Model turned TV cook, Sophie Dahl, has launched a libel action over an article that appeared in the Femail section of the Daily Mail.
Dahl claims the December article, headed ‘March of anorexia chic”, was defamatory towards her and is demanding damages and costs from publisher, Associated Newspapers.
A writ filed at the High Court says the Mail’s article suggested Dahl had previously brought personal legal proceedings against the column’s author, Liz Jones, when she was the editor of fashion magazine Marie Claire for “having done nothing more than simply (and accurately) describe her as being ‘realistically curvy'”.
The writ says this passage of the article was understood to have meant Dahl had acted ‘like a petty-minded and overly sensitive prima donna”.
Dahl, who has instructed solicitors Harbottle and Lewis to act for her, says she suffered considerable injury to her reputation, as well as hurt, distress, and embarrassment as a result of the article.
According to the writ, she is seeking aggravated damages, in part, as the paper failed to apologise to her or respond to a letter of complaint.
In addition to damages, Dahl is seeking an injunction banning repetition of the allegations at the centre of her legal battle.
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