Cameron Diaz, the actress of such hit movies like "The Mask" and "Gangs of New York", is engaged in a legal battle over controversial photographs from her early days.

The photographs in question are a set of topless shots of her before she shot to fame, according to the Internet Movie Database.

The 32-year-old actress insists the signature on the release form of these raunchy pictures is a forgery. She is now refusing to let the photographer John Rutter sell the pictures for publication.

The whole problem began in 2003 when Rutter approached Diaz offering her a staggering $3.5 million. The actress claims she is being extorted but the photographer's lawyer insists he was simply trying to "be a nice guy" by coming to her first. Rutter is charged with attempted grand theft, forgery and perjury.

Rutter's lawyer Mark Werkman has slammed the charges even insisting that Diaz is "crushing" Rutter in a bid to save her reputation.

The actress is expected to head to court to witness and Rutter could face five years in jail if convicted.