Alec Baldwin acknowledged he felt "very awkward" in a bizarre Christmas letter to his followers worldwide.

The actor unintentionally shot and murdered cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when a toy gun he was holding went off while filming the movie Rust in New Mexico.

The 63-year-old earlier told a reporter on ABC he cocked the revolver that killed the 42-year-old but maintained he "didn't pull the trigger."

He has now published an emotional video thanking his friends, family, and fans for their support.

The Hollywood star claims "not a day goes by" that he doesn't think about what happened on the film's set and the consequences of the accident on 21 October.

It comes as a search order has been granted for his phone in the inquiry into the film worker's death.

Baldwin claimed he was "just trying to move forward with my life" and felt "lucky" to be at home with his family for Christmas.

In a video shared to his Instagram account, he said he looked forward to "some aspects" of the incident being behind him.

In a lengthy statement, he said: "I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all those people who offered me such beautiful words and best wishes and strength and hope and prayers and so forth.

"So many lovely feelings from so many people, I got hundreds of emails from friends and relatives and coworkers and people... to send me strength and good wishes. I am really appreciative for that."

"I'm looking forward to some portions of this being behind me. Of course, for everyone engaged in this, it's never going to be behind us because someone died so horribly.

"I never lose sight of that, not a day goes by that I don't think about that."

The Hollywood star claimed that being with his wife and children was "the only thing I care about."

He went on: "I'm just trying to go forward with my life and trying to get through a wrong moment, an adamant time.

"I feel incredibly awkward, going through this, it's been quite tricky, and I want to say good holidays. - whichever holiday you're celebrating.

"I hope you are as lucky as I am in one department, and that is to stay home with your family.

"I don't have anything smart or original to say, just thank you to these people who sent me good wishes."

Signing off, the former Friends star added: "Be safe, wear a mask, get the booster and don't let Santa down the chimney without a mask."