Alice Eve has apologised for saying Bruce Jenner was “playing at being a woman”.

The actress, who appeared in Star Trek Into Darkness, made an Instagram post about the Olympic gold medal winner who recently came out as trans:

She said: “If you were a woman no one would have heard of you because women can’t compete in the decathlon.

“You would be a frustrated young athlete who wasn’t given a chance.

“Until women are paid the same as men, then playing at being a ‘woman’ while retaining the benefits of being a man is unfair.

“Do you have a vagina? Are you paid less than men? Then, my friend, you are a woman.”

After attracting criticism for the comments, she told Entertainment Weekly: “I deeply apologize for offending anyone. I support equal rights and equal dignity for all.

“I have deep compassion and support for Bruce Jenner. My intention was not to offend.

“My intention was simply to express that, with the overdue and welcome acceptance of us all living on a gender spectrum, we must encourage equality for all.”

She also clarified on Instsagram: “I’m not saying by identifying they are negatively impacting feminism.

“I am saying that we have to refine the language on this topic so all men, women and transgenders are accurately represented in their process of self-identification.

“Maybe this needs a little thought. Thank you for engaging with me on this subject, because I felt confused and now I feel enlightened.”

Yesterday, Jenner’s step-daughter Kim Kardashian spoke of how her felt about Jenner’s transition.