Winslet awarded damages over diet story

LONDON - Kate Winslet was awarded substantial libel damages Friday after a British magazine wrongly stated that she had visited a diet doctor. The 31-year-old actress, known for her criticism of excessive dieting, wasn't at London's High Court for the hearing on an article published last month by women'smagazine Grazia.

Winslet's lawyer, Rachel Atkins, said the story wrongly stated that Winslet had sought the help of California-based Chinese herbalist Yi Pan for her weight, despite vowing not to bow to Hollywood pressure on actresses to be skinny.

Atkins said Winslet had visited Pan for a neck injury.

Grazia printed an apology in its March 5 issue, saying it was "very happy to set the record straight."

Winslet, a five-time Oscar nominee, said in a statement that she was delighted by the outcome, adding that the magazine had apologized to her in full.

"I am not a hypocrite," she said. "I have always been, and shall continue to be, honest when it comes to body/weight issues. I feel very strongly that `curves' are natural, womanly and real."

Lawyers for Winslet said she would be donating the unspecified but "substantial" damages payment to charity.

Winslet has received Oscar nominations for her roles in "Little Children," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Iris," "Titanic" and "Sense and Sensibility."