Keira defends anorexia legal action

Keira Knightley defends suing newspaper over anorexia slurs

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY HAS spoken out in defence of her decision to sue a newspaper that insinuated she was anorexic, saying that it could have affected her career.

The Brit actress took legal action against the Daily Mail after it printed photos of her next to a story that allegedly implied her waif-like frame inspired a teenager, who had died from anorexia.

The Atonement actress was disgusted by the article, sued the paper and was awarded a settlement. And the star says it was necessary to take tough action - because the story could have cost her film roles.

She explains: 'It could potentially have ruined my career because if I had been anorexic, there is no way I would have been able to do a lot of the action movies that I do.

'People wouldn't have hired me. When things are written that are trying to ruin my career, as that one (story) was, I obviously have to take that very seriously.'