Actress Hurley fined $100,000 for breaking strike

Actress Hurley fined $100,000 for breaking strike
REUTERS

LONDON, DEC 18: British actress Elizabeth Hurley disclosed on Monday she had been fined $100,000 (70,000 pounds) by the Screen Actors' Guild for making a perfume commercial during a heated Hollywood strike against advertisers.

Hurley, famous for her sultry roles in the `Austin Powers' movies, said she was disappointed but would not fight the decision.

She was branded a scab in October for making an Estee Lauder advert during an actors' dispute over payment for commercials. Her latest film Bedazzled was picketed by striking actors.

``Although I am deeply disappointed that the Trial Board disregarded the evidence showing that I never received notice of the strike, I will abide by their decision,'' Hurley (35) said in a statement.

``I apologise most sincerely to all of the people throughout the industry who were hurt by the strike... I certainly never would have appeared in the commercial had I been aware of the strike,'' she said.

Hurley has already donated $25,000 to the strike relief fund of the Screen Actors Guild, but is being asked to pay the $75,000 balance.

She said she found it strange that golfer Tiger Woods was fined only $50,000 when he violated strike rules by filming a car commercial.

The six-month strike, the longest in Hollywood history, was settled in October when actors won some concessions over residual payments for commercials.