VISTA, Calif. -- A Hollywood actor accused of stabbing his on-again, off-again girlfriend took the witness stand in his own defense Thursday.

Shelley Malil, 45, is charged with premeditated attempted murder in the Aug. 10, 2008, attack on Kendra Beebe, who was 35 at the time.

On the stand, Malil, who appeared in the hit movie "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," painted a very different picture of the incident that left Beebe in critical condition with 25 stab wounds.

He said he had been drinking heavily after a spiteful break-up and went to her San Marcos house in an attempt to reconcile. He told the court Beebe was having a glass of wine with another man who jumped him because he stepped on Beebe's foot and she screamed.

"He had boots on ... I reached for the knife that was stuck [in the thing] … the moment I grab that, he grabs my hand," Malil said.

The steak knife was wrestled away, but Malil said he thought Beebe's friend, David Maldonado, had a gun. Malil said he grabbed a butcher knife and ran into the side yard where he was hit in the head by Beebe.

"It felt like a piece of granite countertop because it was cold and hard. It hit me on the side of the head from the back, and I immediately fell down. Then there was something, I don't know what it was, but someone was hitting me with something. All I had was this knife ... I just went bananas with the thing," said Malil.

He said he was flailing in the dark and added, "I didn't even know it was her … It wasn't my intention to kill anybody or hurt anybody. It was my intention to get the hell out of there.

Malil said he had no idea that Beebe was hurt so badly.

"I was stunned. I still can't believe the knife I was holding caused all those injuries," said Malil.

Malil's earlier testimony had been glib. He spoke about the highs and lows of the months leading up to that night of violence.

He won several laughs from the gallery and some jurors when his attorney had him read an e-mail filled with hugs and kisses.

"So it's fair to say you guys were like peas and carrots?" asked Malil's attorney.

"Yeah, whatever that means … peas and carrots," said Malil.

The trial is in recess until Monday, when the district attorney gets to cross-examine Malil.

Malil -- who also is charged with burglary and assault with a deadly weapon --- could face life in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors.