Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant became unlikely pen pals - after his infamous incident with a prostitute 

Story: Splash News and Picture Agency

The British actor has revealed that the star was one of only two people in Hollywood to send a letter of support after his run-in with the law. "Drew sent me a letter during my great scandal of 1995," said the 46-year-old

"I had two incredibly supportive letters from famous people. One was from Drew. The other was from Francis Ford Coppola.

"Both apologizing for the press coverage and being supportive. So I'vealways loved Drew for that."

The two talked about their unusual correspondence as they promoted their newromantic comedy Music and Lyrics.

Barrymore, who posed naked for Playboy in the same year, said: "I forgot that! I'm so not 'Hollywood Bob' that way or would send anyone I didn't knowa letter. "But I thought you were so charming. I wrote you a letter and you wrote me one back, and it hung on my fridge for a long time."

Grant also revealed he is now trying his hand as a writer. "I cling pathetically to the notion that I'll move from being an interpretative kind of artist to being one who totally writes the thing. I've been really trying to write my book."

He said girlfriend Jemima Khan has "forced me virtually at gunpoint to sit down and actually do it as opposed to talk about it or make notes."

Grant added that Khan is camera shy at red carpet events, such as at the Golden Globes. He said: "She refuses to have her photograph taken. I said 'Oh, go on' and she bolted like a horse. Kept jumping things. It was extraordinary."

Grant also admitted that getting caught after picking up Divine Brown in Sunset Boulevard is not the only incident he is embarrassed about. He said he once did an appearance purely for the money. "I have and I've always regretted it," he said. "I appeared on Italian television for a vast sum of money, and, God, I regret it. I looked like
such a twit."

In their new film, Grant stars as a has-been 80s pop star who teams up with Barrymore to write a song for a hot singer. Grant admitted they are an unlikely pair.

"I'm not unpleasant or rude," he said. "But I'm very anxious, and I get bored easily and crabby add a bit dark and solitary on the set. For a girl who's naturally full of sunshine and laughter, it must have been tough."

Drew Barrymore, who starred in E.T in 1982 aged 7, famously went off the rails as a pre-teen, drinking and taking drugs by age 12, before coming back as a bankable lead in the late 90s.