Elizabeth Taylor: Films, Eyes, Marriages & Controversy

Mention Elizabeth Taylor and most people picture violet eyes, diamond rings, and a string of husbands. But there is more to her story than the tabloid headlines: she won two Academy Awards, helped change public perceptions of HIV/AIDS, and built a business empire from perfume. This article looks at the actress, the activist, and the woman behind the glamour — with the facts, the controversies, and the contradictions that made her unforgettable.

Born: February 27, 1932, Hampstead, London, England ·
Died: March 23, 2011, Los Angeles, California, USA ·
Academy Awards: 2 (Best Actress: 1961, 1967) ·
Number of Marriages: 8 (to 7 men) ·
Number of Children: 4 (3 biological, 1 adopted) ·
Film Career Span: 1942–1994

Seven key facts, one pattern: Elizabeth Taylor lived a life of extremes — immense fame, multiple marriages, serious illness, and world-changing activism.

What is Elizabeth Taylor most famous for?

Taylor’s fame rests on three pillars: a legendary film career, trailblazing AIDS activism, and a personal life that kept tabloids busy for decades. She was one of the last major stars to emerge from the old Hollywood studio system, and her talent matched her box-office draw.

Her acting career and Academy Awards

• Taylor won two Academy Awards for Best Actress: for Butterfield 8 (1960) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1967) (IMDb (film industry database)).
• She starred in nearly sixty films across a career spanning most of the twentieth century (University of Mary Washington (academic lecture series)).
• Her debut was in There’s One Born Every Minute (1942), but her breakout came with National Velvet (1944) (Biography (authoritative biography site)).

What this means: Taylor wasn’t just a celebrity — she was a critically respected actress who delivered two Oscar-winning performances and sustained a long career in an unforgiving industry.

Her iconic role in Cleopatra

• Taylor starred as Cleopatra in the 1963 film, then the most expensive ever made (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
• Her performance and the production’s lavish scale made it a cultural landmark.
• On set she began her affair with Richard Burton, sparking global headlines.

Her humanitarian work for AIDS

• In 1985, after friend Rock Hudson died of AIDS, Taylor became one of the first major celebrities to speak out (EBSCO Research Starters (academic database)).
• She co-founded amfAR and later established The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991 (Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (official foundation site)).
• Her advocacy helped raise more than $100 million for HIV/AIDS research and patient care (University of Mary Washington (academic lecture series)).

Why this matters: At a time when AIDS was highly stigmatized, Taylor used her platform to demand action and funding. Her work is credited with saving lives and changing public attitudes.

Her status as a Hollywood icon

• Taylor was the world’s highest-paid movie star in the 1960s (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
• She was among the first celebrity performers to demand fair pay (University of Mary Washington (academic lecture series)).
• Her image — violet eyes, double eyelashes, hourglass figure — became instantly recognizable worldwide.

The pattern: Taylor’s fame was not accidental. She cultivated a persona of glamour and independence that allowed her to command the industry’s attention, on screen and off.

Was Elizabeth Taylor a drinker?

Taylor’s struggle with alcohol was well-documented, but she also publicly addressed it — a rare move for a star of her stature.

Taylor’s struggle with alcohol

• Taylor acknowledged her alcoholism in the 1980s (HarperCollins (publisher of Taylor biography)).
• She entered the Betty Ford Center for treatment in 1984 (Biography (authoritative biography site)).
• Taboo for a female star at the time, her admission made front-page news.

Her rehabilitation and sobriety

• After treatment, Taylor remained open about her recovery journey.
• She credited her children and her AIDS activism with giving her purpose to stay sober.

Addiction in Hollywood context

• Taylor’s drinking was part of a broader pattern of substance use among mid-century Hollywood stars.
• Unlike many peers, she lived into her late 70s and died of congestive heart failure, not addiction.

The implication: Taylor’s openness about her addiction helped reduce stigma and encouraged others to seek help.

Who was Elizabeth Taylor’s best lover?

Taylor married eight times to seven men, but journalists and fans have long debated which husband — if any — was the love of her life. One friend’s comment stands out.

Richard Burton as the love of her life

• Taylor married Richard Burton twice (1964–1974 and 1975–1976) (Biography (authoritative biography site)).
• Their relationship was famously passionate and volatile.

A friend’s opinion on who was best in bed

• Geraldine Chaplin, a close friend, said Burton was the best lover (HarperCollins (publisher of Taylor biography)).
• This is an anecdotal opinion, not a verified ranking.

Rankings of her eight marriages

• Her other husbands: Conrad Hilton (hotel heir), Michael Wilding (actor), Mike Todd (producer), Eddie Fisher (singer), John Warner (politician), Larry Fortensky (construction worker).
• Critics often consider Burton the most significant partner, but Taylor never publicly ranked them.

The implication: Taylor’s love life was a central part of her public narrative. Whether any single man was “the best” matters less than the fact that she lived her relationships fully and publicly, for better or worse.

What is special about Elizabeth Taylor’s eyes?

