Elizabeth Taylor is the violet-eyed, raven-haired iconic legend whose scandals, intrigues, marital storms, charitable endeavors, and unforgettable screen performances made her a true screen legend.
Early Years
Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born at Heathwood near London on February 27, 1932 to Francis Lenn Taylor and Sarah Viola Warmbrodt. During World War II, her family moved to Los Angeles, where his father opened an art gallery.
Child Actress
Taylor’s first film appearance was in 1942, when she was cast in There’s One Born Every Minute. In 1943, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offered the lead role in Lassie Come Home, but her breakthrough came after appearing as the young girl who trained her beloved horse to win the Grand National in National Velvet (1944).
Velvet’s success propelled Taylor to child stardom. She was next cast in the Courage of Lassie (1946), another box office hit that solidified her career. Her other notable performances in the 1940s were Life with Father (1947), A Date with Judy (1948), and Little Women (1948).
Taylor Becomes a Superstar
Her role as the spoiled socialite who stood between Montgomery Clift and Shelley Winters in George Stevens A Place in the Sun (1951), propelled Taylor to superstardom and established her as a dramatic actress. Critical success soon followed with Giant (1956), opposite James Dean and Rock Hudson. She was nominated for Best Actress in the Academy Awards for four consecutive times for her performances in Raintree County (1957), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Suddenly Last Summer (1959) and Butterfield 8 (1960). In 1961, she won the Best Actress for her role as a Manhattan call girl in Butterfield 8.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra is perhaps Taylor’s most popular film. She also made history in this film when she was paid $1 million, the first actor to receive such a hefty paycheck; she eventually pocketed $7 million, owning part of the film’s profits. The film topped 1963′s box office list, earning more than $26 million but, it was also a substantial money loser because of its excessive cost of production at $44 million.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Taylor’s appearance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966) was considered as her most critically acclaimed, winning her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1967. Her other remarkable performances for the rest of the 1960s were in Reflections of a Golden Eye (1967) opposite Marlon Brando, and Secret Ceremony (1968) opposite Mia Farrow. Her film career waned in the 1970′s, with the live-action, big-screen version of The Flintstones (1994) as her last feature film.
Taylor’s Marriages and Richard Burton
Taylor married eight times, twice to actor and onscreen partner Richard Burton. Their marriage was highlighted by their extravagant lifestyle, making headlines after Burton bought Taylor a diamond from Cartier that weighed almost 70 carats.
AIDS Activism
The death of Taylor’s close friend Rock Hudson in 1985 spurred her to be an active AIDS advocate. Taylor dedicated much of her time and attention to raising funds and spreading awareness for this cause.