Anne Hathaway stars as the Grand High Witch who has three elongated fingers on each hand in the latest adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1983 book The Witches.
Since the film's digital release last month, it has been subject to heavy criticism for how it depicts limb difference.
"I particularly want to say I'm sorry to kids with limb differences: now that I know better I promise I'll do better. And I owe a special apology to everyone who loves you as fiercely as I love my own kids: I'm sorry I let your family down."
As well as the Grand High Witch there are several other evil characters in the film who have distinct hand and feet impairments which has upset individuals and groups representing those with limb impairments.
In the original book, the witches are described as having "thin curvy claws" instead of fingernails, and feet that "have square ends with no toes on them at all".
Writing on Instagram Hathaway said she had "recently learned that many people especially children are in pain because of the portrayal of the Grand Witch in The Witches".
She continued: "I do my best to be sensitive to the feelings and experiences of others not out of some scrambling PC fear, but because not hurting others seems like a base level of decency we should all be striving for.
"As someone who really believes in inclusivity and really, really detests cruelty, I owe you all an apology for the pain caused. I am sorry. I did not connect limb difference with the GHW when the look of the character was brought to me; if I had I assure you this would never have happened.
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"I particularly want to say I'm sorry to kids with limb differences: now that I know better I promise I'll do better. And I owe a special apology to everyone who loves you as fiercely as I love my own kids: I'm sorry I let your family down."
A trailer for the film called How To Spot A Witch has caused such upset that groups all over the world spoke out on social media with the trending #notawitch.
Film studio Warner Bros discovering how it had caused offence said it was "deeply saddened" to learn the movie "could upset people with disabilities".
In a statement, the company said: "It was never the intention for viewers to feel that the fantastical, non-human creatures were meant to represent them".
The Witches was distributed on digital platforms last month after a cinema release could not go ahead due to the pandemic.
