Remembering an Icon: Elizabeth Taylor (1932 – 2011)

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

 

“When people say,

‘She’s got everything’, I’ve got one answer –

I haven’t had tomorrow.”

– Elizabeth Taylor

The world lost an icon today.

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27,1932 – March 23, 2011) was born in Hampstead, London on February 27, 1932.   She appeared in her first motion picture, There’s One Born Every Minute, at the age of 9 and went on to star in a number of other films shortly thereafter.  However,  it was her turn as Velvet Brown in 1944’s National Velvet that made her a star.

Taylor as Velvet Brown

Elizabeth Taylor’s accomplishments, both onscreen and off, were often overshadowed by her beauty and notoriety.  She became one of the greatest beauties of Hollywood’s Golden Age – many would even say she was the most beautiful woman alive during the 1950s.

“Elizabeth Taylor is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever fit.  She is not as easy to dress as Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn, because she is a short woman – only 5’2″.  She’s also extremely curvaceous and has short legs. But, you see, those are the kinds of minor imperfections that make for classic beauty.  A woman’s individual beauty is created by little mars in the state of perfect beauty. Elizabeth’s fascination lies in those little discrepancies. She has aged gracefully, despite what her detractors have said. She is beautiful when she is plump and she is lovely when she trims down. A faulty figure can be changed by foundations and the proper use of dark and light colors. But no makeup can create a face like Elizabeth’s. She is exquisite.” – designer Edith Head, Edith Head’s Hollywood

Further, she was legendary for her eight marriages to seven husbands, most famously to actor Richard Burton, the love of her life whom she married twice.  Some reports suggest that she would have tried for a third time if Burton had not passed away in 1974.  She was a passionate woman who loved unconditionally.

“My mother says I didn’t open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did,

the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked.”

– Elizabeth Taylor

Undeniable Love: Taylor with Burton and 3 of her 4 children

But Taylor was also undeniably talented.  She starred in some of the most iconic films of the 1950s and 1960s, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cleopatra, GIANT, and Suddenly, Last Summer. A five time Academy Award nominee, her roles in BUtterfield 8 and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf would finally earn her the Oscar.  In 1992 she was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for her work on behalf of AIDS research and HIV and AIDS awareness.

Last, but certainly not least, she was a style icon.

“Everything makes me nervous – except making films.”

-Elizabeth Taylor

This post is a tribute to Elizabeth Taylor, the person.  It is a tribute to her beauty and her strength.  Her passion and her talent.  Her wisdom… and her undying memory.

 

“I sweat real sweat and I shake real shakes.

– Elizabeth Taylor

“People who know me well, call me Elizabeth. I dislike Liz.” – Elizabeth Taylor

“I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine.

You can’t possess radiance, you can only admire it.”

– Elizabeth Taylor

“So much to do, so little done, such things to be.”

– Elizabeth Taylor

“I’m a survivor –

a living example of what people can go through and survive.”

– Elizabeth Taylor

“I’ve been through it all, baby, I’m mother courage.”

-Elizabeth Taylor

 

Rest in peace, Elizabeth Taylor.

You were the epitome of style, grace & glamour and will never be forgotten.

Image Credit: All images via The Fashion Spot

{ 52 comments… add one }

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Kendra March 29, 2011, 5:12 PM

    Great post with fab pics. There is no doubt that she was the last *STAR*. I’m sad she’s gone, but we still have her films, and I’m sure she’s having a big party with Richard and all of her old friends in the sky <3

    Reply
  • Joanne Faith March 28, 2011, 5:08 AM

    RIP Elizabeth Taylor; undoubtedly an incredibly beautiful woman & this is a great collection of images.

    Reply
  • jennine March 25, 2011, 7:04 PM

    what an amazing retrospective of images! one of the best i’ve seen so far!

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:01 PM

      Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting, Jennine. Elizabeth Taylor was one of the (many) reasons I developed a love for cinema. She will be missed. I am glad you enjoyed the images.

      Reply
  • Jenmarie March 25, 2011, 1:04 PM

    This is such a beautiful tribute and one of the best I’ve seen on the web. I’ve never seen her first film but I vaguely remember National Velvet. I’ve also seen her in Little Women and maybe one or two other films but Cleopatra was not one of them. I’ve always been interested in seeing it!

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:04 PM

      Thank you Jenmarie, that is really nice of you to say! Cleopatra is worth watching, but be prepared for a long night – it’s over 4 hours long! I’d recommend Cat on a Hot Tin roof, BUtterfield 8 and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf as well. I have actually never seen the version of Little Women she was in – I will have to add that to my list.

      Reply
  • THE-LOUDMOUTH March 24, 2011, 5:55 PM

    God, she is breathtakingly beautiful. Seriously. Wow.

    Thank you for putting together such an amazing tribute.

