I love Hugh Grant passionately: Elizabeth Hurley

Los Angeles: Actress Elizabeth Hurley has remained best friends with actor ex-boyfriend Hugh Grant since their split 13 years ago and she says though the two harbour no romantic feelings for each other, they do share deep love.

Hurley, 49, was full of praise for her ex during an interview to promote her new show "The Royals", reported Us magazine.

"He is annoying," she said of the "Bridget Jones's Diary" actor, whom she dated from 1987 to 2000.

"But I annoy him too. I mean, it's a mutual annoyance. But we love each other a lot."

She went on to describe Grant, 54, as one of the "kindest, most loyal people in the universe."

"I mean, there wasn't a question of us not being best friends. I think when you've been with someone for a long time, they are family. And to me, he's like a big brother. Or not even a big brother, 'cause sometimes I'm more grown up than him. But we're like siblings now."

Hurley said she is happy to have a close friend in Grant, with whom she shares intense feelings of love.

"There's no romantic flicker, but we love each other a lot. I mean, I love him passionately. I love him like I love my son (Damian, 12) and my brother, and I used to love my father.

"It's a grand passion. But I think it's quite nice when you realise you can have a passionate friendship with someone, but it's not actually sexual. It's just really intense feelings of love, I guess," she said.

She further called Grant a "spectacular father" and "the nicest man in the universe."