Actress Brittany Murphy’s death still a mystery

Amid reports that "a lot" of prescription drugs were found in her home in Los Angeles, and that she was "extremely ill" before she died, the cause of Brittany Murphy's death looks likely to remain a mystery until an autopsy has been carried out either today or tomorrow.

The 32-year-old actress was best known for her roles in Clueless, in which she co-starred with Alicia Silverstone, Sin City and 8 Mile. She died on Sunday morning after reportedly having collapsed in the bathroom where she was discovered by her mother.

According to the celebrity gossip site TMZ, she had complained of feeling very ill and began vomiting before she went into cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of paramedics, she died before she reached Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre.

She shared her home in West Hollywood with her British screenwriter husband, Simon Monjack (pictured with Murphy above right). He apparently did not want an autopsy, but the coroner has demanded it.

TMZ sources said there was no sign of illegal drugs on the premises. Murphy had reportedly been taking medication for flu-like symptoms. Her mother, Sharon Murphy, told paramedics her daughter also suffered from diabetes, but it is considered doubtful this was the cause of her death.

Although she always denied it - she once stated in an interview that her "worst vice was caffeine" - Murphy had been plagued by rumours of drug abuse.

She was in the news recently following claims that she had been fired from her latest film, The Caller, shooting in Puerto Rico. There was industry gossip that she had been problematic on set. But a spokesman insisted she had quit the movie because of "creative differences" and the decision was mutual.

Murphy's first big role was as the geeky Tai in the 1995 film Clueless. Seven years later she played rapper Eminem's girlfriend in the acclaimed 8 Mile.

Eminem was also a boyfriend in real life, as was actor-producer Ashton Kutcher, now married to Demi Moore, before she married Monjack in May 2007. ·