Actor Whoopi Goldberg revealed today she called gardaí to deal with a "bonehead" fan who harassed her as she was shopping in Dublin.

Goldberg (62) was shopping in Brown Thomas on Grafton Street when she was approached by a fan who asked to have his picture taken with her.

Speaking at Trinity College Dublin this afternoon, where she received honorary membership of the university’s Philosophical Society, she said the man disappeared as soon as a garda was called.

The star of The Color Purple, Ghost and Sister Act, said she likes to shake hands with fans rather than take pictures because she becomes surrounded by people. “Once I stop it’s like Disneyland”.

She told the students: “This guy stopped me and asked for a picture. I said ‘no dude, I’m happy to shake your hand, but I can’t stop’.”

She claimed the man replied: “Just stop right now, just do it right now”.

Goldberg said she couldn’t because she would have to do it for everyone.

The man said he was going to follow her and told her it was no way to treat her fans. “I’m going to follow you wherever you go,” he replied.

Goldberg was shopping with her daughter Alexandrea to get something to wear for her appearance in TCD.

After she left Brown Thomas she went into Birkenstock in Wicklow Street and purchased a pair of red and yellow clogs with pictures of a cat on them.

While she was there, the man continued to harass her and told her that she should not buy the shoes.

“I really got p***ed off,” said Goldberg. “At that point I had felt I had done enough as a famous person. You should acknowledge the people who give a s*** about you, but you are going to come into a place of business and start some stuff.

“I went and got the cops and that was the right way to do it. I got the cops not because he was a bonehead, because he was, but he forgot that it was my right to do what I was doing too.”