Elizabeth Taylor's publicist has denied rumours that the actress is close to death.

A report in the Daily Mail on Thursday claimed that the star was bedridden and had planned her own funeral.

"It is regrettable that a recent story in a tabloid gossip paper so erroneously reported the state of the health of Dame Elizabeth Taylor and created so much needless concern," publicist Dick Guttman explained.

"We would suggest that judicious scepticism is in order when the public and other media read such dire health reports or other misinformation in a story which is substantiated only by quotes from vague sources described as 'close friends.'

"We don't know of any close friends who would shop a celebrated pal to a supermarket paper."