Taylor returns home after illness

Dame Elizabeth Taylor has returned home and is recovering after a spell of several weeks in a Los Angeles hospital, her publicist has said.

Dick Guttman confirmed reports in People magazine that she was "living her life" and "having dinner with friends" but made no further comment.

There were no further details about the 76-year-old's condition or where she had been treated.

Last month, Mr Guttman dismissed reports the actress was seriously ill.

He said the stories were "dramatic, overstated and untrue".

Honorary dame

Dame Elizabeth, who uses a wheelchair, has suffered from a number of health problems in recent years.

They include a hip replacement in 1995 and surgery to remove a brain tumour in 1997.

She has broken her back five times and has the brittle bone disease osteoporosis.

In an interview with CNN in 2006, she denied speculation that she was gravely ill or being treated for Alzheimer's disease saying: "Oh come on, do I look like I'm dying?"

London-born Dame Elizabeth first achieved stardom aged 12 in National Velvet.

She went on to win Oscars for her roles in the 1960 film Butterfield 8 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

The screen star, who has three children and adopted a fourth with ex-husband Richard Burton, was made an honorary dame by the Queen in 2000.

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