Male: She sits at number seven on the American Film Institute lists of greatest female stars. More importantly, she is the only surviving member of the top 10 earning her the title of Hollywood’s Last Great Star. She certainly lived out of the blocks.
Born in the London suburb of Hampstead in 1932, she hit the big screen at the age of nine in a family theater called Lassie Come Home. Two years later, she wrote a winter called, National Velvet and became a household name. She grew up in the public eye maturing to a breath taking stunning woman who had famous photographers proclaiming her perfect. Whether or not her eyes were indeed violet as she like to claim, she was a cinematographer’s dream and on top of that, she had talent.
After three consecutive Oscar nominations, she finally took her leading actress award for about a few days. Liz went on to win a second Oscar for her less than glamorous portrayal of Martha in the big screen version of Edward Albee's play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Married twice by the age of 20, she was on her way to her third husband Mike Todd by the time she was 25 playing the beautiful wife to a famous producer she even threatened to give up her career for him. But she was never forced to follow through as weeks after the interview Mike was killed when his private plane, Lucky Liz crashed in New Mexico.
Elizabeth then sought solace in the arms of singer-actor Eddie Fisher who was married to Debbie Reynolds at that time. Five years after marrying Fisher, she met Richard Burton on the set of Cleopatra and their marriage went on to last 10 years. In 1974, they divorced then remarried the following year and the time to divorce again in 76. The same year, she set her side on the senatorial hopeful John Warner, the Republican saw his popularity soared as the result of the union.
Male: By the change of face Queen of the May rather than Queen of Hollywood I guess. Are you enjoying it?
Elizabeth Taylor: Well, it’s not me, it isn’t?
Male: No, but you are enjoying this new life?
Elizabeth Taylor: Yes I am.
Host: The shine had went off by 1982 and she didn’t dig her toe on a matrimonial worthy again until meeting a recovering alcoholic angry man Larry Fortensky with her fourth clinic in 1991. Since their divorce in 1996, she’s trying herself into the fight against AIDS creating her an AIDS Foundation which has raised tons of millions of dollars in the fight against the disease.
She’s also been a loyal support of Michael Jackson, championing her good friend in interviews and—on charges of child molestation. The fine rumors of developing Alzheimer’s disease, Liz showed up at her 70th birthday batch in Las Vegas. She greeted by blowing tributes from her celebrity desk.
Kathy Ireland: Globally, this woman, she’s changed the world. She absolutely changed the world in such a powerful way and I love the fact that she takes action and she is so committed. She’s got such a tremendous heart. She’s my hero.
Host: Even her love rival Debbie Reynolds had to admit.
Debbie Reynolds: Well, Elizabeth Taylor is a great American star, a great American beauty just like Eva Gardner, Marilyn Monroe. She is one of our icons and we’re here not only to pay her respect, but because she is a great friend that she is our American icon.
Female: Liz, message for your friends around the world.
Elizabeth Taylor: God bless you and I love you.
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