Elizabeth Taylor Biography

With an impressive collection of awards and honors, Elizabeth Taylor is considered one of the most talented and beautiful actresses of all time. This former child star with the distinctive violet-blue eyes, who considers Michael Jackson one of her closest friends, no longer appears in films. But the woman keeps herself busy, and still devotes time to numerous causes and business ventures.Elizabeth Taylor was born on February 27, 1932, in London, England. After her family relocated to the United States when Elizabeth was only seven, her mother followed a friend's suggestion and took her for a screen test. The executives at Universal Pictures were impressed. They gave her a contract on the spot, and in 1942 Taylor made her first screen appearance in There's One Born Every Minute. This would be her only film with Universal, but she was soon signed by MGM, and appeared in the 1943 film Lassie Come Home. It was her starring role as Velvet Brown in National Velvet, however, that made her a sensation. Unlike many child stars, Elizabeth's popularity didn t wane when she reached adulthood. The adorable child grew into one of the sexiest and talented film stars of her era. Her appearances in Butterfield 8 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf earned her two Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Prior to winning these awards, she was nominated three times during the 1950s for her appearances in Raintree County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Suddenly, Last Summer. Her starring role in the 1963 film Cleopatra earned her an impressive one million dollars, making her the highest paid movie star ever at the time. Taylor also appeared in several television series such as the soap operas All My Children and General Hospital, and has made several stage appearances. After an acting career that spanned decades, she performed her last significant role in the 2001 made-for-television movie These Old Broads. Although she no longer makes her living as an actress, largely because of mounting medical problems, her contributions to the world of film will not be forgotten. She has received a multitude of awards and recognitions, including an AFI Life Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence in International Entertainment.A lover of the finer things in life, Elizabeth is well-known for her fondness of jewelry and is the owner of many extraordinary pieces, including her 33 carat Krupp Diamond. Her obsession with gems of all types led Taylor to write her 2002 book, My Love Affair with Jewelry, and in 2005 she opened her own boutique called The House of Taylor Jewelry. Her signature perfumes, Passion, White Diamonds, and Black Pearls have also been a lucrative venture for Taylor. The humanitarian effort with which she is most involved is the AIDS crisis. Forming her own foundation and raising millions to fight the disease has led to her being recognized as an important philanthropist, earning her several honors such as the Presidential Citizens Medal and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.At a time when divorce was frowned upon, Taylor did more than just test the boundaries of decent behavior. She openly defied them. In her lifetime, she has been married eight times to several different husbands. Among the lucky men were Conrad Hilton Jr., heir of the Hilton Hotel fortune; actor Eddie Fisher, who appeared with Elizabeth on screen; actor Richard Burton, whom Elizabeth divorced twice; and Senator John Warner. The once widowed, seven-time divorcee had four children during the course of her marriages. Now a grandmother of nine, Elizabeth is once again single.

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