Alec Baldwin has been enjoying some rare quality time with his daughter Ireland.

It's the first time the 30 Rock actor has been photographed with the 12-year-old since his infamous voicemail rant last year, when he was heard calling his daughter a "rude, thoughtless little pig".

Baldwin has been battling his ex-wife Kim Basinger for custody of Ireland since their acrimonious divorce in 2002 after nine years of marriage.

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Family time: A smiling Ireland looks happy to be spending time with her father Alec Baldwin, hiding behind rented DVDs in Los Angeles on Friday

The 49-year-old actor went to court claiming the L.A. Confidential actress, 54, had breached their custody arrangement, by blocking his visitation rights.

Baldwin was embarrassed last April when a two-minute voicemail message left for his daughter was leaked onto the internet.

In the tape, Baldwin criticised his daughter for failing to answer the pre-scheduled phone call and labelled Basinger "a thoughtless pain in the a**".

He made a public apology to his daughter, explaining his inappropriate message was due to being "driven to the edge" by his custody battle with Basinger.

He wrote on his web site: "I have a normal relationship with my daughter."

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Quality time: Alec Baldwin has flown from New York to Los Angeles to see his 12-year-old daughter Ireland

"I'm sorry, as everyone who knows me is aware, for losing my temper with my child.

"I have been driven to the edge by parental alienation for many years now. You have to go through this to understand. (Although I hope you never do.) I am sorry for what happened."

After last year's drama, it appears the couple may have come to an agreement after Baldwin flew from his New York home to spend time with Ireland in Los Angeles.

The father and daughter were all smiles on Friday as they drove to Blockbuster in Woodland Hills, to rent DVDs of 'Vacancy' and 'Across the Universe'.

Despite his daughter living in California with her mother, Baldwin continues to live in New York after declaring he hates the golden state.

When the politically-active actor was asked if we would consider running for office in California, he replied: "Then I would have to live in California. And who wants to live in California?"

Motherly love: Kim Basinger and Ireland with a bodyguard pictured last year. The actress hired security to protect Ireland from media attention stemming from her father's voicemail rant