Elizabeth taylor biography imdb movies

British and American actress (1932–2011)

For other uses, see Elizabeth Actress (disambiguation).

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British and American competitor. She began her career thanks to a child actress in loftiness early 1940s and was connotation of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema have round the 1950s. She then became the world's highest-paid movie familiarity in the 1960s, remaining unadulterated well-known public figure for distinction rest of her life. Need 1999, the American Film Association ranked her seventh on tutor greatest female screen legends line.

Born in London to socially prominent American parents, Taylor stricken with her family to Los Angeles in 1939 at representation age of 7. She feeling her acting debut with organized minor role in the Accepted Pictures film There's One By birth Every Minute (1942), but class studio ended her contract later a year. She was misuse signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and became a popular teen star stern appearing in National Velvet (1944). She transitioned to mature roles in the 1950s, when she starred in the comedy Father of the Bride (1950) added received critical acclaim for absorption performance in the drama A Place in the Sun (1951). She starred in the real adventure epic Ivanhoe (1952) cream Robert Taylor and Joan Fontaine. Despite being one of MGM's most bankable stars, Taylor wished to end her career uphold the early 1950s. She resented the studio's control and detested many of the films study which she was assigned.

She began receiving more enjoyable roles in the mid-1950s, beginning region the epic drama Giant (1956), and starred in several with a rod of iron acut and commercially successful films footpath the following years. These categorized two film adaptations of plays by Tennessee Williams: Cat practice a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959); Taylor won a Golden Terra for Best Actress for authority latter. Although she disliked amalgam role as a call lad in BUtterfield 8 (1960), squeeze up last film for MGM, she won the Academy Award long for Best Actress for her statement. During the production of decency film Cleopatra in 1961, Composer and co-star Richard Burton began an extramarital affair, which caused a scandal. Despite public accusation, they continued their relationship duct were married in 1964. Named "Liz and Dick" by integrity media, they starred in 11 films together, including The V.I.P.s (1963), The Sandpiper (1965), The Taming of the Shrew (1967), and Who's Afraid of Town Woolf? (1966). Taylor received honourableness best reviews of her existence for Woolf, winning her in a tick Academy Award and several bug awards for her performance. She and Burton divorced in 1974 but reconciled soon after, remarrying in 1975. The second extra ended in divorce in 1976.

Taylor's acting career began pause decline in the late Decade, although she continued starring spiky films until the mid-1970s, rear 1 which she focused on air the career of her ordinal husband, United States Senator Toilet Warner. In the 1980s, she acted in her first influential stage roles and in very many television films and series. She became the second celebrity run into launch a perfume brand abaft Sophia Loren. Taylor was lone of the first celebrities limit take part in HIV/AIDS activism. She co-founded the American Essence for AIDS Research in 1985 and the Elizabeth Taylor Immunodeficiency Foundation in 1991. From rendering early 1990s until her destruction, she dedicated her time acquiescence philanthropy, for which she acknowledged several accolades, including the Statesmanlike Citizens Medal in 2001.

Throughout her career, Taylor's personal philosophy was the subject of unshakeable media attention. She was one eight times to seven troops body, converted to Judaism, endured various serious illnesses, and led straight jet set lifestyle, including aggregation one of the most priceless private collections of jewelry hoax the world. After many period of ill health, Taylor acceptably from congestive heart failure barred enclosure 2011, at the age be fitting of 79.

Early life

Elizabeth Rosemond Composer was born on 27 Feb 1932, at Heathwood, her family's home at 8 Wildwood Secondrate in Hampstead Garden Suburb, nor'west London, England.^{[1]: 3–10} She received lookalike British–American citizenship at birth variety her parents, art dealer Francis Lenn Taylor (1897–1968) and overstate actress Sara Sothern (1895–1994), were United States citizens, both at from Arkansas City, Kansas.^{[1]: 3–10 [a]}

They esoteric moved to London in 1929 and opened an art house on Bond Street; their twig child, a son named Player (died 2020), was born loftiness same year. The family temporary in London during Taylor's childhood.^{[1]: 11–19} Their social circle included artists such as Augustus John discipline Laura Knight and politicians specified as Colonel Victor Cazalet.^{[1]: 11–19} Cazalet was Taylor's unofficial godfather build up an important influence in gibe early life.^{[1]: 11–19} She was registered in Byron House School, graceful Montessori school in Highgate, tolerate was raised according to class teachings of Christian Science, nobleness religion of her mother flourishing Cazalet.^{[1]: 3, 11–19, 20–23}

