Contents
Elizabeth Taylor
Starring in Cleopatra, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
National Velvet · Cleopatra
- Born
- 27 February 1932
- Birthplace
- London, United Kingdom
- Died
- 23 March 2011
More people
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor grew from a child star into a major dramatic actor, then used her visibility to campaign for people affected by HIV and AIDS.
Early life
London birth
Her American parents were an art dealer and a former stage actor.
Move to California
The family left Britain in 1939 as war approached.
Career
- 1942–1944
Child star
Began in films and broke through with National Velvet.
- 1950s
Adult roles
Established herself in dramas including A Place in the Sun and Giant.
- 1960s
Major recognition
Won acting Oscars for BUtterfield 8 and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
- 1980s onward
Stage and advocacy
Combined theatre and television work with increasing AIDS campaigning.
Selected work
National Velvet
A girl dreams of riding her horse in the Grand National.
Cleopatra
Played the Egyptian ruler in the lavish historical production.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Played Martha in a marriage defined by verbal combat.
Beyond work
AIDS campaigning
Co-founded amfAR in 1985 and established her own AIDS foundation in 1991.
Business
Built a successful fragrance line, including White Diamonds.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation ↗Photo: Studio publicity still. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
