Winslet settlement with tabloid benefits charity

By Stone Martindale Mar 10, 2007, 22:06 GMT

English actress Kate Winslet arrives at the Vanity Fair Party following the Academy Award presentations in Hollywood late Sunday 25th February 2007. EPA/Jamie Rector

Kate Winslet wins a hefty charity payout award over a false diet story published about her.

The Age (Australia) reports Winslet has accepted a substantial donation to an eating disorder charity settling her libel action over a fictitious claim that she visited a diet doctor.

It all happened at London's High Court on Friday when her attorney Rachel Atkins told Justice Eady that the story in Britain's Grazia magazine last month caused her personal hurt, distress, anger and embarrassment, and damaged her personal and professional reputation.

Atkins said the article falsely stated that the actress had seen a doctor for help with her weight, despite Winslet's vocal distaste for underweight celebrities and fashion models.

Emap agreed to issue and apology to Winslet and to pay her damages to a charity of her choice together with her legal costs.

The Age reports Winslet said in her statement that she was delighted the matter was over and done with.

"I am not a hypocrite. I have always been and shall continue to be honest when it comes to body-weight issues," she said in her statement.