegation. But police decided to take no further action.