Biography
Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born on February 27, 1932 in London. Her parents were a couple of American actors who worked in the British capital. In 1939, when a major war broke out in Europe, her parents returned home to Los Angeles, which opened up great opportunities for their daughter.
In 1942, he offered 10-year-old Liz a contract to star in the film “A Man Is Born Every Minute,” where she played the role of Gloria Twine. This film is the first in the extensive filmography of the great actress. Over the next two years, she starred in films from two more companies that have become the main force in Hollywood today - MGM (Lassie Comes Home) and 20th Century Fox (Jane Eyre with the great Orson Welles).
Elizabeth Taylor in childhood
Taylor received her first “adult” role in 1950 in the film Father of the Bride, and her role in the film A Place in the Sun (1951) made critics talk about her.
Career
Since 1950, the actress's career began to rise rapidly. This path was marked by important roles in the films “Father of the Bride” and “A Place in the Sun.” Since then, the critics have not been silent, and the bright star Elizabeth Taylor has shone on the horizon of developing Hollywood.
In 1959, she received her first high-profile Golden Globe award for Best Actress, thanks to the film “Suddenly, Last Summer.” And a year later, for the film “Butterfield 8,” Liz received her first Oscar. Now she is a real Hollywood star.
In 1961, the actress received an offer to star in the leading role in the cult film “Cleopatra”. It is with this image that people are accustomed to identifying the great queen. As soon as you say her name, the magnificent Elizabeth appears before your eyes with eyeliner and blue shadows up to her eyebrows. This role is also remembered as the highest paid in the history of cinema. The actress was paid one million dollars for it. And although it was not a great success for the first 4 years, it later fully paid off when television studios bought it.
Her next Oscar came from “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” For the role of Martha, Elizabeth had to gain excess weight, which she could not get rid of for a very long time. This film brought her huge success. None of her games since have been so successful.
The following years were not as active in filming. Elizabeth got roles in TV series and films that were unknown to Soviet people. She began to devote most of her time to other matters not related to cinema.
When Taylor's career began to decline, she became involved in charity work, becoming one of the founders of a foundation to combat HIV. For her good deeds she was awarded the American Presidential Medal. She also received her third Oscar, the Gene Hersholt Award for her contribution to the cause of humanism.
Taylor became the first Hollywood star to launch a signature perfume line.
Still from the film “Suddenly, Last Summer.”
Movies
Already in those years, Elizabeth showed her difficult character. She didn't like many of the films she starred in and was annoyed by the company's total control. She even wanted to break her contract with MGM and end her career that had not yet really begun. However, things got better, and in the mid-50s Taylor began to get leading roles in serious films.
Elizabeth Taylor in her youth
She gained widespread recognition from films based on the works of Tennessee Williams - “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (1958) and “One Day Last Summer” (1959). For her scene as "Cat" Maggie Pollitt in the film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, lying in a silk nightgown, Taylor received comparisons to Marilyn Monroe in her role in the cult film The Seven Year Itch, when the air from the ventilation of the New York subway inflates the skirt of Monroe's heroine. And for her role in Once Upon a Time Last Summer, Elizabeth Taylor received her first major award - the Golden Globe for Best Actress.
And the following year, Taylor received her first Oscar for her role in the film Butterfield 8, which became the last in the history of her collaboration with MGM. Elizabeth Taylor was destined for world fame.
Elizabeth Taylor in her youth
The year 1963 was eventful for cinema. The comedy “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” was released, Alfred Hitchcock showed the world the film “The Birds”, Ingmar Bergman released his “Silence”. The same year, Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor was released. For her, she received a colossal fee of one million dollars at that time. The film turned out to be so expensive that it paid off only after 4 years, when the rights to show it were sold to television companies. This work changed the life of the actress. She became a star, captivating millions of viewers with her rare beauty and her bright, talented performance.
Elizabeth Taylor at the Oscars
Elizabeth Taylor won her second Oscar for her role as Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? For the sake of this role, the actress made great sacrifices - she had to gain significant weight, which she then did not manage to lose for a long time. This work was the last truly big one for Taylor in film. She continued to act a lot, but did not have the same success. Viewers from the CIS should remember the film “The Blue Bird” based on the play by Maurice Maeterlinck, filmed in 1976 jointly by Lenfilm and 20th Century Fox, in which Taylor played several roles at once.
