Colin Farrell: 'I was lucky to know Taylor'

Colin Farrell has confessed that he considers himself "lucky" to have befriended Elizabeth Taylor before her death.

The 79-year-old actress passed away last week from congestive heart failure and was was laid to rest on Friday in Los Angeles.

Farrell attended the private ceremony, where he recited a Gerard Manley Hopkins poem, The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo, at Taylor's request.

"Elizabeth chose it. It was a tricky poem as well," he told Access Hollywood. "Even in passing she had me under the thumb, sweating bricks."

Asked how the stars got to know one another, Farrell explained: "How did we become friends? You know, the old story of boy meets girl, the 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. I just miss her."

> Obituary: Elizabeth Taylor
> In Video: Elizabeth Taylor's movie roles
> In Pictures: Elizabeth Taylor on screen
> Elizabeth Taylor: A Life In Pictures
> Elizabeth Taylor on Hollywood, sex and marriage