Desperate Housewives star sues creator

Desperate Housewives star Nicollette Sheridan has filed a 21-million-dollar lawsuit against the popular show's creator over allegations of assault and battery, violence and wrongful termination.

Sheridan played Edie Britt on the US ABC comedy-drama series.

According to TMZ, Sheridan claimed show creator Marc Cherry hit her across the face and head, and then fired her after she complained about the assault, legal documents revealed.

The 46-year-old British-born star claimed Cherry created a hostile work environment by "behaving in an extremely abusive and aggressive manner toward the individuals who work on the show."

She claimed that Cherry physically assaulted her after she questioned him about a script during filming of the show's fifth season on September 24, 2008.

'Cherry took her aside and forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head,' News.com.au quoted the lawsuit as saying.

After the alleged incident, Cherry went to her trailer to ask for forgiveness, revealed the legal documents.

Sheridan claimed she immediately reported the incident to ABC but the US television network failed to take action and Cherry's aggressiveness escalated.

The lawsuit also alleged that when Cherry found out Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher went above his head to complain about him, he said: 'I hope Teri Hatcher gets hit by a car and dies'.