    Reply
  • Erika March 24, 2011, 5:30 PM

    Rest in Paradise, Liz. I was seriously so upset when I heard the news.
    But I love that you included all these quotes – best tribute I’ve seen thus far! Thank you for sharing 🙂

    Xo,
    Erika

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:11 PM

      Thank you Erika, I know how you felt, I was very upset as well. She will be missed!

      Reply
  • kristy March 24, 2011, 4:04 PM

    this is one of the most thorough memoriums of Liz Taylor I’ve seen on a blog! this is very touching. I love all the facts you’ve included and all the gorgeous pictures. she was a true beauty, an inspiring spirit and a great talent. i’ve adored her my whole life. i am so sad about her passing away.

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:18 PM

      Thank you so much, Kristy! I feel exactly the same way. This tribute was just a small way to pay my respects to Elizabeth Taylor, but her memory will live on. She was a shining star during life and will remain so even in death. She will be greatly missed by many!

      Reply
  • Arash Mazinani March 24, 2011, 3:28 PM

    i always get mixed up between her and joan collins when I heard the news I couldn’t figure out who had passed away.

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:23 PM

      I can understand that – they were about the same age and definitely had some similar features. I always felt Elizabeth was the more striking beauty of the two, but if my memory serves correctly, I think the two were close friends!

      Reply
  • Lauren Nicole March 24, 2011, 12:15 PM

    this is perhaps my favorite dedication to elizabeth taylor. You were able to capture stunning photographs and the quotes were just inspiring.

    Great job!!

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:25 PM

      Thank you so much Lauren, I tried to pick images that depicted her as a woman, pure and simple!

      Reply
  • Eboni Ife' March 24, 2011, 10:11 AM

    Oh my goodness, B.! You found the most gorgeous pictures of Elizabeth Taylor. Wow! I love all the non-glam shots of her… with the kids… washing the dog… you can really see how amazingly beautiful she was. Edith Head said it best, “she is exquisite.” And to top it off, she had a heart of gold.

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:26 PM

      If this was Facebook I would “like” your comment a million times. Thank you!

      And you said it best – she had a heart of gold!

      Reply
  • Tanvi March 24, 2011, 9:37 AM

    She will never be forgotten! Lovely tribute, B!

    from © tanvii.com

    Reply
  • Mrs Bossa March 24, 2011, 8:19 AM

    What a beautiful selection of images, B. I feel quite emotional reading this!

    Reply
  • Heather Fonseca March 23, 2011, 9:57 PM

    What a beautiful tribute! I love the photos you chose.

    Love,
    Heather 
    http://heathersdesignblog.com/

    Reply
  • Casee Marie March 23, 2011, 7:27 PM

    Beautifully written and such a moving and genuine tribute to Elizabeth Taylor the woman. Nicely done, B. She, her talent, heart and spirit were larger than life and she’ll certainly be remembered forever. I also had no idea she was so tiny, just 5’2″? I love that she captivated people so well that one didn’t even notice that about her.

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:33 PM

      Thank you so much, Casee. Isn’t it funny how she appeared larger than life, both in spirit and in size? I agree it’s hard to believe she was only 5’2″ – I think most people are surprised when they learn that, although I admit when I watched Cleopatra last week it was rather obvious how tiny she was in stature.

      She accomplished so much good during her life it’s too much to even put into a single post. It is a shame that some naysayers focus on scandal or try to take the positive and put an ugly spin on it. Fortunately her talents and good heart speak for themselves and always will.

      Reply
  • Dusk March 23, 2011, 6:46 PM

    Beautiful post. Beautiful woman. She was just silk velvet… and she lived a life, really lived.

    My favourite movie of hers will always be ‘The Blue Bird’.

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:34 PM

      I love that – “silk velvet.” So true. And no one will ever accuse her of wasting her life – she lived every moment as if it were her last!

      Reply
  • myheartblogged March 23, 2011, 6:14 PM

    She was so beautiful, and talented. I hope she rests in peace.

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:35 PM

      I hope she is at peace and, just perhaps, reunited with the love of her life!

      Reply
  • kavery March 23, 2011, 5:59 PM

    Beautifully done post for a classy icon. Followed the link from Twitter.

    Reply
  • Fabienne Jach March 23, 2011, 5:16 PM

    The last quote really resonated with me. She certainly was an icon and will be missed.

    xo,
    f
    The House in the Clouds

    Reply
  • Kori March 23, 2011, 5:13 PM

    Of all the posts on Liz today, this is my favorite. Well done honey! Have a great day honey!

    Did you hear about my good news? Kori xoxo

    blondeepisodes.com

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:37 PM

      Wow, thank you for your kind words Kori. That is very nice of you to say.

      May she rest in peace.

      Reply
  • MJ March 23, 2011, 4:33 PM

    She was a beautiful woman indeed and no matter what people can say about her, she lived her life in her own way!

    Beautiful tribute! These photos are gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Beautifully Invisible March 28, 2011, 4:37 PM

      Thank MJ. Unfortunately there will always be naysayers, but no one can deny that she was a woman who was full of passion and lived each moment of her life as if it was her last.

      Reply