Scarlett Johansson denies extreme diet

Scarlett Johansson has denied "binge dieting" in order to win the role of a latex-clad Black Widow opposite Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man 2. Writing on the Huffington Post, the actress attacked "the irresponsibility of the tabloid media who sell the public ideas about what we should look like and how we should get there".

She was responding to rumours that she had gone on an extreme diet out of "terror" of losing roles to thinner actresses. Another story was that she had been "forced" into a tough workout schedule by her London-based co-star Gwyneth Paltrow.

"Claims have been made that I've been on a strict workout routine regulated by co-stars, whipped into shape by trainers I've never met, eating sprouted grains I can't pronounce and ultimately losing 14 pounds off my 5'3" frame," she wrote. "I'm a petite person to begin with, so the idea of my losing this amount of weight is utter lunacy. If I were to lose 14 pounds, I'd have to part with both arms. And a foot.

Johansson concluded: "I would be absolutely mortified to discover that some 15-year-old girl in Kansas City read one of these 'articles' and decided she wasn't going to eat for a couple of weeks so she too could 'crash diet' and look like Scarlett Johansson."

The 24-year-old actress, sporting a red hairdo, was launched as the face of Moet & Chandon champagne last month. Iron Man 2 is due for release in May. ·