The Belle, Elizabeth Taylor: Beauteous than Cleopatra!
(An article from the well renowned column
‘Kabhi Kabhi’ in Sandesh by
Reverend Mr Devendra Patel)
(English version by Pallavi Gupta)
Elizabeth Taylor, a renowned Hollywood luminary, is most celebrated for her iconic portrayal of Cleopatra. Her striking violet eyes and captivating performance in the eponymous film solidified her status as a cinematic legend. While historical accounts suggest Cleopatra's penchant for donkey milk baths to preserve her beauty, many contend that the film's depiction of her allure was somewhat embellished. Some even posit that Taylor's beauty surpassed that of her historical counterpart. Beyond her physical beauty, Cleopatra was renowned for her political acumen and power. In contrast, Taylor became synonymous with glamour and elegance. At the age of 79, this iconic Hollywood figure passed away, leaving behind an enduring legacy.
Liz, born Rosamond Taylor in London, was a child of American immigrants, Francis Lenn Taylor and Sara Viola, both actors. She started ballet at the age of three.
The Rising Star
Prior to the outbreak of World War II, her parents sought refuge in America. There, Sara, Elizabeth's mother, was introduced to a shareholder of Universal Pictures. The young Elizabeth, often described as a "dark beauty" due to her striking eyes, was subsequently signed to a six-month contract with Universal Pictures at a weekly salary of $100. At the tender age of nine, Elizabeth made her film debut in "There's One Born Every Minute." Around her tenth birthday, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) contracted the young actress, and she garnered acclaim for her performance in "Lassie Come Home." Following this, MGM signed Elizabeth to a seven-year contract at a weekly salary of $100. Her film "National Velvet" catapulted her to stardom, earning $4 million in 1944. By 1946, Elizabeth's weekly salary had increased to $750, while her mother, also an actress, earned only $250.
Her Stardom
She gradually transformed from a child star into a mature actress. Despite sharing the screen with renowned actors like Kirk Douglas and Ava Gardner in the film "The Conspirator," the movie was a box office failure. However, at just 16 years old, Liz stole the show in the role of a 21-year-old woman in love with a spy. Her weekly salary then skyrocketed to $2,000. After that, there was no looking back for Liz Taylor.
In 1963, the grand film "Cleopatra" by 20th Century Fox was released, in which Liz shone as an ambitious queen who falls in love with first Julius Caesar and then, after Caesar's death, Roman general Marc Antony. On the set of this film, her love for Richard Burton, who played Marc Antony, blossomed. Even before the film's release, their romance was widely discussed in newspapers. Liz worked overtime on this film and earned two million dollars for just this one movie, an enormous sum for actors of that time. Later, in 1966, she played Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for this role. Throughout her career, she acted in 50 films.
Her Eccentric World
Liz Taylor was married a total of eight times throughout her lifetime. Her first marriage was in 1950, at the tender age of 18, to the playboy son of the Hilton hotel chain owner. After just nine months, a disillusioned Liz sought a divorce. In 1952, she married Michael Wilding, a British matinee idol. He was 20 years older than Liz. They divorced in 1957. In 1959, she married Michael Todd, but he tragically passed away in 1958. This was the only one of Taylor's marriages that did not end in divorce. Michael Todd was a major film producer. In 1959, she married Eddie Fisher, a popular singer of the time. Eddie Fisher was a close friend of Todd's and had come to comfort the widowed Liz. Despite being married himself, he fell in love with Liz. Their marriage ended in 1964, and that same year, Liz began a romance with the famous actor Richard Burton. Paparazzi followed them relentlessly. They married in 1964 and for ten years were known as one of the world's most famous Hollywood couples. During this time, Liz Taylor began to gain weight and the film offers started to dry up. Richard Burton and Liz divorced in 1974.
Subsequent to their initial nuptials in 1974, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton renewed their marital vows in 1975. However, this second union proved to be equally ephemeral, culminating in a subsequent divorce in 1976. Taylor, universally acclaimed for her unparalleled beauty, subsequently entered into matrimony with John Warner, a Senator from Virginia, in 1976. The pressures and isolation of Washington, D.C., precipitated a profound period of despondency, necessitating institutionalization. This marital alliance ultimately dissolved in 1982.
Monkey on Her Back
Taylor's penchant for matrimony persisted, culminating in a union with the significantly younger construction worker, Larry Fortensky, in 1991. Their relationship had its genesis in a medical facility. They exchanged vows at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, a union that would dissolve in 1996. The repetitive dissolution of her marital bonds, coupled with the pressures of fame, led Taylor to develop a dependency on alcohol. She underwent treatment for alcoholism in 1980.
In 2006, Taylor expressed her staunch opposition to the Iraq War by declining an invitation to the 75th Academy Awards. She vociferously condemned the bellicose policies of then-President George W. Bush, positing that the conflict could precipitate a global conflagration.
Taylor’s health had deteriorated significantly in subsequent decades. A lifelong smoker, she suffered from a weakened heart and multiple fractures. Speculation regarding the presence of a brain tumour and skin cancer further underscored the fragility of her condition.
A Bijouterie Lover
Liz Taylor was a renowned jewellery enthusiast. She was a regular client of the famous jewellery designer, 'Bulgari.' She possessed an extraordinary collection of jewels, including a 33.19-carat Krupp diamond and the 69.42-carat Taylor-Burton diamond, a gift from her husband Richard Burton. Taylor also owned the 50-carat La Peregrina pearl, originally owned by Queen Mary of England, which Burton had purchased and gifted to her on Valentine's Day in 1969. Her book, 'My Love Affair with Jewellery,' features numerous photographs of her extensive collection. She also launched perfumes named 'Passion,' 'White Diamonds,' and 'Black Pearls.'
Despite her opulent lifestyle, numerous marriages, and global fame, Liz Taylor was unable to find lasting happiness. After 1980, she resided in Bel Air, Los Angeles. She also owned homes in London and Hawaii. However, her Los Angeles residence remained her primary abode until her death. Rumours of a ninth marriage to her companion, Jason Winters, circulated after they were frequently spotted vacationing together. On March 23, 2011, at the age of 79, she passed away at a Los Angeles hospital. It was as if Cleopatra had died once more.
Translation published at Devendra Patel Blog on 13th September 2024. The link is....
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