Hollywood starlet Charlize Theron is following in the footsteps of her acting comrades -- the blonde bombshell got into an altercation Thursday with a group of camera-happy shutterbugs (caught on tape) that left her dialing 911!

The paparazzi taunted Theron as she hid behind her purse and walked with actor boyfriend Stuart Townsend. Things got heated when snap-happy photogs ran smack into some innocent bystanders! "You just hit this woman!" the "Hancock" star snapped at paps, snarling, "It was not an accident, you idiot!"

A verbal confrontation erupted between Townsend and a pap, and the "Monster" actress called the cops. "The police are coming right now," she said. No biggie -- everyone bailed before LAPD showed up.

Click on an image to view the CHARLIZE THERON photo gallery!