I don't regret what I do - Naomi Campbell
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Supermodel Naomi Campbell told the High Court today that she was an adult and chose to do what she pleased.
During a searching cross–examination as to her truthfulness, which goes to the heart of her groundbreaking privacy case against The Mirror, the 31–year–old supermodel defended her participation in Madonna's controversial book, Sex.
She became impatient with Desmond Browne QC, for MGN Ltd, when he asked if her evidence yesterday that she was never ashamed of that shoot was accurate.
Scowling under a heavy fringe that almost concealed her eyes, Campbell said that she told Jonathan Ross in a TV interview that her grandmother in particular "wasn't too thrilled seeing me with my clothes off frolicking around".
She added: "But, I don't regret what I do for my job in the past.
"Everything I do, I do with my full commitment.
"My grandmother, who's older, said she did not think it was pleasing to her but I didn't think it was vulgar."
Campbell, dressed in a dark grey pinstripe suit over a white partially open shirt and with a large silver crucifix at her throat, said she did not think she had told Ross that she wished she had never done it.
"I have a lot of respect for Madonna being bold enough to come out and do a book on sex.
"I've never reneged on that."
Mr Browne ventured: "Can I show you a press cutting?"
Campbell snapped: "I need to see the tape and see it out of my own mouth.
"I can't remember giving an interview. It was 1993. I've done countless interviews since."
Mr Browne: "You can't have been surprised about your family being upset?"
Campbell: "I am an adult and I've been modelling since I was 15.
"I choose to do what I please."
Mr Browne: "Please answer the question."
"I choose to do what I please. My grandmother doesn't tell me what to do."
Mr Browne tried again: "You can't be surprised they were upset."
Campbell: "My grandmother has every right to her own opinion."
Campbell is suing The Mirror for breach of confidence and/or unlawful invasion of privacy after it published a photograph of her leaving a meeting in Chelsea's King's Road a year ago.
It said that she had been receiving regular counselling in a "courageous bid to beat her addiction to drink and drugs".
In her evidence, Campbell said: "I felt shocked, angry, betrayed and violated by the article."
MGN has argued that over the years Campbell had deceived the public by making statements boasting to the media that she had avoided illegal drugs when others in the modelling world had succumbed.
Mr Browne told Mr Justice Morland, who is hearing the case without a jury that the issue was whether celebrities like Campbell were entitled to select what information – or misinformation – they released to the public, and then go to court seeking damages "when the truth is told".
"To the world at large, she sacrificed her right to anonymity by using illegal drugs and claiming she was drug–free," he said.
The photographs of her leaving an NA meeting were taken in a public place and there was nothing in English law to prevent their publication.
What was published by The Mirror amounted to "additional details" to what was already known and was so harmless and trivial that no detriment could have been caused.