When it is 27.02.2019 in Hollywood, the film fraternity will surely celebrate the life of Elizabeth Taylor, the violet eyed classic Hollywood icon.
When it comes to discussing about Elizabeth Taylor’s brilliance as an actress, it would make the debaters wonder which element of her character should be considered as the best. Was it her jaw dropping charm? or her captivating performance as the darling of the Classical Hollywood Era? It is the blend of both I would say.
Known for her unique violet eyes and vibrant acting performance, Liz Taylor ruled the mid-1940s to 1960s. She was the most profitable star for Metro Goldwyn-Mayer who produced films featuring her. The world remembers Liz for her role in Cleopatra which won 4 Oscar Awards and her extremely high profile lifestyle but her initial struggles during her film career are not taken into account. She played minor roles in films when she was a child and in her teen age she acted in small roles. A director once said “The kid has nothing … her eyes are too old, she doesn’t have the face of a child”.
However when she was 12 years old, she starred in her first major film National Velvet and the movie became a hit among the reviewers and fans alike. A reviewer wrote “Elizabeth Taylor is rapturously beautiful… I hardly know or care whether she can act or not.” Since then she caught the eye of the public for her charm but her breakthrough came from the movie Giants. She later on made several hit films of which Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and BUtterfield 8. She received the Best Actress Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for her role in the latter film.
After the mid-1960s Liz’s success began to drop but she won hearts even still as she turned into a philanthropist and a social activist. She wanted to support those affected with HIV and through her activism and fame she helped to raise more than 250 Million USD.
She also had her fair share as a business woman and was the first celebrity to launch a line of fragrances. She also launched her own jewellery – House of Taylor. Both the ventures turned out to be highly profitable. She died in March 23, 2011 due to heart failure.
Liz hated being on the height of fame as it made her a commodity than as a human being, that is how people saw her. The media too followed her and should one say about paparazzi ? But in her later days, she wanted to use her fame for something greater to the society than just for mere personal glory. So she used it to be a catalyst to her activism esp. to HIV support campaign.
She once said to a magazine that “With my name, I could open certain doors, that I was a commodity in myself and I’m not talking as an actress. I could take the fame I’d resented and tried to get away from for so many years but you can never get away from it and use it to do some good. I wanted to retire, but the tabloids wouldn’t let me. So, I thought: If you’re going to screw me over, I’ll use you.”
Liz, though dead is still cherished by millions of fans as the diva who ruled hearts and the Hollywood.