Hitting Rihanna biggest regret of life: Brown

London: Chris Brown has described his vicious assault on Rihanna in 2009 as the "greatest regret" of his life.

Speaking for the first time about their recent reconciliation, the hip hop star shrugged off the public backlash against him and pledged never to hurt the Barbadian singer again.

In a searingly honest interview with the Mirror, he apologised for his actions, when he physically attacked Rihanna, leaving her shocked and bruised.

He admitted that winning her love back had taken many months of tough "serious making up".

"Sometimes you row, you fight, with the one you love and things get said, stuff spirals. That night was the deepest regret of my life, the biggest mistake," he said.

"But she loves me - what can I say? I'm forgiven... but, yes, I worked hard for it," he added.

Talking at Elton John's Aids Foundation Oscars fund raising party in West Hollywood, the double platinum-selling star said he had "grown up" and learned how to deal with fame.

He said that he has learned a lot since that night and he has grown up.

He insisted that he was very young and took a lot of stuff, fame, for granted.

"I didn't understand it. The support from those who do know me and the fans, who are incredible, got me through," he said.