Hollywood star Colin Farrell has spoken of his close friendship with silver screen legend Elizabeth Taylor in the final few years of her life.
The Dublin born actor first came across Taylor at the birth of his second son Henry. Taylor was in the same hospital at the time, undergoing treatment for heart problems.
Farrell bumped into Taylor’s manager and upon hearing of her condition he asked for his best wishes to be passed on to her, although he added: “She probably won’t know who I am.”
Farrell was surprised to be told that Taylor did know who he was, and when he returned home he sent some flowers to wish her a speedy recovery. From there the two became friends.
‘I just adored her’
They met up regularly and, both being Hollywood icons, discussed the pitfalls that a life of fame and fortune could cause.
Farrell appeared on Ellen DeGeneres’ chat show this week and revealed another factor that helped him and Taylor bond: “She wasn’t much of a sleeper at night like I’m not, so at two o’clock in the morning I’d call her.”
As he discussed the time around the birth of his son, and the beginning of his friendship with Taylor, Farrell said: ”I just adored her. That was the beginning of a year and a half or two years that was really cool.”
Taylor passed away in 2011 aged 79, and is considered the queen of Hollywood’s golden era.
Farrell is one of Ireland’s most successful film actors, having starred in box office hits Phone Booth and Minority Report in the past. His latest major role is in Saving Mr Banks, which tells the story about Walt Disney’s battle to gain the rights to make the Mary Poppins film.