Jude Law says sorry to fiancée over affair with nanny

Jude Law has apologised for being unfaithful to his fiancèe, Sienna Miller, adhering to the Hollywood public relations maxim, set by Hugh Grant, that when caught in an awkward situation, swiftly admit shame and hope for no permanent career damage.

Law, 32, publicly confessed to a brief affair with his children's nanny, Daisy Knight, 26, while he was shooting a new blockbuster in New Orleans with Kate Winslet, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sean Penn, a remake of All The King's Men, the 1949 Oscar winner. Knight sold her diary of their fling, including an allegation that one of his children had seen her in "daddy's room, tucked up in his arms", to a Sunday tabloid after she lost her job.

The actor, who met Miller, 23, on the set of the remake of the 1960s hit Alfie in Los Angeles in 2003, said: "Following the reports, I just want to say I am deeply ashamed and upset that I've hurt Sienna and the people most close to us. I want to publicly apologise to Sienna and our respective families for the pain that I have caused.

"There is no defence for my actions, which I deeply regret, and I ask that you respect our privacy at this most difficult time." Both Law and Miller avoided being seen at their home in Maida Vale, west London, yesterday.

Miller's mother, a former music industry personal assistant, said: ''Sienna is safe and well. She is fine, she's a strong girl.

''She will definitely be performing tonight - the show will go on."

The actress is playing Celia in a new French-based version of Shakespeare's As You Like It at Wyndham's Theatre in the West End of London. The play opened on June 3 and is to run until Sept 24.

A spokesman for the theatre said: "As far as we are concerned she is in the play tonight and there is no change to any scheduled performances."

The nanny said she was first confronted about the affair by a personal assistant of Sadie Frost, Law's ex-wife, with whom he has three children, Rafferty, Iris and Rudy. Then, in a telephone conversation with Frost, she lied, denying that one of their children had talked about her "sleeping with Jude".

The call ended amicably but later she was told that her services were not needed.

Law married Frost in 1997 after meeting her on the set of the British thriller, Shopping. Their relationship hit problems while Law was filming Cold Mountain with Nicole Kidman in Romania. Frost filed for divorce in August 2003.

They reached a settlement this month, sharing custody of the children.

Frost reportedly keeps their marital home in Primrose Hill, north London, with monthly allowances and a lump sum from Law.

Law is now filming Breaking and Entering, directed by Anthony Minghella, who made both Cold Mountain and The Talented Mr Ripley with him.