Actress Kate Beckinsale accepted 20,000 pounds in libel damages at the High Court on Thursday over a story in the Daily Express newspaper that she was set to miss out on her dream role as Barbarella.

The 35-year-old star of films like "Pearl Harbor", "Underworld" and "Van Helsing" was not in court for the settlement of her action against Express Newspapers, the Press Association reported.

Her solicitor, Graham Atkins, told Mr Justice Eady that the story in the Express last month was entirely false and had caused considerable embarrassment and harm.

Beckinsale was never in discussions about the film role and there was never a possibility she would be part of the project.

It followed that she had not been passed over in favour of rival Hollywood actress Rose McGowan, as the story claimed.

The newspaper's counsel, Ian Helme, offered its sincere apology.