Elizabeth Taylor

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011), was a British-American actress who left an indelible mark on the film industry. Rising to fame as a child star at MGM, she evolved into one of the most iconic figures of Hollywood's Golden Age, celebrated not only for her remarkable acting talent but also for her stunning beauty and signature violet eyes.

Taylor's breakout role came in 1944 with *National Velvet*, which set the stage for a series of acclaimed performances in films such as *Father of the Bride* (1950), *A Place in the Sun* (1951), *Giant* (1956), *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1958), and *Suddenly, Last Summer* (1959). Her portrayal in *BUtterfield 8* (1960) earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, and she captivated audiences as Cleopatra in 1963. Taylor's tumultuous relationship with co-star Richard Burton became legendary, and they collaborated on 11 films, including the Oscar-winning *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* (1966), which garnered her a second Academy Award.

In her later years, Taylor shifted her focus from film to television and theater. Her personal life was marked by eight marriages and significant health struggles. In the 1980s, she emerged as a passionate advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, co-founding the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985 and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1993. Her contributions to the arts and humanitarian efforts were recognized with numerous accolades, including the Presidential Citizens Medal and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Ranked as the seventh greatest American screen legend by the American Film Institute, Taylor passed away at 79 from congestive heart failure, leaving behind a legacy of brilliance both on and off the screen.