Taylor’s eyes were her most famous physical feature — a deep violet hue that seemed almost impossible. There is a scientific explanation.

The rare violet eye color

• Taylor was born with a rare genetic condition called distichiasis, which gave her double eyelashes (Biography (authoritative biography site)).
• The double row of lashes and her eye colour created a distinctive look.

Genetic explanation for violet eyes

• Her eyes appeared violet due to light scattering through a thin layer of blue and red hues.
• No definitive medical study confirms the exact cause, but the double eyelashes are documented in biographies.

Cultural impact of her eyes

• Film critics and fans often called her eyes the most beautiful in Hollywood.
• The “violet eyes” became a marketing asset and a lasting part of her iconography.

The pattern: Taylor’s distinctive appearance was both a blessing and a burden.

Why was Elizabeth Taylor so controversial?

Taylor drew criticism from moral watchdogs, gossip columnists, and the public for decades. Her marriages, friendships, and lifestyle all fuelled the fire.

Her multiple marriages and affairs

• Her marriage to Eddie Fisher in 1959 caused a major scandal because Fisher was still married to Debbie Reynolds (Biography (authoritative biography site)).
• The affair with Richard Burton on the set of Cleopatra also drew intense media coverage.

Her lavish lifestyle and spending

• Taylor was known for extravagant jewellery, including the 33-carat Krupp diamond.
• Her spending was seen as excessive, even by Hollywood standards.

Her friendship with Michael Jackson

• Taylor developed a close bond with Michael Jackson in the 1980s and 1990s.
• She defended him publicly during his legal troubles, which divided public opinion.

The pattern: Taylor refused to conform to expectations of how a woman — especially a married woman — should behave. That defiance made her a target but also a symbol of independence.

What did Richard Burton say about Elizabeth Taylor’s breasts?

Burton, a famously poetic man, wrote about Taylor’s body in letters that were later published.

The famous quote about her breasts

• Burton wrote that Taylor’s breasts were “magnificent” and “the most beautiful I have ever seen” (HarperCollins (publisher of Taylor biography)).

Burton’s poetic descriptions of Taylor

• He often wrote passionate letters praising her physical beauty.
• The quote comes from his private diaries, later published in biographies.

The context of the quote in their relationship

• The letters show a man deeply in love, but also aware of the public nature of their marriage.
• Critics view the quote as an example of Burton’s verbal intensity.

The implication: Burton and Taylor’s relationship was fuelled by passion, jealousy, and artistic temper. The private writings offer a window into a famously turbulent partnership.

Timeline

• 1932 – Born in London, England (IMDb (film industry database))
• 1942 – Film debut in There’s One Born Every Minute (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
• 1944 – Breakout role in National Velvet (Biography (authoritative biography site))
• 1950 – First marriage to Conrad Hilton (EBSCO Research Starters (academic database))
• 1960 – First Academy Award for Butterfield 8 (IMDb (film industry database))
• 1963 – Stars in Cleopatra – then the most expensive film ever made (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
• 1964 – Marries Richard Burton for the first time (HarperCollins (publisher of Taylor biography))
• 1967 – Second Academy Award for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (IMDb (film industry database))
• 1985 – Begins AIDS activism after Rock Hudson’s death (EBSCO Research Starters (academic database))
• 1991 – Launches White Diamonds perfume; founds Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (Elizabeth Taylor Official Biography (official site))
• 2011 – Dies of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles (IMDb (film industry database))

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Two Academy Awards for Best Actress (IMDb (film industry database))
• Eight marriages to seven different men (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
• Alcoholism and rehabilitation at Betty Ford Center (Biography (authoritative biography site))
• Genetic condition distichiasis (double eyelashes) (University of Mary Washington (academic lecture series))
• Raised over $100 million for HIV/AIDS causes (HarperCollins (publisher of Taylor biography))

What’s unclear

• Who was truly the “best in bed” – only a friend’s opinion
• Exact cause of violet eye colour – genetic mutation and light scattering, but debated
• Hygiene habits – anecdotal tabloid reports, not verified
• Whether she was the “heaviest drinker in history” – no objective measure
• Number of children – 4 is widely reported, but some sources list only 3 biological (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))

Quotes

“Her breasts were magnificent, the most beautiful I have ever seen.”

Richard Burton, from his private writings (HarperCollins (publisher of Taylor biography))

“He was the love of her life. It was always Richard.”

Geraldine Chaplin, friend of Elizabeth Taylor (HarperCollins (publisher of Taylor biography))

“I am a survivor – a survivor of life. I feel the same about AIDS. We are going to survive it.”

Elizabeth Taylor, in a speech at an AIDS fundraiser (Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (official foundation site))

Summary

Elizabeth Taylor broke the mould of the Hollywood starlet. She refused to be defined by one role, one marriage, or one scandal. Her legacy is not just a list of films or husbands — it is a blueprint for using fame as a platform. For today’s celebrities and activists, the lesson is clear: influence without action is wasted. Taylor acted, and her AIDS foundation continues to fund care and research around the world.

Frequently asked questions