Photo: AFP

MILAN, July 16, 2010 (AFP©) - Greeted by dozens of fans, actor George Clooney starred in a real-life courtroom comedy in Italy when he appeared at the fraud trial of three people accused of co-opting his name for a fashion label.

The defence lawyer peppered Clooney with questions such as, "Is it true that you want to run for office in the United States?", "Do you love riding your Harley Davidson?" and "Did you have a relationship with a woman named Mara?", according to the ANSA news agency.

The lawyer also implied that Clooney was lying. "I know that Mr. Clooney is a very good actor, but..." he said before the judge interrupted him.

The 49-year-old Hollywood heart-throb hit back with humour, telling the defendants they had done "a really good job" creating their advertisements using his image.

Wearing a dark blue suit and tie, Clooney entered the courtroom through a back way, quipping as he slowly made his way through the crowd of fans and journalists, "Don't crush my lawyers."

Many court workers left their posts to catch a glimpse of the actor, according to Italian all-news channel Sky TG24.

The star of "Up in the Air" and "Ocean's Eleven" is regularly in Italy, where he has a villa on Lake Como, north of Milan, and dates Italian actress and model Elisabetta Canalis.