Elizabeth Taylor in the movie "Blue Bird"
In the 80s, Elizabeth Taylor starred mainly in television films and TV series, the names of which will tell the domestic audience little. She became involved in social activities and business. So, she was the first Hollywood star to release a perfume line under her own name. Taylor paid a lot of attention to the fight against HIV infection, becoming a co-founder of the American Foundation for HIV Research, as well as opening a foundation in her name. She devoted a lot of time and effort to charity, for which she was awarded the US Presidential Medal in 2001.
The last time Elizabeth Taylor appeared on the big screen was in 1994 in the feature film The Flintstones, which did not gain much fame. In addition, it should be noted that Maggie Simpson from the famous TV series “The Simpsons” said her first and only word in the voice of Elizabeth Taylor.
In 1993, the actress received her third Oscar “for outstanding individual contribution to the cause of humanism,” and her last public appearance took place in 2007 at film events dedicated to the problems of HIV and AIDS.
Star and main beauty of Hollywood
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
Sarah Southern understood that she would not be able to achieve success in her native country: if in England her talent was not appreciated, then in America, where there are more than enough actors - both beginners and established ones - nothing would shine for her at all.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
Then she decided to help her daughter become famous. Sarah had a goal - to make Elizabeth a real star, especially since the girl had everything she needed for this.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
Taylor’s mother began to study acting with her even more, constantly took her to various castings, made new acquaintances, and most importantly, came up with a new biography for her. According to this legend, Liz studied at a ballet school with the English princesses themselves - Elizabeth and Margaret.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
Having such girlfriends, she was able to meet His Royal Highness, and also went in for equestrian sports with the most famous British aristocrats. Sarah was sure that no one would check whether this story was true or not.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
And she was right: all the filmmakers were more attracted, or it would be more correct to say, fascinated by the unusual beauty of the little girl. The young lady delighted everyone with her porcelain face, black shiny curls and those unusually beautiful blue-violet eyes.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
Rumors about her spread throughout America, and famous film companies were ready to fight so that she would sign a contract with one of them. The calendar year is 1942, Liz begins to collaborate with the Universal studio and gets her, albeit small, but first role in the film “A Man is Born Every Minute.”
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
The actress's film debut was successful - she proved that she is very talented and will soon be able to take her place on Olympus. At the same time, Liz was the main breadwinner in the family, since her mother devoted all her free time to promoting her career, and during the war years they were less interested in fine arts, so the head of the family received very little money, which was barely enough.
Do not miss
- Do not miss
Catherine Deneuve - 77: biography, path to success and personal life of the actress
In 1944, Taylor starred in the film National Velvet, which brought her a new dose of fame. Viewers demanded that new films be released with the little actress - they liked her so much. Liz, who had no education, was a real professional on film sets and could compete with those who spent several years studying in academies.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
For her ability to do everything the first time, the actress was dubbed “Liz in one take.” But at the same time, Taylor, whom everyone had time to praise, began to have star fever. She allowed herself to be late for work, disrupt filming, and create scandals. Despite this, the studio executives calmly tolerated all her antics, because she brought them good money.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
By the age of 16, Elizabeth could already compete with the masters of Hollywood, she was called the most promising young actress, and Times magazine called her “a magnificent jewel.” She was truly valuable - both to the directors and to her family.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
However, all admirers of her talent did not take into account one thing - the desires of Liz herself. But at that time she was already tired of the acting profession: she dreamed of a quiet and peaceful life, as well as education. It is known that the actress practically did not know how to count, and wrote with many errors, because instead of studying she had constant filming.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
Taylor demanded that she be allowed to rest, but her mother was adamant, she would not allow her daughter to leave the cinema at a time when she became a rising star.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
Sarah insisted that she had responsibilities not only to her family and the film studio, but also to the whole country, and even to the whole world. Liz had no choice but to listen to her mother and continue filming, because the audience was really waiting for her new works.
Source: Moviestore/Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
In the mid-50s, the actress played in box office and cult films: “Once Upon a Time Last Summer,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Rhapsody” and many others. Elizabeth became a world star, but her successes were often overshadowed by failures in her personal life.
