LOS ANGELES: Paul McCartney’s estranged wife Heather Mills broke down in tears during a radio interview, denying she had only married the fabulously wealthy former Beatle for his money.

The 39-year-old former model’s tears came during an appearance on Los Angeles’ KIIS FM radio, when a caller to a phone-in show rang to say that media portrayals of Mills as a “gold-digger” were unfair.

Mills, who has wowed viewers on hit US television show Dancing With the Stars, where she has performed athletic dance routines despite having an artificial leg, said she was shocked at her treatment in the press.

“I could have gone down that path of lowering myself to everyone else’s level ... and proven my innocence,” she said, referring to the media coverage following her split with McCartney in May last year. “All I did was fall in love with somebody — madly — and give up my life for seven years, you know.... and then to be vilified for it? I’m actually quite shocked.”

Mills added, “If I was a gold digger, I would be a very wealthy woman now ... and I’m not.” Mills, who has a three-year-old daughter with McCartney, is locked in divorce proceedings with the 64-year-old music legend.