Late starter Brittany Murphy credits her mother with encouraging her to lose her virginity.

The Sin City beauty, 27, was a reclusive teen until her mum insisted she left the house to date guys when she was 19.

Murphy, whose past boyfriends include Ashton Kutcher and Eminem, eventually lost her virginity at 21.

She says, "I started going out with boys at 19, and lost my virginity at 21.

"The only reason I went on a date was because my mother insisted.

"She told me, 'Please go out at night, you need to improve the way you relate to people."

Murphy enjoys such a close relationship with her mum, she still lives at home despite her stardom.

She adds, "What's wrong with living with your mum? We're a very close family."