Elizabeth Taylor is one of the biggest movie stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age and was likely the first global film icon. The American Film Institute named her the seventh-greatest classic American movie star. Taylor became famous worldwide because of her amazing beauty, unique “violet” eyes, and great acting skills.
Over fifty years, Elizabeth Taylor starred in many of Hollywood’s most famous movies. She started with small roles and then became a leading actress. Taylor showed she could play many characters, making her a big star and a pop culture icon. HBO is now showing a documentary called “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes,” which has interviews from 1964. It premieres on HBO on August 3.
Here’s everything you need to know about who is Elizabeth Taylor?, and a look back at the beautiful but sometimes challenging life of a great actress who became a movie star.
From Child Star to Hollywood Legend: Meet Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor was a famous actress born in London on February 27, 1932. She started acting as a child in the early 1940s and became a huge star in Hollywood in the 1950s. By the 1960s, she was the highest-paid movie star in the world. Known for her stunning looks and amazing talent, Elizabeth was named one of the greatest female movie stars by the American Film Institute in 1999.
When Elizabeth was 7, she and her family moved to Los Angeles. She first appeared in a movie called There’s One Born Every Minute in 1942 but didn’t stay with that studio. She became well-known as a teenager in the movie National Velvet.
A Life of Glamour and Scandal: Elizabeth Taylor’s Marriages and Personal Life
Elizabeth Taylor became a movie star and gained attention for her many marriages. She had eight marriages to seven different men. Her first marriage was to hotel heir Nicky Hilton in 1950, but it ended after ten months. She married actor Michael Wilding in 1952, and they had two sons before divorcing in 1957. Soon after, Elizabeth married Hollywood producer Mike Todd, who tragically died in a plane crash just after their first anniversary and the birth of their daughter.
Elizabeth quickly fell in love again with entertainer Eddie Fisher, and they married a year after Mike Todd’s death. This marriage caused a scandal because Eddie was married to actress Debbie Reynolds. Elizabeth’s next major relationship was with actor Richard Burton, whom she met while filming Cleopatra in 1963. Their intense chemistry made headlines, and they married in 1964. Elizabeth and Richard had a dramatic relationship that had many ups and downs. They divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975, and divorced again in 1976. Elizabeth married Congressman John Warner in 1976 and construction worker Larry Fortensky in 1991, whom she met in rehab.
Silver Screen Success: Elizabeth Taylor’s Rise to Stardom and Iconic Oscar Wins
In 1944, National Velvet made Elizabeth Taylor a real star. She moved into adult roles in the 1950s and got her first Oscar nomination for Raintree County in 1958. Elizabeth received two more nominations before winning her first Oscar for Butterfield 8 in 1961 and a second one for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1967.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Legacy: Leading the Charge in AIDS Activism
The British Actor will always be remembered for her important work in fighting AIDS, which started after her close friend Rock Hudson died in 1985.
“I was so angry and upset that no one was doing anything about AIDS, I thought, ‘What have I done to help?'”
she said
In 1991, Elizabeth founded The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) to raise money and awareness to fight HIV/AIDS. The foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars and provided care and support to needy patients.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Final Years
Elizabeth Taylor faced many health problems throughout her life. She broke her back at least five times and had three serious cases of pneumonia. One bout in 1961 required a tracheotomy, and another in 1990 almost killed her. She also had two hip replacement surgeries and surgery to remove a brain tumor. Elizabeth spent time at the Betty Ford clinic twice and was hospitalized over 30 times in her life.
Despite her health issues, Elizabeth kept her sense of humor. In 1999, when asked what she wanted on her gravestone, she said, “Here rests Elizabeth. She disliked being called Liz, but she lived fully.” Elizabeth passed away on March 23, 2011, at age 79, after being treated for heart failure. Her son, Michael Wilding, said, “
“My mom was an amazing woman who enjoyed life with lots of passion, humor, and love. Losing her is very hard for us who loved her so much, but we will always remember and be inspired by what she did for the world.
HBO’s Latest Documentary Sneak Peek: ‘The Lost Tapes’ with Elizabeth Taylor Narrating Her Own Story
In the documentary Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes, the legendary actress herself tells the story of her life as a Hollywood star, activist, and sex symbol. The HBO film, directed by Nanette Burstein, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2024 and was shown at Tribeca 2024.
The film focuses on a 1964 interview with journalist Richard Meryman. It features 40 hours of newly discovered audio, personal photos, home movies, old interviews, and news clips. The Lost Tapes looks closely at Taylor’s career, from her first film in 1943’s Lassie Come Home to hits like Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Butterfield 8, and Cleopatra. The documentary also highlights her personal life, especially her fifth marriage to Richard Burton. Here’s the trailer below:
Conclusion
In conclusion, From her early days in Hollywood to her status as a global icon, she left a lasting impact on the film industry and beyond. Her journey through fame, personal struggles, and activism shows why she remains a celebrated historical figure. In this article, you’ll learn about who is Elizabeth Taylor and take a look back at the beautiful and challenging life of the great actress.
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