Liz Taylor rubbishes Alzheimer's report

The veteran actor denies tabloid reports that she is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Veteran actress Elizabeth Taylor scoffed on Tuesday at recent tabloid reports that she is gravely ill or suffering from Alzheimer's disease but acknowledged using a wheelchair because of chronic back pain.

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Appearing on CNN's Larry King Live, the 74-year-old actress and two-time Academy Award winner described herself as happy and busy with a new venture designing jewellery - "one of my passions" and said she remains active in the fight against AIDS.

Asked about the recent flurry of tabloid stories on her health, a feisty Taylor answered: "Oh come on! Do I look like I'm dying? Do I look like or sound like I have Alzheimer's?"

King replied, "no," and asked what she thought prompted such headlines.

"I think they're trying to sell magazines," she said. "Some audience out there, they like scandal. They like filth. And if they want to hear that I'm dead, sorry folks. I'm not. And I don't plan on it."

Hours earlier, Taylor's spokesman, Dick Guttman, denied to Reuters that the actress had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a degenerative and fatal nervous disorder.

Indeed, Taylor appeared in full control of her faculties as she parried questions on a range of topics, including her film career, past loves and her AIDS activism. She did say she uses a wheelchair to get around due to chronic back pain.