Guest editor Marlene M. Kristoff celebrates Elizabeth Taylor’s birthday
This week is an ode to beautiful and talented Dame Elizabeth Taylor—the ultimate star, considered by many to be “the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Elizabeth Taylor Bio (Turner Classic Movies)
Our February 27th Pisces, London-born baby… Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (1932-2011) seems to embody the signs totality – exemplifying the joys, pain, hopes, and fears learned from all the other signs!
Her fame endures. Today, she is remembered as the violet-eyed beauty icon who captivated generations of moviegoers, with great passion for life, deeply cherished her family and dear friends while accomplishing sooo very much!
She certainly is defined by her sultry beauty, award-winning acting talent, businesswoman prowess, health survivor, humanitarian, and, of course, her many famed loves: husbands, jewels, and animals too!
Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair With Jewelry
This incredibly ravishing British – American icon forever epitomizes the enduring fame and glamour of classic Hollywood!! Today, she is considered to be a trailblazer on so many levels—a template for modern celebrity, humanitarian causes, and a compassionate champion of the underdog.
Actress Elizabeth Taylor holds a $100,000 special edition of her new White Diamonds fragrance at a news conference in New York, Sept. 11, 1991. The one-of-a-kind handblown pear-shaped bottle features an 18-karat gold stopper and flowing ribbons set with 403 pave diamonds totaling 17.16 carats. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
White Diamonds Fragrance Gift Set (Macy’s)
Upon her death, it was noted that her fortune was due greatly to her prowess in the fragrance business. As an entrepreneur, lover of scent and gemstones, she involved herself personally with master perfumers and business partner, Elizabeth Arden, in every aspect of the creation of her wildly successful fragrance collections including Passion, White Diamonds and the last, Violet Eyes.
She famously said, “I never face the day without perfume.”
‘Passion is the ingredient in me that has made me who I am. It’s my passion for life . . . my passion for passion that has made me never give up.’
Her partner, Elizabeth Arden Inc., was acquired by Revlon in 2016. To this day, White Diamonds remains the best-selling celebrity fragrance in the world. A portion contributes to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Elizabeth Taylor – Turner Classic Movies (tcm.com)
Elizabeth Taylor’s unforgettable portrayals ranged from innocence to decadence—seeming to mirror her extraordinary, turbulent personal life.
Butterfield 8 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Giant | Elizabeth Taylor Legacy Collection | Elizabeth Taylor Best Collection
Beginning as a child star at the tender age of 12 in National Velvet, her extraordinary body of 64 Film, Stage, and TV works include five-time Nominations and two Best Actress Oscar wins for Butterfield 8, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and a third for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
She has been honored with countless awards: Berlin International Film Festival, British Academy Film Awards, Golden Apple Awards, Golden Globe Awards, American Film Institute, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Hasty Pudding Theatricals, Kennedy Center Honors, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Tony Awards, Theatre World Awards, Women in Film Crystal, Lucy Awards, and many more!
As we prepare for this year’s March 27th Academy Awards, the film is top of mind. ET’s memorable appearances were captivating, whether as the recipient in Christian Dior 1961 or 1970 presenter in Edith Head’s captivating violet design to accentuate the magnificent 69.42-carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond by Cartier! All eyepopping gorgeous!
The films below are considered her Top 10:
It is always fun to watch these classics again and again. ET’s leading men, many of whom remained lifelong friends, ranged from Paul Neuman, Burl Ives, Spencer Tracy, Montgomery Clift, James Dean, Roddy McDowall, Rock Hudson, and of course, husband Richard Burton.
ET’s sultry beauty and passions seemed to define her personal life.
Her 8 stormy marriages, 7 husbands (Burton twice), her delicate health and weight issues forever captured the public’s attention.
Although her dramatic, passionate, and tragic marriages were many, Mike Todd and Richard Burton were said to be the loves of her life…along with her 4 children: Michael Wilding Jr, Christopher Edward Wilding, Liza Todd (below), and adopted daughter Maria Burton. Today, there are many, many ET grandchildren and great-grandchildren!
New Elizabeth Taylor Photo Book
As a young woman, I loved reading biographies of accomplished women, believing I could learn from them, and avoid some mistakes. Elizabeth Taylor’s was, of course, a real page-turner. Years later, I was fortunate to see her live, in her award-inspiring stage performance as Regina, in Lillian Hellman’s Little Foxes at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA. – quite memorable!!
It is a joy to share some of Elizabeth Taylor’s many accomplishments and passions with you on this, her Birthday Weekend. Until next week…xoxo MMK
Style at a Certain Age Saturday guest editor Marlene M. Kristoff shares luxury retail, home, and design ideas. Last week, Marlene talked all things Pisces.
is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.
She’s 63, 5’8, and size 8.
Her career started earlier than N. v. She played Helen in an uncredited part in Jane Eyre. There are generally clips on YouTube.
Hi Pat –
Yes, of course, no child actress begins in a much celebrated film…thank you for sharing her uncredited part in Jane Eyre. National Velvet was really her 1st recognized success. Thanks again. xoxo MMK
Thanks Marlene for featuring Elizabeth Taylor in your post. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and always admired her beauty and acting.
Elizabeth had the classic petite hourglass figure. When someone says “hourglass” I always think of her.
Hi Kathleen,
The lilac Edith Head gown certainly accentuated her hourglass…more than later caftans that she loved! Sooo beautiful!
Thanks for sharing! xoxo MMK
Hi Nancy…
Thrilled that you enjoyed my little “ode” – yes, her beauty and acting…surely a memorable combination to admire. Thanks for being in touch!
xoxo MMK
Love this post on one of my favorites!
Thanks, Marlene!
Hi NC – So pleased you enjoyed my tribute post to “one of your favorites!” Thank you!! xoxo MMK