Although Richie's car was pointed in the right direction when police found her, her black sports utility vehicle matched the description of an SUV seen entering the freeway against traffic nearby, police said reports Reuters.

Richie's arrest came six weeks after it was revealed that the rail-thin actress had checked herself into a treatment facility to address weight-loss issues. An arrest report showed the 5-foot-1-inch actress weighed 85 pounds (39 kg).

Her file also claims she was convicted of drink-driving in 2003, the district attorney's office said. A second conviction could lead to a jail term.

This is because Californian law states that anyone committing two such offences within 10 years can be sentenced to between three months and a year in jail.

They can also be fined and lose their driving licence.

A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday in Glendale Superior Court reports BBC.

Her lawyer, Howard L Weitzman, said he had not yet looked at the legal complaint.

He added in a statement that the star would "deal with these charges in the appropriate forum".