She was one of Hollywood’s true stars. A beautiful face softening a formidable acting talent during the ‘golden age’ of Hollywood. Dame Elizabeth Rosemond ‘Liz’ Taylor passed away yesterday in Los Angeles surrounded by her four children.
Taylor was born in Britain but claimed her star in America, where her parents were from. A genetic hiccough meant she was born with double rows of eye lashes, making her instantly striking when she met studio executives as a young girl.
The rest is marked by history. As a teenager and young girl she starred in Lassie Come Home and made her big break in National Velvet, a film about a girl who trains her horse to win a national championship.
Her first roles playing adult characters were celebrated; although the movies themselves were not. The big one came in the romantic comedy ‘Father of the Bride’.
Her next film, A Place in the Sun, would earn Liz astounding reviews and prove to Hollywood her worth as an actor.
In 1960 she became the highest paid actress up to that point, earning $1 million for the over-the-top production of Cleopatra. This is also where Liz met her first husband Richard Burton.
She would go on to eight marriages in her lifetime.
- Conrad “Nicky” Hilton (May 6, 1950 – January 29, 1951) (divorced)
- Michael Wilding (February 21, 1952 – January 26, 1957) (divorced)
- Michael Todd (February 2, 1957 – March 22, 1958) (widowed)
- Eddie Fisher (May 12, 1959 – March 6, 1964) (divorced)
- Richard Burton (March 15, 1964 – June 26, 1974) (divorced)
- Richard Burton (October 10, 1975 – July 29, 1976) (divorced)
- John Warner (December 4, 1976 – November 7, 1982) (divorced)
- Larry Fortensky (October 6, 1991 – October 31, 1996) (divorced)
Taylor devoted her life to many things, especially fundraising and awareness for HIV/AIDs and set up the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation which raised well in excess of $50 million.
She was a two time Academy Award winner and mother who passed away in the town which made her name.
What’s the difference between a star and a celebrity? Are there any true stars today?
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Top Comments
Number 11 is photoshopped: i have the original one and her eyes are blue-violet in that; even the dress and lipstick are different!!
I love the one of her in jeans carrying an ordinary handbag. So different from pretty much all of her public persona.