Knightley: 'Rumours could ruin my career'

Keira Knightley has expressed concern that media rumours that she is anorexic could damage her career.

The actress told Red that she has had a lot of experience with the disorder because her grandmother and great-grandmother struggled with the condition.

She said: "I had a lot of friends at school who suffered from it, so I don't think it's anything to be taken lightly.

"[The rumours] could potentially ruin my career because, if I had been ill, there is no way I would be able to do the action movies that I do. I wouldn't be hired."

The Pirates Of The Caribbean star also attacked the double standard whereby men who drink and sleep around are known as "lads" while women are branded "sluts".

Last year, Knightley was voted into second place in Superdrug's Top Ten Beauty Icons 2008 behind X Factor judge Cheryl Cole.