Elizabeth Taylor

Magazine / women icons

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor is the Queen of Hollywood.

For many, Elizabeth Taylor was the epitome of Hollywood aristocracy: brilliant roles and incredible love stories that even the Vatican publicly spoke out about, also, Elizabeth Taylor was the first movie star whose fee was one million dollars.

Today, the editorial staff of WOSK1147 magazine, in conjunction with our columnist:

Jana Lester," recalls the life of the unsurpassed woman whose name, forever, is inscribed in the history of world cinema - Elizabeth Taylor.

The life of the style icon and sex symbol of the era was shrouded in mystery, and the death of the actress, to this day, is the biggest gap in the history of cinema.

From the memories of Tim Mendelsohn's personal assistant:

"-Wash the mascara off this little girl!" said the director on the set, but Elizabeth had a special feature: her eyelashes grew in two rows, were fluffy and long, and also everyone was fascinated by the color of her eyes: purple. There is a version that in fact, the color of her eyes was dark blue, but, under certain lighting and makeup - reflected purple pigment, however, it does not matter, because, until now, Elizabeth Taylor's eyes can be called the most mysterious in the world. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

About the charms of the femme fatale: eight husbands.

The first marriage of the actress took place at the age of 18 with Nicky Hilton (Paris Hilton's grandfather) - it was the celebration of the century, the whole world was invited: seven hundred guests and "stars" were more than in the sky. The MGM movie studio made a gift to the bride and gave Elizabeth a wedding dress from the famous fashion designer of the time: Helen Rose - the author of Grace Kelly's wedding dress. The design of the dress was so complicated that it took fifteen seamstresses several months to create it: a corset was sewn into the dress, which tightened the waist to fifty-one centimeters! Unfortunately, the marriage fell apart after nine months, bringing disappointment and a substantial stake in the Hilton Corporation.

The second marriage was to actor Michael Wilding, where the couple had two sons, but the union collapsed: the reason was the love of the spouse to call dancers at home, while Elizabeth was away on the set.

Just three days after divorcing her second spouse, Elizabeth married producer Michael Todd.

According to the actress, it was the happiest marriage: he was twenty-four years older than Elizabeth, constantly showered with diamonds and helped advance her career.

Elizabeth adored jewelry - according to her, Michael called her his Queen:

he gave her a diamond tiara to prove his words, which she gladly wore.

"-I was well aware that at that time it was completely unfashionable, but still wore it because he (Michael) was my king," - wrote the actress in his memoirs.

Interesting fact: throughout her life, the British actress has had many meetings with members of the royal family - at one meeting, Elizabeth appeared in a tiara in front of Princess Margaret, who, that evening, refused to wear such jewelry: thus, hinting at who is the true queen of hearts.

Elizabeth had a special love for rubies. Michael gave her a magnificent ruby necklace, in which the actress repeatedly went out in public.

The set also included earrings and a bracelet. As a result, the entire set was sold at auction for five million four hundred thousand dollars - it was bought by Cartier - this jewelry became part of its amazing collection of heritage.

Michael Todd was willing to do anything to please his beloved and for Elizabeth's birthday party for eighteen thousand guests: close friends - the party was held in Madison Square with broadcast on the television channel "CBS".

Todd's tragic death just a year into their marriage shattered the family idyll: Michael's plane crashed - as Elizabeth told us, she was supposed to be on board with him - they never separated for more than a day. From that marriage was born a daughter, Elizabeth Francis.

The loss of her spouse was an overwhelming loss for Elizabeth and she became addicted to alcohol...…

A close friend of her late husband, an exemplary family man with two children, could not resist the charm of the actress and, in a moment of grief and sorrow, gave her a shoulder.

In Hollywood, Eddie was nicknamed "henchman Taylor" - he performed all her wishes and any whims of his wife.

Eddie Fisher left the family, and Taylor accepted his faith: Judaism.

They lived together for five years, after, she met her great love: Richard Burton.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton met on the set of the movie "Cleopatra", which became the event of the century and the most expensive film - it was for the role of Cleopatra, Elizabeth, for the first time in the history of Hollywood cinema, received a fee of one million dollars!

