Josh Hartnett takes on tabloids

by Natalie Jamieson
Newsbeat entertainment reporter

Actor Josh Hartnett has told Newsbeat he's suing the Mirror for claiming he'd had sex in a London hotel library, because he says he wasn't even in the UK at the time.

The 30 year-old, who starred in Pearl Harbour and Black Hawk Down, is asking for damages and an apology from the newspaper for the story printed on 1 September 2008.

The Mirror said Josh's late night antics had also been captured on CCTV at the Soho Hotel, but Josh says that's simply not true: "I didn't know about it for days, I wasn't even in the country when this supposed incident occurred.

"I had to go home for one of my best friend's weddings and so when I came back, this was the story."

This isn't the first time Josh has found himself the subject of gossip but this tale got to him.

He said: "There have been a lot of ridiculous stories out there but they're getting more and more complex, and more and more jaded, taking much more of a negative line.

"And I just wanted to put an end to it if I can. At least let them know I'm paying attention."

His lawyers noted that the story had been republished around the world, so Josh wants to set the record straight.

He said: "Once anything's in print, people, they believe it just a little bit, and they want to know the truth, and that's the annoying part about it. Once it's in print it's hard to take back."

Josh has been staying in London since the end of July to appear in the play Rainman, which opens this weekend.

So why did he let this particular tabloid tale get to him?

He said: "I'm not saying I'm a perfect human being, and who cares if someone is in some sort of relationship with somebody.

"But the story was so sort of elaborate and goofy that I had to say something. And also I know the people at that hotel and they looked at me and said this is complete and utter tripe."