Elizabeth Taylor, who died on March 23, 2011, was one of the most glamorous stars in the history of Hollywood. She won countless awards (including two Oscars), critical acclaim, and devoted fans worldwide. Yet, all she ever wanted to be was a housewife. At least that’s what Shirley MacLaine recently noted.
A Closer Look
Elizabeth Taylor was born with their illustrious violet eyes on February 27, 1932, in London, England. By 12, she was starring on the big screen in National Velvet. She continued making movies including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cleopatra, Butterfield 8 (her first Oscar-winning performance), and Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf (for which she earned her second Academy Award), among many others.
Her notable TV appearances include a classic episode of Here’s Lucy, special appearances on the legendary soap opera, General Hospital, and the groundbreaking TV-movie, Divorce His/Divorce Hers.
Intimate Ties
Married several times, Elizabeth Taylor’s frequent co-star was her on-again/off-again husband and fellow actor Richard Burton. She met Burton while filming Cleopatra in 1963. The production became infamous for its tremendous budget, making it one of the most costly motion pictures in entertainment history.
Taylor had already been wed four times (to Conrad Hilton Jr, Michael Wilding, Michael Todd, and Eddie Fisher) before marrying Burton in 1964.
Their tumultuous association led to their divorce and remarriage in 1975 before additional weddings to John W. Warner and Larry Fortensky.
Lifelong Health Issues
Throughout her life, Elizabeth Taylor struggled with health issues which began with a fall from a horse while making National Velvet. A rare strain of pneumonia almost killed her in 1961 and she was also later challenged by addictions to alcohol and painkillers.
In the 1990s, Taylor had two painful hip replacement surgeries and what became a second near-fatal bout of pneumonia, and then survived surgery for a benign brain tumor.
In 2004, she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, resulting in fatigue and shortness of breath. She was also suffering from scoliosis, which twisted her spine.
Throughout it all, Taylor was a dedicated advocate for various charities including those suffering from AIDS. In 1991, after the tragic demise of her friend and co-star Rock Hudson, she established a nonprofit geared specifically toward eradicating the horrific disease.
In the End
Actress Shirley MacLaine was a dear friend to Elizabeth Taylor. According to MacLaine’s new book, The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories From This Marvelous Lifetime, Taylor sought a more regular life beyond the Hollywood spotlight.
Many times, later in life, when Taylor would visit MacLaine, the latter observes in her book, “She got down on the floors and cleaned them and said, ‘All I want to do is be a housewife.'”
“I think the sentiment was real,” MacLaine concluded.
This article originally appeared on NewsBreak.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Featured Image Credit: Wikipedia / Public Domain.
