I was in awe of Elizabeth Taylor: Debbie Reynolds

Los Angeles: Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds were best of friends until the 'Cleopatra' star had an affair with 'Singin' in the Rain' star's first husband Eddie Fisher.

Looking back at the incident that caused a major scandal in the Hollywood in late 50s, Reynolds, 82, says she still has fond memories of Taylor, who died in 2011.

"I went to MGM when I was around 17, and Liz was there too, but she was already a star," Reynolds, who will get a life achievement award by the Screen Actors Guild this Sunday, told People magazine in an interview.

"We went to school together on the lot, when she was in between films. I was just a beginner, and she and I were not in any manner alike, but we got along very well because I was in awe of going to school with Elizabeth Taylor. And if anyone said they weren't, then they were lying. Or blind." The friendship did not withstand Taylor's affair with Fisher, who was the father of Reynolds's two children Carrie and Todd.

Taylor married Fisher in 1959 but ditched him for 'Cleopatra' costar and longtime love Richard Burton in 1964, whom he married and divorced twice.

"We were friends for years and years but we had a lapse of time when she took Eddie to live with her because she liked him, too. She liked him well enough to take him without an invitation!," Reynolds said. The actress now looks at the incident with humour. The two actresses bonded again and starred together on 2001 TV movie 'The Old Broads', written by Carrie Fisher.

Reynolds belives she should have heeded the advice of Frank Sinatra, who had warned her against hitching up with Fisher.

"He said, 'Oh, don't marry Eddie.' He said I shouldn't get married to a singer. We're not faithful. It's ridiculous for you to take this on.' I said, 'Why? I don't think that I will listen to you, I really think he's adorable.' My mother thought he was adorable," she said.