Cyrus almost quit over photo furore

Miley Cyrus came close to quitting showbusiness following the fuss surrounding her provocative Vanity Fair photos, according to her pal and 'Hannah Montana' co-star Anna Maria Perez de Tagle.

The actress, who plays Cyrus' sidekick Ashley on the hit kids TV show, admits she's had to boost her friend during recent phonecalls - because the teen sensation is so downbeat of late.

The 15-year-old was forced to apologise to fans when a shot of her wrapped in a bedsheet appeared as part of a Vanity Fair photospread, upsetting family groups and parents across America.

Perez de Tagle admits the whole controversy has been tough on her friend.

She says: "Sometimes I'll talk to her on the phone and she'll be like: 'It's really hard' or: 'I'm really tired. I can't do this.'

"I'll always say: 'You do want to do this. You love your job.' It (photo row) really hurt her. She didn't know that people would look at it like that."