Some stars become famous, but Elizabeth Taylor became a legend. From dazzling audiences as a child actress to becoming one of Hollywood's highest-paid stars, she spent more than six decades captivating the world both on and off the screen. Her life was filled with record-breaking films, headline-making romances, extraordinary jewels, serious health battles, and groundbreaking humanitarian work. Whether she was winning Oscars, making tabloid history, or fighting for AIDS awareness, Taylor rarely stayed out of the spotlight for long. Here's a chronological look at the remarkable life of one of cinema's most unforgettable icons.
Born with Hollywood in her future
Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born in London on February 27, 1932, to wealthy American parents who had built successful careers in the art world. Although Britain was her birthplace, fate would soon bring her to California, where movie history awaited.
World War II changed everything
When World War II broke out, the Taylor family left England and settled in Los Angeles. The move not only kept them safe but also placed young Elizabeth within reach of Hollywood's biggest studios.
She was discovered because of her extraordinary beauty
Elizabeth's dark hair, famous violet-blue eyes, and remarkable poise caught Hollywood's attention almost immediately. Universal signed her at just nine years old before MGM quickly recognized her star potential.
National Velvet made her an overnight sensation
Everything changed in 1944 when 12-year-old Taylor starred in National Velvet. The film became a massive hit and transformed her into one of MGM's brightest young stars almost overnight.
She often said she never really had a childhood
Success came at a price. Taylor later reflected that once she became famous, the studio controlled nearly every aspect of her life, leaving little room for a normal childhood. The documentary Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes also explores this period through her own words.
She successfully escaped the child star curse
Unlike many young actors, Taylor transitioned seamlessly into adult roles. Films like Father of the Bride and A Place in the Sun proved she was more than just a former child actress.
She became one of MGM's biggest stars
Throughout the 1950s, Taylor delivered acclaimed performances in films including Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Raintree County, and Suddenly, Last Summer. By the end of the decade, she was among Hollywood's most bankable actresses.
Personal tragedy nearly ended her career
In 1958, Taylor's husband, producer Mike Todd, was killed in a plane crash. She was devastated by the loss, and the tragedy became one of the defining moments of her personal life.
She won an Oscar for a movie she didn't even like
Taylor received her first Academy Award for Butterfield 8 in 1961. She later admitted she wasn't particularly proud of the film, but the Oscar established her as one of Hollywood's greatest actresses.
Cleopatra changed Hollywood forever
Taylor negotiated a groundbreaking $1 million salary to play Cleopatra, making history as the first actor to receive such a deal. The lavish production became one of the biggest stories of the decade and permanently changed salary negotiations for movie stars.
Richard Burton became the love of her life
While filming Cleopatra, Taylor and Burton fell in love even though they were both married to other people. Their affair became front-page news worldwide, with politicians, religious leaders, and even the Vatican publicly condemning the relationship.
She delivered the performance many consider her masterpiece
Taylor shocked audiences by embracing the emotionally demanding role of Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The performance earned her a second Academy Award and is still regarded as one of cinema's greatest acting achievements.
Her jewelry collection became almost as famous as she was
Taylor adored exceptional gemstones and owned some of the world's most celebrated jewels, including the 69-carat Taylor-Burton Diamond, the Krupp Diamond (now known as the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond), and the historic La Peregrina Pearl. She even wrote a bestselling book celebrating her collection.
She built a perfume empire
Long before celebrity beauty brands became commonplace, Taylor found enormous success with fragrances. White Diamonds became one of the best-selling celebrity perfumes ever released, helping make her a savvy businesswoman as well as a movie icon.
She became one of the first celebrities to fight for AIDS awarenessAfter losing close friend Rock Hudson, Taylor became one of the earliest major public figures to advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS. She co-founded amfAR, established The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, testified before Congress, and raised hundreds of millions of dollars for research and patient care.
After losing close friend Rock Hudson, Taylor became one of the earliest major public figures to advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS. She co-founded amfAR, established The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, testified before Congress, and raised hundreds of millions of dollars for research and patient care.
She was honored for far more than acting
By the later years of her life, Taylor had received countless honors recognizing both her film career and humanitarian work. In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II appointed her Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, adding yet another remarkable chapter to her extraordinary career.
Her love life became international gossip
Taylor married hotel heir Conrad Hilton Jr. at just 18, but the marriage lasted less than a year. It marked the beginning of a romantic life that tabloids would follow for decades.
Eight marriages made her one of the world's most controversial women
Taylor married eight times (including twice to Richard Burton), which was shocking by 1950s and 1960s standards. Religious groups criticized her, newspapers obsessed over her relationships, and many labeled her immoral despite her enormous popularity.
She openly battled addiction
Years of surgeries and chronic pain led Taylor to become dependent on prescription painkillers and alcohol during the 1980s. Rather than hiding it, she publicly entered the Betty Ford Center in 1983, becoming one of the first major Hollywood stars to speak openly about seeking treatment for addiction.
She expanded her family through adoption
While married to Eddie Fisher, Taylor began the process of adopting a daughter, Maria Burton, who had been born in Germany with a congenital hip condition. After Fisher and Taylor divorced, Richard Burton completed the adoption with her in 1964, and Maria became the couple's daughter.
Six husbands later, she found love in an unexpected place
In 1988, Elizabeth Taylor checked into the Betty Ford Center to seek treatment for prescription drug and alcohol addiction. There she met Larry Fortensky, a construction worker from California who was also receiving treatment. They married on October 6, 1991, at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. After five years together, Taylor and Fortensky divorced in 1996
She had the last laugh
Taylor had one final joke planned. Her funeral service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale was deliberately scheduled to begin 15 minutes late because she had requested to be "late for my own funeral." It was a fitting farewell for someone known for her wit and larger-than-life personality.