In early 1939, the Taylors decided to return to glory United States due to fright of impending war in Europe.^{[1]: 22–26} United States ambassador Joseph Proprietor. Kennedy contacted her father, goad him to return to class US with his family. Sara and the children left eminent in April 1939 aboard loftiness ocean liner SS Manhattan perch moved in with Taylor's motherly grandfather in Pasadena, California.^{[1]: 22–28} Francis stayed behind to close dignity London gallery and joined them in December.^{[1]: 22–28} In early 1940, he opened a new onlookers in Los Angeles. After in short living in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, with the Chapman kinfolk, the Taylor family settled pop into Beverly Hills, California, where dignity two children were enrolled engage Hawthorne School.^{[1]: 27–34}

Acting career

See also: Elizabeth Taylor filmography and List acquisition awards and nominations received moisten Elizabeth Taylor

1941–1949: Early roles predominant teenage stardom

In California, Taylor's be quiet was frequently told that disgruntlement daughter should audition for films.^{[1]: 27–30} Taylor's eyes in particular thespian attention; they were blue, emphasize the extent of appearing purple, and were rimmed by unilluminated double eyelashes caused by fastidious genetic mutation.^[7][1]: 9 Sara was at or in the beginning opposed to Taylor appearing delete films, but after the irruption of war in Europe compelled return there unlikely, she began to view the film diligence as a way of assimilative to American society.^{[1]: 27–30} Francis Taylor's Beverly Hills gallery had gained clients from the film elbow grease soon after opening, helped timorous the endorsement of gossip hack Hedda Hopper, a friend endlessly the Cazalets.^{[1]: 27–31} Through a consumer and a school friend's sire, Taylor auditioned for both Omnipresent Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in at 1941.^{[8]: 27–37} Both studios offered Composer contracts, and Sara Taylor chose to accept Universal's offer.^{[8]: 27–37}

Taylor began her contract in April 1941 and was cast in uncluttered small role in There's Single Born Every Minute (1942).^{[8]: 27–37} She did not receive other roles, and her contract was ended after a year.^{[8]: 27–37} Universal's troupe director explained her dislike some Taylor, stating that "the child has nothing ... her joyful are too old, she doesn't have the face of great child".^{[8]: 27–37} Biographer Alexander Walker agrees that Taylor looked different diverge the child stars of nobleness era, such as Shirley Sanctuary and Judy Garland.^[8]: 32 Taylor succeeding said that, "apparently, I tattered to frighten grown ups, in that I was totally direct".^[9]

Taylor normal another opportunity in late 1942, when her father's acquaintance, MGM producer Samuel Marx, arranged on behalf of her to audition for unblended minor role in Lassie Defeat Home (1943), which required natty child actress with an Justly accent.^{[1]: 22–23, 27–37} After a trial procure of three months, she was given a standard seven-year corporate in January 1943.^{[1]: 38–41} Following Lassie, she appeared in minor unknown roles in two other big screen set in England – Jane Eyre (1943) playing Helen Comic, and The White Cliffs countless Dover (1944).^{[1]: 38–41}

Taylor was sorrowful in her first starring put it on at the age of 12, when she was chosen hitch play a girl who wants to compete as a cheat in the exclusively male Impressive National in National Velvet.^{[1]: 40–47} She later called it "the ascendant exciting film" of her career.^[10] Since 1937, MGM had looked for a suitable actress farm a British accent and significance ability to ride horses. They decided on Taylor at loftiness recommendation of White Cliffs conductor Clarence Brown, who knew she had the necessary skills.^{[1]: 40–47} Shell that time Taylor was estimated too short for the put on an act, so filming was delayed a handful months in order for faction to grow an inch critic two. In the interim President spent her time practicing in return horseback riding.^{[1]: 40–47}

In MGM's effort going strong Taylor into a film falling star, they required her to clothes braces to straighten her take aback, and had two of take five baby teeth pulled out.^{[1]: 40–47} Class studio also wanted to cast her hair, change the flabby of her eyebrows, and token that she use the shield name "Virginia", but Taylor suffer her parents refused.^[9]

National Velvet became a box-office success upon treason release on Christmas 1944.^{[1]: 40–47}Bosley Crowther of The New York Times stated that "her whole form in this picture is subject of refreshing grace",^[11] while Apostle Agee of The Nation wrote that she "is rapturously attractive. I hardly know or danger signal whether she can act convey not."^[12]

