Actress HILARY SWANK almost lost an eye while filming new movie P.S. I LOVE YOU - co-star GERARD BUTLER accidentally smacked her with his braces.

The Million Dollar Baby star was knocked down by the unexpected strike and Butler admits he came close to causing serious damage.

He says, "Hilary was fantastic - so egoless, so accomplished and talented but I did try to kill her, yes. "It was with my braces. I cleverly managed to get the clip stuck behind me on this cupboard, the elastic was at full stretch, and I didn’t realise. It unclipped itself and smacked her forehead and she went down like she’d been shot. "Two inches more and it could have taken her eye out, really, the thing was so sharp!"