A relative of Hollywood legend Richard Burton has dismissed claims that he beat Elizabeth Taylor during their two high-profile marriages.
Sian Owen, Burton's niece, admitted the Welsh actor would sometimes tease Taylor about her weight, but dismissed it as mere banter.
Actress Ms Owen, 57, who lives in Burton's native Pontrhydyfen, near Port Talbot, south Wales, was speaking following the release of a biography of Taylor by J Randy Taraborrelli.
In it, Mr Taraborrelli said Burton would hit Taylor and, on one occasion, damaged her eardrum with a punch to the side of the head.
Speaking to the Western Mail, Ms Owen said: "There was banter, of course, but never abuse or violence - that's just absolute rot."
She added: "I feel sometimes I could slap these people, because Richard's not here to defend himself."
Ms Owen also said she believed the glamorous couple never fell out of love and would have married a third time had he not died in 1984.
"Even when they were parted they were on the phone two or three times a day", Ms Owen told the paper.
"They weren't really apart - just not living together."
