Colin Farrell talks about Elizabeth Taylor: “I was just lucky enough to become her friend in the last year and a half. I adore her… still.”

When Elizabeth Taylor was laid to rest in a private service last week, many were surprised to learn that actor Colin Farrell was one of the few non-family members reportedly in attendance. He also recited a poem during the service.

It was not well-known that Miss Taylor and the star of such films as A Home at the End of the World, Tigerland and Phone Booth were so close.

Colin explained to Access Hollywood at CinemaCon in Las Vegas this week: “How did we become friends? You know, the old story of boy meets girl, and boy pesters girl with too many phone calls at inappropriate hours of the night. I was just lucky enough to become her friend in the last year and a half. I adore her… still. Elizabeth chose it (the poem Gerard Manley’s “The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo”). It was a tricky poem as well. Even in passing she had me under the thumb, sweating bricks. She asked someone else to ask me [to read it]. I just miss her; I just miss her; I just miss her.”