Ali MacGraw was horrified when artist SALVADOR DALI sent her an iguana wearing pearls as an apology for sucking her toes during a portrait sitting.

The Love Story actress was never a fan of the painter but was complimented when he singled her out for his work.

She says, "I was an ego-saturated idiot blinded by the thought of being a muse.

"The sitting was a disaster, with Dali alternating between sucking my toes and disappearing behind his canvas for ages. Eventually I gave up on it.

"Dali sent me a bunch of rare orchids and an iguana with a bunch of imitation pearls around its tail. It was characteristically surreal, but I was appalled at the cruelty."