Anna Faris' childhood best friend was her retainer

Actress Anna Faris was so lonely as a child, she befriended her dental retainer.

The Lost in Translation star gave the device a name, Alex, and a British identity and pretended to stage chat shows, during which she'd chat about her talking retainer.

She says, "He was so much smarter than me... I went on Phil Donahue and I would put Alex on my knee and I would sit in front of the mirror... He would help me with everything."

Faris admits she also staged murder mystery parties with her Barbie dolls.

She adds, "One Barbie would die and the rest of the Barbies would have to figure out who the killer was. It was usually Peaches & Cream - she's like a Southern belle Barbie."