London, Nov 4 (IANS) Hollywood actress Kate Winslet was paid $40,000 by a British newspaper for publishing an article labelling her "The World's Most Irritating Actress".

The "Titanic" star sued the Daily Mail in April following the publication of a report in January which branded her vain and accused her of lying about her fitness regime, reports imdb.com.

Winslet claimed that the piece, entitled Should Kate Winslet Win an Oscar for the World's Most Irritating Actress?, "injured her personal and professional reputation" and left her feeling "distressed and embarrassed".

The star's attorneys agreed to settle the matter with $40,000 in libel damages in a hearing at London's High Court Tuesday.

Following the ruling, Winslet said: "I am delighted that the Mail have apologized for making false allegations about me. 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."