Elizabeth Taylor
“A violet-eyed child star who grew into one of the most famous women of the twentieth century.”
In 1944, the violet-eyed 12-year-old Elizabeth Taylor captivated audiences as a girl who rides her horse to victory in National Velvet. The MGM hit made her a child star and set the stage for a half-century as one of the most famous and glamorous women in the world.
London-Born MGM Child
Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born in London in 1932 to American parents and moved to Los Angeles before World War II. National Velvet made her a star at age twelve.
Hollywood Royalty
She matured into a dazzling leading lady, winning Oscars for BUtterfield 8 and Virginia Woolf. Her epic Cleopatra and tempestuous romance with Richard Burton made global headlines.
Activist and Icon
Famous for her beauty, jewels, and many marriages, Taylor also became a pioneering AIDS-awareness advocate in the 1980s. She remained a cultural icon until her death in 2011.
Career Timeline
- 1932Born February 27 in London, England
- 1939Family moves to Los Angeles
- 1944National Velvet makes her a child star
- 1951Adult breakthrough in A Place in the Sun
- 1958Stars in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- 1960Wins first Oscar for BUtterfield 8
- 1963Title role in lavish epic Cleopatra
- 1964Marries co-star Richard Burton
- 1966Second Oscar for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
- 1985Becomes leading AIDS-awareness activist
- 2011Dies March 23 in Los Angeles at 79
Biggest Hits
- For Cleopatra she became the first actress paid a $1 million salary for a single film.
- She married eight times to seven men, twice to actor Richard Burton.
The Moment You Remember
Many recall the headline-making spectacle of Cleopatra and her romance with Richard Burton, but just as vivid is her raw, Oscar-winning turn as Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, shedding all glamour for the role.
Portrait: Studio publicity still (unknown photographer) · Public domain (studio publicity still) · via Wikimedia Commons