Elizabeth Taylor summary

Elizabeth Taylor's acting career demonstrated her talent and versatility. She appeared in numerous critically acclaimed films, attracting audiences worldwide. In the 1940s, when she was only eleven years old, she starred in Jane Eyre with legends Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine. Then she appeared in The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) alongside her friend Roddy McDowall.

Taylor went from being a child star to a serious actor with her next role, 1944’s National Velvet. As a reward for this box-office hit, the studio gave her a horse named King Charles. The young woman, yearning for freedom, rode King Charles as much as she could, much to the dismay of her studio handlers. Unfortunately, she fell off the giant steed and injured her back. A large cash bonus did nothing to soothe her physical pain – but, knowing how ruthless her industry was, she kept her discomfort a secret.

Taylor suffered from a range of health issues. She was born with scoliosis and experienced excruciating back pain from an early age. Unfortunately, her impairment was aggravated by her childhood horse-riding injury. Taylor’s bouts of ill health became so frequent that friends claimed she exploited them. The actor George Hamilton, who dated her, noted that she was skilled at gaining attention through theatrical performance and self-inflicted traumas. Taylor herself admitted that her mental state had always been linked to her physical health. But despite her fear of pain, she declared she wanted at least six children. She had two with her second husband, Michael Wilding – Michael Jr. in 1953 and Christopher in 1955. Then, on August 6, 1957, she gave birth to her third child, Liza Todd, via Cesarean section. Unfortunately, the pregnancy’s health risks led doctors to perform a tubal ligation. But the ordeal did not end there. In the summer of 1968, Taylor entered hospital for treatment to relieve her chronic back pain, and a hysterectomy became necessary. And there was more trouble to come.

In the mid-1950s, during a photo shoot for the movie Elephant Walk, Taylor got a bit of rusty debris stuck in her eye. She had to have surgery and took a few weeks to recover. Then, when baby Michael accidentally hit her in the same eye, it made matters worse, and a second operation was required. During this time, Taylor considered quitting acting altogether. 

Taylor’s bold personal style and stunning beauty made her a timeless glamor icon. From popularizing the cat-eye look to her striking fashion choices, she reveled in her favorite role: Hollywood royalty. So where did the actor’s infamous love of jewelry begin?

At age 12, Taylor purchased a colored-stone brooch as a Mother’s Day gift. It’s possible that each piece she acquired in adulthood reminded her of something she could never regain: her lost youth. Her love of decoration persisted, but it reached new heights during her most famous love affair. Her fifth (and sixth) husband, Richard Burton, enjoyed buying her gifts almost as much as she loved receiving them. 

Yes, Elizabeth Taylor was a legendary actress, but she was also a trailblazing activist and philanthropist. As a rising Hollywood star, she realized her popularity equaled power. Later, she decided to use her influence to promote social change. Here’s an example.

In the 1980s, Taylor was one of the few public figures to speak out about the AIDS epidemic affecting many of her friends and loved ones. At a time when the disease was still shrouded in fear and misinformation, she was a vocal advocate for research and treatment, lobbying President Ronald Reagan to take action and raise awareness about the disease. She also helped educate on HIV/AIDS prevention and push for LGBTQ+ rights. 

Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was more than a famous actress. Behind her star-studded life and illustrious career, she was a passionate advocate for equality. She embraced sexual autonomy before women were encouraged to do so, and many of her colleagues left firsthand accounts of her unwavering support and selflessness. Taylor’s compassionate spirit left an indelible impression on everyone she met.

From her early civil rights advocacy to her efforts to raise funds for AIDS research, her work and voice transcended class and cultural boundaries, exemplifying genuine compassion on a global scale. Her legacy exemplifies what it means to make the most of one's privilege.