Sexy siren Portia de Rossi, who plays Nelle Porter on popular television series Ally McBeal, has denied reports that she took part in a marriage ceremony with her girlfriend, Francesca Gregorini.

London's Daily Star reported that de Rossi exchanged vows with Gregorini, the step-daughter of Ringo Starr, at De Rossi's 29th birthday bash last week.

The 28-year-old actress is rumoured to be in a relationship with Francesca Gregorini, the stepdaughter of ex-Beatle Ringo Starr. The pair was photographed kissing passionately at a Hollywood restaurant by the same tabloid in November last year.

A spokesperson for de Rossi, denied that the pair married at de Rossi's birthday party on 29 January. She said: "There was no ceremony. There was a cake, Portia blew out the candles. Gregorini was there, but there was no marriage."

Gregorini, a singer and actress, had a public argument with her stepfather in 1991 and was sacked from a tour after having an affair with another woman.

However, according to Aftonbladet, a Swedish newspaper, Francesca's stepfather attended the engagment party the happy couple held in L.A. in the beginning of February 2002.