The Life and Career of Actress Elizabeth Taylor
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
She is the epitome of the Hollywood fashion icon, despite being eager to be seen as an everywoman. Famous for her acting career, iconic roles, two-time Oscar wins, perfume line, and many husbands; she was most renowned for her spectacular beauty. A Hollywood heavyweight, she is remembered for bringing joy to so many fans, championing social causes, and becoming one of the greatest legends of Hollywood's Golden Age. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we take a look back at the incredible life and career of Elizabeth Taylor.
Correction: James Dean was killed in a car accident. We regret the error.
Correction: James Dean was killed in a car accident. We regret the error.
The Life and Career of Actress Elizabeth Taylor
She is a former child star who grew up to become one of the greatest female actresses of all time. Today, WatchMojo.com will be remembering the life and career of the late Elizabeth Taylor.
Born on February 27th, 1932 in Hampstead, London England, she was the daughter of American parents. An art dealer and former actress, Elizabeth was given an interest in the arts at a young age, taking up ballet at the age of three.
Fearing rising hostilities, they returned to the United States before the outbreak of World War II when she was seven years old.
Living in Los Angeles, a family friend noticed the strikingly beautiful Elizabeth and suggested that she be taken for a screen test. Impressing the executives at Universal Pictures, they signed the ten year old for her debut role in 1942’s “There’s One Born Every Minute.”
Next, MGM grabbed the young starlet for a seven-year contract having her “Lassie Come Home”, and several other secondary roles, such as "The White Cliffs of Denver" and "Jane Eyre." Yet, it was 1944’s “National Velvet”, starring opposite Mickey Rooney that made her a box office sensation and a child star.
Following this, she starred in “Life with Father”, alongside such Hollywood heavyweights William Powell and Irene Dunne.
For the next decade, she continued to appear in well-received films, leading up to her busiest year in 1954 when she starred four films. These included "Rhapsody", "Beau Brummel", "The Last Time I Saw Paris", and "Elephant Walk."
At only 22 years old, and already considered one of the world’s greatest beauties. This was attributed to her dark complexion and a mutation, which caused her to have grown a double row of eyelashes, which enhanced her on-screen appearance.
In 1955, she appeared in the hit “Giant” alongside James Dean, in his last picture before he died in a car accident that same year. This unfortunate event was followed by her involvement in 1957’s overblown and critically panned epic “Raintree County.” Despite the film’s shortcomings, she did garner her first Academy Award Nomination for her portrayal of a Southern Belle.
The next few years, she received several more Oscar nods. These included for the role of Maggie Politt in “Cat on A Hot Tin Roof”, and Catherine Holly in “Suddenly, last Summer.”
Her Oscar drought finally ended in 1960 when she won for her stunning performance as a call girl involved with a married man in “Butterfield 8.”
After taking home the coveted statue, she took part in “Cleopatra”, one of the most expensive productions up to that time, earning her a whopping million-dollar salary.
Giving her finest performance as the loudmouthed and unkempt Martha in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, she won her second Oscar for best actress.
Signaling the peak of her career, she went on to star in dozens of theatrical films, television movies and TV programs, however none approached the intensity or quality of her earlier works. At the same time, her personal life continued to be the riddled with love affairs, unsuccessful marriages, alcoholism and several health problems. These included a brain tumor in the late 1997 and congestive heart failure in 2004.
At the same time, she became an advocate for Aids sufferers, developed a successful series of perfumes and continued to make occasional guest appearances in the media.
Married eight times to seven husbands, and the mother of four children, she succumbed to new symptoms related to her congestive Heart Failure on March 23rd, 2011 at the age of 79.
A Hollywood Legend, Elizabeth Taylor will always be remembered for bringing joy to so many fans, championing social causes, and becoming one of the greatest legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
She is a former child star who grew up to become one of the greatest female actresses of all time. Today, WatchMojo.com will be remembering the life and career of the late Elizabeth Taylor.
Born on February 27th, 1932 in Hampstead, London England, she was the daughter of American parents. An art dealer and former actress, Elizabeth was given an interest in the arts at a young age, taking up ballet at the age of three.
Fearing rising hostilities, they returned to the United States before the outbreak of World War II when she was seven years old.
Living in Los Angeles, a family friend noticed the strikingly beautiful Elizabeth and suggested that she be taken for a screen test. Impressing the executives at Universal Pictures, they signed the ten year old for her debut role in 1942’s “There’s One Born Every Minute.”
Next, MGM grabbed the young starlet for a seven-year contract having her “Lassie Come Home”, and several other secondary roles, such as "The White Cliffs of Denver" and "Jane Eyre." Yet, it was 1944’s “National Velvet”, starring opposite Mickey Rooney that made her a box office sensation and a child star.
Following this, she starred in “Life with Father”, alongside such Hollywood heavyweights William Powell and Irene Dunne.
For the next decade, she continued to appear in well-received films, leading up to her busiest year in 1954 when she starred four films. These included "Rhapsody", "Beau Brummel", "The Last Time I Saw Paris", and "Elephant Walk."
At only 22 years old, and already considered one of the world’s greatest beauties. This was attributed to her dark complexion and a mutation, which caused her to have grown a double row of eyelashes, which enhanced her on-screen appearance.
In 1955, she appeared in the hit “Giant” alongside James Dean, in his last picture before he died in a car accident that same year. This unfortunate event was followed by her involvement in 1957’s overblown and critically panned epic “Raintree County.” Despite the film’s shortcomings, she did garner her first Academy Award Nomination for her portrayal of a Southern Belle.
The next few years, she received several more Oscar nods. These included for the role of Maggie Politt in “Cat on A Hot Tin Roof”, and Catherine Holly in “Suddenly, last Summer.”
Her Oscar drought finally ended in 1960 when she won for her stunning performance as a call girl involved with a married man in “Butterfield 8.”
After taking home the coveted statue, she took part in “Cleopatra”, one of the most expensive productions up to that time, earning her a whopping million-dollar salary.
Giving her finest performance as the loudmouthed and unkempt Martha in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, she won her second Oscar for best actress.
Signaling the peak of her career, she went on to star in dozens of theatrical films, television movies and TV programs, however none approached the intensity or quality of her earlier works. At the same time, her personal life continued to be the riddled with love affairs, unsuccessful marriages, alcoholism and several health problems. These included a brain tumor in the late 1997 and congestive heart failure in 2004.
At the same time, she became an advocate for Aids sufferers, developed a successful series of perfumes and continued to make occasional guest appearances in the media.
Married eight times to seven husbands, and the mother of four children, she succumbed to new symptoms related to her congestive Heart Failure on March 23rd, 2011 at the age of 79.
A Hollywood Legend, Elizabeth Taylor will always be remembered for bringing joy to so many fans, championing social causes, and becoming one of the greatest legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
