Angelina Jolie stops traffic as she runs bloodied and barefoot through streets of Washington D.C.

Angelina Jolie was seen frantically running through the streets of Washington D.C. with a nasty cut on her leg yesterday.

But fans of the actress needn't be concerned she's lost the plot as she was in fact filming scenes for her new movie Salt.

Wearing a blonde wig and smart grey pencil skirt and jacket, the 33-year-old plays a CIA officer called Evelyn A Salt on a mission to clear her name after she is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent.

Spring in her step: Angelina Jolie runs frantically through the streets of Washington, sporting a cut leg, while filming her new movie Salt yesterday

The blood on her leg is thought to be be make-up so clearly her dramatic dash must see her injure herself in the film.

Shooting yesterday was taking place in Washington's 18th Street and the Hollywood star's presence caused traffic to come to a standstill.

The actress darted through traffic and a crowd of extras over and over again, while cameramen could be seen hoisted on a cherry picker to get aerial shots.

Making a dash: The actress ran barefoot through crowds of extras

Jolie caused a buzz amongst the local community as she filmed her scenes for the flick, due out in cinemas next summer.

'I was surprised at how short she is,' worker Alexandra Kosmides told New Channel 8.

'If Angelina is here, Brad is here, tourist Lindsay Galley added.

Stopping traffic: Angelina darts across the road, causing traffic to grind to a halt

The film sees her character fighting to prove she is an American patriot after she is accused of being a Russian mole.

'She's a character you never know,' the film's producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said.

'People who think they know the real her may or may not. Those who think they can tell whether she's in a disguise also may or may not.

Stop: She hails down a taxi as a cameraman records the dramatic scenes

'She tells you her agenda, but are you supposed to believe it?'

Husband Brad Pitt has accompanied his wife on the trip to Washington and was seen out with daughters Shiloh, two, and Zahara, four, over the weekend.

The Hollywood couple are reported to have called Zimbabwe's Premier Morgan Tsvangirai to offer condolences over his wife Susan's death in a car crash last week, it emerged today.

Get in: Angelina, sporting a blonde wig, plays the role of CIA officer Evelyn A Salt, who is accused of being a Russian spy

'He didn't manage to speak to them because the line was disconnected,' the premier's aide told reporters at Tsvangirai's home, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The couple are active in charity work around the world, but have no apparent links to Zimbabwe in particular.

Jolie gave birth to one of their children in nearby Namibia and the couple have adopted Ethiopian-born Zahara, among their six children.

Getting the best view: Cameramen are hoisted on to a cherry picker to record aerial shots on set yesterday