Personal life
Elizabeth Taylor's personal life attracted and still attracts, perhaps, more attention than her work. And this is not surprising, because a woman with such a bright and unusual appearance, who finds herself at the pinnacle of fame, cannot have the boring, gray life of a simple man in the street.
Elizabeth Taylor is a carrier of a genetic mutation
It’s worth saying a few words about one feature of Taylor’s appearance. The actress had a rare genetic mutation - distichiasis, and simply put - had two rows of eyelashes, which gave her eyes and her look a special beauty and expressiveness. Moreover, the color of her eyes is defined by many as purple, which is a rare case.
Elizabeth Taylor was married 9 times to 8 men. She was married to one of them, Richard Burton, twice.
Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Wilding
18-year-old Nicky Hilton became the actress's husband when she was 23 years old. The heir to the giant Hilton empire turned out to be an ardent lover, but a useless husband who allowed himself to drink, carouse and even raise his hand to his pregnant wife. The marriage ended tragically - Elizabeth lost her child.
Actor Michael Wilding, who was old enough to be her father, was taken away from the family by Taylor, and it seemed that their marriage was supposed to be ideal. Taylor gave birth to two children for her husband, but this marriage also fell apart.
Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Todd
Liz did not grieve for long and three days later she married producer Michael Todd, who was 24 years older than her. According to the actress’s recollections, this marriage was the happiest; she sincerely and passionately loved Michael. And she could have been on the same plane with him on March 22, 1958 (which later crashed), if not for illness. Edwin “Eddie” Fisher, a friend of Taylor’s deceased husband, was in the right place at the right time and, having stood by the inconsolable widow, became the actress’s husband for 5 years.
1958 plane crash
The filming of the famous “Cleopatra” mixed everything up. Richard Burton, who played Mark Antony in this film, became the fatal man in the life of Elizabeth Taylor. When he publicly admitted their affair, clarifying that he was not going to divorce his wife, she attempted suicide. Many said then that Burton simply wanted to bask in the glory of his partner on the set, but the actor really fell madly in love with Taylor and showered her with expensive gifts throughout their life together.
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
The violent emotions and vivid passions that reigned around their family for almost 10 years faltered. Burton started drinking, and films with their participation stopped making box office. A divorce followed. However, Taylor and Burton a year later tried to restore their former idyll by getting married again, but everything turned out to be in vain.
Virginia Senator John Warner, who became Liz's next husband, owed much to his wife for the successful election campaign that she actively supported in 1978. Perhaps that's all Warner was interested in about Taylor. He was neither a fan of her talent nor a connoisseur of her beauty, which by that time began to fade due to the actress’s passion for alcohol.
Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner
The last official marriage of our heroine seems like a farce from the outside. A simple worker, Larry Fortensky, was in no way suitable for the role of the husband of a great actress. Even the ceremony, which was held in the famous Neverland of Michael Jackson, who was the best man at the wedding, was not a happy sign for this, the last marriage in Elizabeth Taylor’s life.
After the end of her last marriage, Liz said she was tired of weddings and devoted the rest of her life to charity and philanthropy.
Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson
One of Elizabeth Taylor's closest friends was the King of Pop Michael Jackson. There were rumors about their romance and imminent wedding, but all this remained only rumors. Most likely, it really was a great friendship between two lonely people who were loved by millions, but who never knew happiness in their personal lives.
Half a century of creative work in cinema
In 1944, Clarence Brown's dramatic film National Velvet was released. Liz played the main role of the girl Velvet Brown, who is interested in horses. And although critics were still skeptical about Taylor’s acting abilities, viewers remembered and fell in love with the young horsewoman. Sixty years later, the film was selected and entered into the National Film Registry.
Elizabeth's beauty captivated not only the audience, but also the directors. The young actress became more and more in demand, and her mother’s dream gradually came true. Two films with her participation have already been released per year:
- 1947 - “Cynthia” and “Life with Father”;
- 1948 - “Julia Behaves Badly” and “Date with Judy”;
- 1949 – “The Conspirator” and “Little Women”;
- 1950 – “The Big Hangover” and “Father of the Bride.”
Finally released in 1951, the film A Place in the Sun forced critics to change their minds about actress Elizabeth Taylor. She superbly played the role of the irresistible girl from high society Angela Vickers. The film won an Oscar in six nominations and received a Golden Globe for Best Film (Drama).
