Just short of one year ago, the world lost yet another star and classic beauty--one of the most beautiful women on earth.
She was talented, beautiful, and passionate. And three days ago, February 27th, would have been her 80th birthday. So, this post is in honor of her.
Happy Birthday, Ms Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Born February 27, 1932
Died March 23, 2011
Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was actually born in London, England on the 27th of February in 1932. However, her parents were American citizens, so she had a life long dual citizenship to both countries. There was later a time in her life when she wished to become solely a citizen of the United Kingdom, but could not go through with it, because she would not vow to renounce all allegiance to the United States.
The Taylor family already had connections with the film industry, with Taylor's mother being a retired actress, herself. In 1939, when Taylor was just 7 years old, her family returned to the United States. They settled in Los Angeles, California, further exposing their young daughter to the life of the Hollywood elite. Taylor was beautiful, even as a child, and child actors were becoming more common at that time. It didn't take long until multiple Hollywood film studios were begging for her to sign a contract with them. The young Elizabeth was given her first contract with Universal Pictures.
She made one film for Universal before they fired her for undisclosed reasons. It is widely speculated that they didn't like her looks as a child actress, believing she looked "too old" compared to young girls like Shirley Temple. She didn't possess the "cute" look--she had a more angular face, with deep blue eyes that sometimes reportedly looked purple, and had double eyelashes, due to a genetic mutation.
Later on, Taylor's father did some military work with a producer from MGM. He learned that they were looking for an actress for a new Lassie film, in the making.Taylor was given the part in the film, and hooked a long-term contract with the studio.She was a famous child star, making around 9 films with MGM as a child star.
Taylor had a seemingly effortless transition into adult roles--probably because, yet again, she always looked mature for her age.Just as when she was considered a child actress, the adult Elizabeth Taylor was a success in her bigger film roles, some of the more noteable ones being Father of the Bride (1950), A Place in the Sun (1951), Ivanhoe (1952), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), The Taming of the Shrew (1967), and many more.
She remained active in her film career until 2003. Even then, she did not fade out of the picture. Taylor was an extremely active humanitarian, providing funding and charities and public awareness for HIV/AIDS, along with other causes.
Taylor remained fairly active, and didn't tend to shy away from the public eye for the remainder of her life. She died on March 23, 2011, and the world lost a classic beauty, a wife, a mother, a humanitarian, and a true star.
Now, I have chosen a movie of Elizabeth Taylor's that I would recommend watching.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1958
Starring Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, and Burl Ives
An adaptation of Tennessee Williams' play by the same name, the story centers around a very dramatic family celebration. Maggie "The Cat" Pollitt (Taylor) and her estranged husband, Brick (Newman), are stuck in Mississippi with his family, in order to celebrate his father, "Big Daddy" Pollitt's (Ives) birthday.
Brick is depressed, and refuses to spend any time with his family (including his wife), preferring to drink by himself all day. The rest of the family notices that Maggie and Brick don't seem to be getting along, and the taunting seems endless to Maggie.
Big Daddy has been ill for a while, and just before his birthday, he and his wife fly to see a doctor to find out if he is dying of cancer. They return in time for celebrations, along with the news that he is not dying. However, since the possibility of his death was put into everyone's minds, Brick's brother and sister-in-law decide to have a disturbing competition, wanting to find out who Big Daddy will leave all his money and land to when he dies.
In the meantime, Big Daddy has also noticed that things aren't right with Brick and Maggie, which upsets him because that is who he would prefer to leave his belongings to, if he had to choose. He forces Brick to talk, forces him to say what it is that has made him turn his back on his wife and his family, the story being that Brick is angry and depressed with himself for not helping a friend who later committed suicide.
Another truth comes out when Big Daddy learns and admits that he really does have cancer, and he isn't going to live much longer. Feeling a little depressed, himself, at the knowledge of this, Big Daddy retreats to the basement to be alone. While the rest of the family is falling apart upstairs, due to arguing over Big Daddy's will, Brick goes down to the basement to confront his father. They argue for a while, but eventually come to terms with eachother and their issues. They go back upstairs to join the rest of the family. Big Daddy makes it very clear that Brick's older brother and his wife won't see a penny of his money, and Brick beings to show affection toward Maggie, once again.
It's a very dramatic film, but a very good one. It focuses on the important things in life, and the importance of forgiveness and truth, and showing true character in the face of death.
"Who has double eyelashes except a girl who was absolutely born to be on the big screen?"
-Roddy McDowall
"God forbid you do anything individual or go against the fad.But I did."
-Elizabeth Taylor
