Beckinsale awarded $32K in libel damages

The High Court in London has ordered Express Newspapers to pay actress Kate Beckinsale thousands of dollars in damages for a story it ran about her.

Beckinsale, 35, is best known for her work in the films Pearl Harbor, Underworld and Van Helsing.

The BBC said she was awarded $32,400 in libel damages for an erroneous Daily Express report claiming she had been booted from a big-screen remake of Barbarella in favor of another actress, and wrongly giving the impression the actress’ career was in a slump.

Beckinsale’s lawyer described the story as false and embarrassing, and insisted the actress was never in discussions to star in the film.

The newspaper apologized for the error and said it intended to pay the damages, as well as Beckinsale’s legal fees, the BBC said.