Actress Kate Beckinsale had a hilarious response to rumours that she was dating comedian David Walliams. Beckinsale and Walliams have been friends for years, but after photos appeared of them looking cosy during a night out on Friday, some wondered if their friendship might have turned into something more.

But the actress took to Twitter on Saturday to set the record straight, with a unique response. Posting a photo of them together from Friday night she wrote: “This is my dear friend @davidwalliams. If I ever see him naked I will immediately tattoo a [aubergine emoji] on my face for clarity.”

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She then added: “Until that appears, everyone can relax and know we are friends, as we have been for the last 2000 years. Ps The size of the tattoo is unlikely to be actual size. As far as I know.” Walliams also retweeted Beckinsale’s first post.

But dear friend or not, back in 2009 Walliams had referred to the actress as his ‘ideal woman’ "There's a couple of girls I know and they are amazing, so much fun, and they're so amusing and naughty and beautiful,” he told The Guardian.

“One's Kate Beckinsale that I've known for a really long time, since before she was well known, and Natalie Imbruglia as well. When I'm with them I turn to jelly because they're so exciting to be with, but neither of them would ever go out with me, so I can’t.”

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Last year Walliams split from his wife of five years, model Lara Stone, who he has a three-year-old son named Alfred with. Beckinsale also split from her husband, director Len Wiseman, last year. The actress also has a 16-year-old daughter, Lily, with actor Michael Sheen.