The next two films, “Giant” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” firmly established Elizabeth’s status as a Hollywood star. The film “Suddenly, Last Summer” in 1959 brought the actress her first major award – the Golden Globe for Best Actress. And the following year, 1960, Taylor received her first Oscar for her role as Gloria Vandrose in the film Butterfield 8.
In 1961, Liz was offered to play Cleopatra in a historical film, and she became the first actress in the history of cinema to receive an unheard-of fee of a million dollars.
Bright, beautiful and talented Elizabeth played many unsurpassed roles and rightfully received the title of “epoch-making Hollywood actress”:
- "The Taming of the Shrew";
- "Rhapsody";
- "Ivanhoe";
- "The Girl Who Had Everything"
- "Comedians";
- "Boom!";
- "Anna for a Thousand Days"
- “Zi and;
- "The mirror is cracked";
- "Intrigues in Wonderland";
- "North and South";
- "Young Toscanini".
In 1966, Elizabeth won an Oscar for the second time for her role as Martha in the film Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Death
On March 23, 2011, sad news spread around the world: Elizabeth Taylor passed away. The actress who captivated more than one generation of film fans around the world, the actress whose very name became synonymous with cinema in the 20th century, has passed away. The woman who conquered millions of men's hearts with her beauty, the woman who conquered millions of movie lovers with her brilliant talent, the woman whose personal life interested many more than their own, was gone. After her death, Michael Wilding Jr., the actress's son, said:
“She was an extraordinary woman who lived every day to the fullest. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, her love will live forever in our hearts."
Elizabeth Taylor in her final years
Elizabeth Taylor died surrounded by her family on March 23, 2011, at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, at the age of 79, from heart failure. The funeral took place the next day according to Jewish custom. There was some curiosity. The ceremony was delayed for 15 minutes, and then Rabbi Jerome Cutler said:
“She even decided to be late for her funeral.”
The actress had the right to this even after death. Because she is Elizabeth Taylor.
Elizabeth Taylor Family
Elizabeth Taylor was born on February 27, 1932 in London, in an American family, art dealer Francis Len Taylor and actress Sarah Viola Wombrodt. This was not an ordinary family - Liz's parents loved group sex with other married couples. At the end of the 20s, because of this, the Taylors left the United States for London, where morals in creative circles were freer. Together with their friend, member of the British Parliament Victor Cazalet, they went to the village of Hzt-vord, where they indulged in sin in the company of the same sinners from London. According to rumors, Sarah gave birth to a daughter during one of these orgies.
Elizabeth Taylor in her youth
At the beginning of World War II, the family returned to their homeland in the United States, settling in Los Angeles, where his father opened an art gallery. It’s a paradox, but her mother raised little Liz in puritanical strictness. The girl did not go to school and did not communicate with children. We worked with her at home. From the age of two, her mother noticed Liz’s ability to transform and began teaching her acting skills.
In her father’s art gallery, where famous Hollywood directors and producers visited, the girl was noticed. And not only her extraordinary beauty - a face like a porcelain doll, violet eyes with long black eyelashes. Liz could burst into tears at any moment and immediately laugh with happiness. She had obvious talent. She played her first role at the age of ten, and two years later fame came - after the release of the film “National Velvet”. In those years, there was a great demand for children in films, and Liz’s career took off.
At the age of 17, she played her first adult role in the film “The Conspirator.” Thus began her ascent to Hollywood Olympus.
Elizabeth Taylor worked hard in films since childhood. At the same time, the universally recognized beauty and movie star of the first magnitude always felt lonely, unloved and even ugly. She was instinctively drawn to those who were also unloved and misunderstood - homosexual men, of whom there were plenty in Hollywood. These were her most faithful friends. By the way, already at an advanced age she actively spoke out in defense of her friend Michael Jackson, accused of pedophilia.
Elizabeth Taylor in her youth
True, later her love for gays turned into a legal battle for Taylor. The former gardener, a straight man, sued her, accusing her of sexual discrimination. Allegedly, other gay gardeners harassed him, and he was forced to quit. And he was not paid additional salary after his dismissal because he is not a homosexual.