By the beginning of filming Richard's fame as the chief ladies' man was well known to her - but he was married, and she was married, and would not be able to survive another divorce, so she decided that would not be another woman fallen from his charms, will remain aloof ... But the passion flared on the set: strength to resist it was not. Between filming, they secretly escaped to a villa in Porto San Stefano, where they enjoyed each other's company. The filming continued on the island of Ischia and there was a scandalous photo that flew around the world: she was lying in a bathing suit and he was leaning over her in a kiss.

The development of this novel watched the world press, describing the smallest detail, the press immediately dubbed them "Liz and Dick" - it was a love story worthy of Hollywood: crazy passion, extravagant acts, grand gestures, treason, and even suicide attempts.

The scale of the scandal that erupted after the photo was published was staggering: Liz, once again, was reminded of her sins: a family divorcee, the Vatican publicly declared the couple "lecherous," and some congressmen in the States suggested that they be banned from entering the country forever.

But, soon, the divorce formalities were settled and the couple registered their fifth marriage for Liz and their second for Dick.

The day after the marriage, Richard had a play in Toronto where he played Hamlet and at the end they went together to the front of the stage, where he uttered a line from the play to Ophelia: "I say, no more marriages!" - the audience wept and was ready to forgive all sins, in the name of such love!

Richard, too, did everything possible to please his beloved, knowing her love of jewelry, buying at auctions the most fantastic products.

For example: in May 1968, he gave her a Cartier ring with a thirty-three-carat diamond for two million dollars, worth mentioning that for this ring, he fought with the famous billionaire Aristotle Onassis. According to Richard: "This diamond had to be worn by the most beautiful woman in the world! I could not allow Jackie Kennedy or Sophia Loren to be thought of as such," this ring became Elizabeth's favorite ring

Liz and Dick were the most beautiful couple in Hollywood and legends of the social chronicles: Burton's cheating and Liz's illness, alcohol and drug addictions led to a divorce.

Afterwards, Elizabeth managed to marry American politician John Warner and, again, divorce to marry again: and, yes, to Richard Burton.

From Richard's letter:

"-All I care about right now is whether you're happy, and who you're with isn't that important. Don't forget that you're probably the greatest actress in the world. I wish I could borrow your fire and passion for a moment. I love you and always will. Come back." Their marriage lasted about nine months, however, they, again, divorced.

Many tried to reproach Taylor for the number of marriages and sexual relations, to which she replied: "I only slept with those whom I was married!" - it is surprising that a fairly conservative American society at that time, condemning any relationship with married men, forgave the sins of Elizabeth and adored her.

Richard also influenced Elizabeth's style by introducing her to designer Vicki Thiel. After four years together, Liz and Vicki became partners in her fashion house.

Elizabeth's brand DNA: accentuated sexuality, elegance and massive jewelry. Taylor would start creating her look by choosing a piece of jewelry and then, only then, would she ask designers to send in a few costume options. Elizabeth followed fashion trends, but always stuck to her glamorous style. Even images in the style of the seventies: the hippies, - were necessarily complemented by precious necklaces and earrings. Taylor, always, paid attention to appearance and makeup - interestingly, she never used hair conditioner, shaved her face to make it smoother for makeup, and could paint one and a half hours on one eye.

The great actress was nominated for an Academy Award five times and won twice for Best Actress:

the first time for her starring role in Butterfield 8, a role she hated; the second was her role in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, a period that is undoubtedly the peak of her career.

Curious fact: she, never, attended acting classes and said she just watched the great masters play, such as: Marlon Brando, Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Dean - and they became her teachers.

Of great importance in Elizabeth's life was charity:

She worked in the fight against AIDS, funded research and traveled around the world visiting sick people; she started a foundation that continues to help people to this day.

"-I think that if you were born with privileges, or received them afterwards, you should share them. Just like money: it is for sharing.

I've known many people who just sat around and saved up riches but were miserable, just, miserable wretches.

I think one of the reasons we were sent to this earth is that we have to learn to share."

Elizabeth is the first Hollywood star to create her own brand, namely, a perfume line that released her fragrance: "White Diamond" - which was sold out in millions of copies.

Later, Kim Kardashian will say that she was inspired to create her perfume by this Great Actress!

Recommended movies:

"Cleopatra"; "A Thousand Days of Anne"; "Butterfield 8"; "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Jana Lester - actress, model, columnist for wosk1147 magazine