Kate Winslet Wins $40K in Lawsuit After Paper Claims She Lied About Her Workouts

by Deborah Dunham (Subscribe to Deborah Dunham's posts)
Nov 4th 2009 4:00PM

Getty Images

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has been awarded $40,000 in libel damages over allegations made by the U.K.'s Daily Mail that she lied about her exercise regime.

In a January 2009 article, the newspaper disputed a quote that Winslet gave to Elle magazine: "I don't go to the gym because I don't have time, but I do Pilates workout DVDs for 20 minutes or more every day at home." The article also featured naked photos of the actress, claiming that she must have worked harder on her figure. Her lawyer told reporters that the story was offensive in nature and "simply not true".

The 34-year-old actress was reportedly hurt and embarrassed over the article entitled, "Should Kate Winslet win an Oscar for the world's most irritating actress?" In a statement, Winslet said, "I was particularly upset to be accused of lying about my exercise regime and felt that I had a responsibility to request an apology in order to demonstrate my commitment to the views that I have always expressed about body issues, including diet and exercise."

In an earlier interview with People Magazine just before the SAG awards, Winslet stated that she had even taken a complete break from exercise to reduce the stress in her life at that time. "I did decide that I'm just going to be easy on myself, so I'm not exercising at all, and I'm eating whatever I like."

Winslet, who has been known for celebrating curves and a healthy body image, added, "I strongly believe that women should be encouraged to accept themselves as they are, so to suggest that I was lying was an unacceptable accusation of hypocrisy."

Click on the gallery below to see more famous ladies who flaunt fabulously curvy figures.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=737747&pid=737746&uts=1257365338

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

Curvy Female Celebs

Who says you have to be stick-thin to make it in Hollywood? This bevy of shapely celebs proves curves can be sexy -- and healthy.

By Stephanie Watson

Getty Images North America

Curvy Female Celebs

When this hot Latina singer burst onto the music scene in the 1990s, tongues wagged at the sight of her now-famous derriere, but J. Lo has always been comfortable in her curves. She makes workouts a regular part of her routine, and even finished a triathlon in 2008, but she'll never apologize for loving food.

Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

This Welsh actress' weight has edged up and down throughout her career, but she's always leaned toward the voluptuous side of the scale. Zeta-Jones claims to hate Hollywood's weight obsession as much as she detests dieting, but she's managed to stay in shape through two pregnancies thanks to regular trips to the gym, and golf outings with hubby Michael Douglas.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Hollywood triple threat, actress/producer/director Salma Hayek wears her hourglass figure with pride. Size 0 is definitely not for her. Diet and exercise put her in a bad mood, and she claims, "I'd rather be a little heavier but nice." A lot of fans don't seem to mind, including pop star Prince, who wrote a song urging Hayek's daughter Valentina to "tell your mama she should give me a call."

Robert Benson, Getty Images

Can you say, Bootylicious? When she coined the term, Beyoncé was likely checking out her own voluptuous shape in the mirror. The pop diva says she stays fit by running and doing regular gym workouts, but she admits to indulging in the occasional order of French fries or Krispy Kreme donuts.

Christopher Polk, Getty Images

Kate Winslet has long revolted against the movie industry's skinny mold, vowing never to become a "stick insect" like some of her co-stars. She's so proud of her curves that in 2007 she launched -- and won -- a lawsuit against a magazine that dared to claim she was -- (gasp!) on a diet.

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

In 2002, America Ferrera proved that "Real Women Have Curves" in her breakout movie role. Far sexier in real life than her geeky character on "Ugly Betty," Ferrera wears her size 10 to 12 jeans with pride.

Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

Reality TV staple Kim Kardashian has gotten a lot of flak for having a little cellulite, but she says she's proud of her body. Recently, Kardashian has vowed to eat healthier and tone up, but she wouldn't change a thing about her curvy physique.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson admits a love for Snickers bars, and once joked that her idea of aerobics was "going out for a slice." She says she'll never be stick-thin, and fans don't think she should change a thing. Esquire magazine even voted her "The Sexiest Woman Alive."

AFP, Getty Images

When Kelly Clarkson captured the first American Idol title and launched one of the biggest careers in pop music, her weight was big news to everyone -- except her. Clarkson says she eats what she wants, works out regularly and is just fine with her shape.

Jemal Countess, Getty Images

Tyra Banks has put on a few pounds since she graced the cover of that famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue back in 1997. But when the tabloids ran an unflattering photo of her in a bathing suit with the tagline, "Americas Next Top Waddle," Banks fought back, saying she'd rather be a good role model for girls than an emaciated supermodel.

John Shearer, Getty Images

Want to get sexy, healthy curves? Kim Kardashian shares her workout routine here.

Comments (2)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Carol P 11-05-2009 @ 1:08AM

First of all, I am one of Kate Winslet's most devoted fans, but I want to say that something definitely smells fishy with her claims of not exercising much and eating what she liked around the time of all of the award ceremonies earlier this year. She's actually been saying that for awhile now and anyone can see that she is much leaner; it shows everywhere and especially in her face. She did NOT get that way doing a few minutes of Pilates every day and chasing after her two children. I'm sorry Kate, but you need to stop being such a hypocrite!

u262f 11-05-2009 @ 1:25AM

You'd be surprised on what people can accomplish on 20 minutes a day. I have been exercising only 20 minutes every OTHER day, and even that has still been enough to drop my weight from over 200lb to less than 135lb. Part of it might be simply getting more sleep, taking it easy, and not stressing over work as much as I used to. Part of it was swapping take-out food and processed snacks for cooking at home and drastically increasing my vegetable consumption. I'm not "dieting": I'm eating more food and better food than I ever did when I was obese, but I'm still losing weight. Maybe Kate hired a really good chef. She could lose weight while not exercising much and eating as much as she used to if she started eating a lot more vegetables instead of refined pasta and bread.

Also, I've met several doctors who believe that exercise doesn't help people lose weight very much at all. Exercise keeps people healthier and lowers the risk of heart problems, but the weight mostly stays the same. They claim that losing weight is far more about eating right, but being healthy requires exercising. Also note that losing weight is NOT the same thing as being healthy.