Image via Wikipedia Dame Elizabeth Taylor, one of the last living actors and sex symbols from Hollywood's golden age, passed away today at the age of 79. When the news first got reported, I almost didn't believe it, since she's been near death on more than a few occasions. Elizabeth was one of the few child actors who had an even bigger career as an adult. Elizabeth was also one of the few actors who had the combination of glamour, extreme beauty (those eyes. Damn, those eyes), and above all, talent. She was nominated for 5 Academy Awards, winning 2 for Best Actress (Butterfield 8 in 1961 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1967). There are too many performances of hers that were amazing. However, my favorites are Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Giant, and (for the complete dork in me) General Hospital during the Luke and Laura heyday. Elizabeth was far from being a saint, which made her far more human to me, despite her glamour. She was married 8 times, twice to Richard Burton. She was in physically and mentally abusive relationships, including Conrad Hilton (yes, THAT Hilton) and Richard Burton. She had substance abuse issues and had more affairs with men, both married and single, than some small countries. Through all of that, she was a survivor and she was extremely loyal to her true friends. She fought the press over her friendship with Michael Jackson, defending him even after the press pounced after his untimely death. She was Godmother to 2 of Michael's kids. The phrase "force of nature" doesn't even begin to describe this lady. The closest celebrity you could possibly compare to Elizabeth these days is probably Angelina Jolie. They don't make them like Dame Elizabeth any more. She will be missed.
For more info on the Great Dame's life, here's a link http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000072/. Search through her entire body of work. The trivia section alone makes for great reading.
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