Elizabeth Hurley must definitely be relieved after narrowly escaping a life ban from acting in Hollywood, according to a news report from the Empire Online UK web site. The actress faced the most serious threat to her career, after breaking the Screen Actor's Guild strike earlier within the year. She filmed an advertissement in direct contravention of the union rules. Over a ruling this weekend, the SAG imposed a grand total fine of ?75,000 on Hurley.

Hurley's defense was that she didn't know about the strike. That claim was partly upheld when other witnesses noted that other foreign members of the SAG had also failed to receive notice of the strike.

"I hope that by paying the fine imposed by the trial board, rather than appealing the decision, I will be helping the families of guild members who were harmed by the strike and are in need of assistance," she told reporters.