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Elizabeth Taylor

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Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was a legendary British and American actress.

Elizabeth Taylor - 1952 portrait
Elizabeth Taylor - 1952 portrait

She was a major star of classical Hollywood cinema during the 1950s. By the 1960s, she became the highest-paid movie star in the world. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her seventh on its list of greatest female screen legends. Her life was defined by both cinematic achievement and intense public interest. She remained a prominent public figure from her childhood until her death in 2011.

Taylor was born on February 27, 1932, in London, England.

Her parents, Francis Lenn Taylor and Sara Sothern, were American citizens from Kansas. They operated an art gallery on Bond Street in London. Because of her parentage, Taylor held dual British and American citizenship. In 1939, her family moved to Los Angeles to avoid the impending war in Europe. This move eventually led her to the center of the American film industry.

Her acting career began with a minor role in the 1942 film There's One Born Every Minute.

National-Velvet-1
National-Velvet-1

After Universal Pictures ended her initial contract, she signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). She became a major teen star in the 1944 film National Velvet. For this role, she had to demonstrate skills in horseback riding. The studio even delayed filming so she could grow an inch or two. MGM also attempted to control her image by suggesting changes to her hair and eyebrows. Taylor and her parents refused these changes.

As she matured, Taylor transitioned from adolescent roles to serious adult performances.

Father of the bride 1950 promo
Father of the bride 1950 promo

She starred in the 1950 comedy Father of the Bride, which grossed $6 million worldwide. In the 1950s, she earned critical acclaim for her work in A Place in the Sun and Ivanhoe. She also starred in film adaptations of Tennessee Williams plays, such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof13
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof13

These roles helped her establish herself as a powerful dramatic actress. She won a Golden Globe for her performance in Suddenly, Last Summer in 1959.

Taylor's career reached new heights with several massive productions.

Taylor and Burton Cleopatra
Taylor and Burton Cleopatra

She won an Academy Award for her role in Butterfield 8 in 1960. Her most famous role was playing Cleopatra in 1963, a production with a lavish budget. She also starred in eleven films with her co-star and husband, Richard Burton.

Taylor-Burton-Sandpiper
Taylor-Burton-Sandpiper

Their partnership, known as "Liz and Dick," was a major part of Hollywood history. Her performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? earned her a second Academy Award. This film received some of the best reviews of her entire career.

Her private life was often a subject of intense media scrutiny and controversy.

Liz Taylor en Richard Burton tijdens persconferentie op Schiphol betreft film , Bestanddeelnr 917-6937
Liz Taylor en Richard Burton tijdens persconferentie op Schiphol betreft film , Bestanddeelnr 917-6937

She was married six times, including marriages to Eddie Fisher and Richard Burton. Her relationship with Burton began while both were married to other people. Despite these personal complexities, she remained a successful professional. In the 1980s, she expanded her work into stage roles and television. She also became the second celebrity to launch a successful perfume brand.

In her later years, Taylor used her fame to drive significant social change.

Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth Taylor Testifying Before the House Budget Committee on HIV-AIDS Funding (5978837887) (cropped)
Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth Taylor Testifying Before the House Budget Committee on HIV-AIDS Funding (5978837887) (cropped)

She was an early activist for HIV/AIDS awareness and funding. In 1985, she co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research. She also established the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991. Her dedication to philanthropy earned her the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001.

Elizabeth Taylor at Neiman Marcus store, Dallas
Elizabeth Taylor at Neiman Marcus store, Dallas

Her legacy remains one of both artistic talent and humanitarian service.

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🖼️ Images & Media (22)
File:Two-year old Elizabeth Taylor, mother Sara Sothern, and brother Howard, 1934.jpg
Two-year old Elizabeth Taylor, mother...
File:National-Velvet-1.jpg
National-Velvet-1.jpg
File:Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Powell in A Date with Judy.jpg
Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Powell in A...
File:Father of the bride 1950 promo.jpg
Father of the bride 1950 promo.jpg
File:Elizabeth Taylor - 1952 portrait.jpg
Elizabeth Taylor - 1952 portrait.jpg
File:The Last Time I Saw Paris 1.jpg
The Last Time I Saw Paris 1.jpg
File:Taylor - Hudson - Giant.jpg
Taylor - Hudson - Giant.jpg
File:Cat on a Hot Tin Roof13.jpg
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof13.jpg
File:Taylor and Burton Cleopatra.jpg
Taylor and Burton Cleopatra.jpg
File:Taylor-Burton-Sandpiper.jpg
Taylor-Burton-Sandpiper.jpg
File:Liz Taylor en Richard Burton tijdens persconferentie op Schiphol betreft film , Bestanddeelnr 917-6937.jpg
Liz Taylor en Richard Burton tijdens...
File:Elizabeth Taylor 1971.jpg
Elizabeth Taylor 1971.jpg

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