Siān's life revealed on the page

The book includes details of Phillips's marriage

Veteran Welsh actress Siān Phillips has launched an autobiography revealing details of her tempestuous marriage to Peter O'Toole.

The 67-year-old star said writing 'Public Places' was one of the most harrowing experiences of her life.

I found it really hard to pitch in and do my job properly and make a success of that marriage

Siān Phillips

In Swansea on Friday, she signed copies of the book, which looks back at the best and worst of her times.

The second part of her autobiography, it lifts the lid on her 20-year roller coaster relationship with the Irish actor, which dominates a large part of the book.

O'Toole starred in Lawrence of Arabia and the couple lived a champagne lifestyle with homes in London, Paris and Ireland.

But, drawing Ms Phillips's diaries and journals, the book reveals the reality was quite different, referring to frequent rows and rampages.

Difficult marriage

Yet in 'Public Places,' the Carmarthenshire -born actress says she would not have missed the marriage for the world.

Describing the process of writing the book, she said: "It was very enriching and enlarging, there was nothing simple about this.

Ms Phillips was married to Peter O'Toole

"Maybe it's my fault, but I found it really hard to pitch in and do my job properly and make a success of that marriage."

Born at Bettws in Carmarthenshire in 1934, the glamorous star of the BBC production of I Claudius and David Lynch's 1984 movie Dune, she has also sung in Pal Joey and Marlene, a tribute to Marlene Dietrich.

Launching the book at a packed Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea, she told a full house about her career on the stage, in film and in television.

In June 2000, Ms Phillips was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

She is also a leading light in Social, Welsh and Sexy (SWS), the London-based organisation for Welsh socialites.