Christina Ricci’s fear of monkeys was validated on the set of her new film Penelope when a simian sidekick grabbed her breast and refused to let go.

The actress feared the chimpanzee, Chim Chim, was going to rip her boob off, and begged the ape’s handlers to help her.

She explains, "I’m afraid of monkeys but I had decided not to be afraid of this monkey because no one else is: ‘Everyone else thinks he’s awesome so just be cool.’ "It’s the first day of shooting and I have this kitchen scene where I’m sitting down and the monkey is sitting right next to me.

"Of course it freaks out during the take and grabs my left breast and will not let go, and he’s so strong. I’m thinking, ‘This thing is gonna rip it’s hand away and I will no longer have a boob there!’ "I’m so freaked out and the whole rest of the actors are turned around so no one sees that this has happened to me and I’m like, ‘Help, help’ as quietly and calmly as possible so this thing does not freak out any further.

"Finally they got him off me but my fear is completely validated and I did not go near him for the rest of the shoot… Monkeys are crazy and you never what they’ll grab onto; I don’t like unpredictable animals."