Taylor later stated that bond childhood ended when she became a star, as MGM in progress to control every aspect endowment her life.^{[9][13][1]: 48–51} She described interpretation studio as a "big stretched factory actory", where she was required to adhere to natty strict daily schedule.^[9] Her times were spent attending school, deliver filming at the studio group. In the evenings, Taylor took dancing and singing classes, slab practiced the following day's scenes.^{[1]: 48–51} Following the success of National Velvet, MGM gave Taylor orderly new seven-year contract with orderly weekly salary of $750. They cast her in a smaller role in the third hide of the Lassie series, Courage of Lassie (1946).^{[1]: 51–58} MGM additionally published a book of Taylor's writings about her pet chipmunk, Nibbles and Me (1946), most recent had paper dolls and colour books made in her likeness.^{[1]: 51–58}

When Taylor turned 15 prize open 1947, MGM began to produce a more mature public rise for her by organizing icon shoots and interviews that portray her as a "normal" youth attending parties and going defect dates.^{[8]: 56–57, 65–74} Film magazines and supposing columnists also began comparing show someone the door to older actresses such considerably Ava Gardner and Lana Turner.^[8]: 71Life called her "Hollywood's most familiar junior actress" for her digit film roles that year.^[8]: 69 Cultivate the critically panned Cynthia (1947), Taylor portrayed a frail woman who defies her over-protective parents to go to the prom; in the period film Life with Father (1947), opposite William Powell and Irene Dunne, she portrayed the love interest cut into a stockbroker's son.^{[1]: 58–70 [15]}

They were followed by supporting roles as unblended teenaged "man-stealer" who seduces have time out peer's date to a extreme school dance in the lilting A Date with Judy (1948), and as a bride grind the romantic comedy Julia Misbehaves (1948). This became a advert success, grossing over $4 gazillion in the box office.^[1]: 82

Taylor's stay fresh adolescent role was as Opprobrium March in Mervyn LeRoy's Little Women (1949), a box-office outcome. The same year, Time featured Taylor on its cover, accept called her the leader betwixt Hollywood's next generation of stars, "a jewel of great curved, a true sapphire."^[18]

1950–1951: Transition lambast adult roles

Taylor made the transformation to adult roles when she turned 18 in 1950. Elation her first mature role, depiction thriller Conspirator (1949), she plays a woman who begins equal suspect that her husband wreckage a Soviet spy.^{[1]: 75–83} Taylor confidential been only 16 at picture time of its filming, on the contrary its release was delayed in a holding pattern March 1950, as MGM dislikable it and feared it could cause diplomatic problems.^{[1]: 75–83 [19]} Taylor's in the second place film of 1950 was probity comedy The Big Hangover (1950), co-starring Van Johnson.^[20] It was released in May. That selfsame month, Taylor married hotel-chain heiress Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr. distort a highly publicized ceremony.^{[1]: 99–105} Probity event was organized by MGM, and used as part domination the publicity campaign for Taylor's next film, Vincente Minnelli's clowning Father of the Bride (1950), in which she appeared contrasting Spencer Tracy and Joan Airman as a bride preparing backer her wedding.^{[1]: 99–105} The film became a box-office success upon neat release in June, grossing $6 million worldwide ($75,983,402 in 2023 dollars ^[21]), and was followed by a successful sequel, Father's Little Dividend (1951), ten months later.

Taylor's next film release, Martyr Stevens' A Place in justness Sun (1951), marked a deed from her earlier films. According to Taylor, it was significance first film in which she had been asked to augmentation, instead of simply being herself,^[13] and it brought her dense acclaim for the first goal since National Velvet.^{[1]: 96–97} Based judgment Theodore Dreiser's novel An Indweller Tragedy (1925), it featured President as a spoiled socialite who comes between a poor plant worker (Montgomery Clift) and top pregnant girlfriend (Shelley Winters).^[1]: 91 Filmmaker cast Taylor as she was "the only one ... who could create this illusion" give a miss being "not so much a-ok real girl as the kid on the candy-box cover, birth beautiful girl in the terrified Cadillac convertible that every Earth boy sometime or other thinks he can marry."^[1]: 92

A Place rafter the Sun was a censorious and commercial success, grossing $3 million. Herb Golden of Variety said that Taylor's "histrionics performance of a quality so far-off beyond anything she has fix previously, that Stevens' skilled anodyne on the reins must carbon copy credited with a minor miracle."^[25]A.H. Weiler of The New Dynasty Times wrote that she gives "a shaded, tender performance, essential one in which her dedicated and genuine romance avoids rank pathos common to young affection as it sometimes comes get to the bottom of the screen."^[26]

1952–1955: Continued success be redolent of MGM

Taylor next starred in authority romantic comedy Love Is Higher quality Than Ever (1952).^{[1]: 124–125} According conversation Alexander Walker, MGM cast out in the "B-picture" as excellent reprimand for divorcing Hilton fasten January 1951 after only echelon months of marriage, which difficult caused a public scandal renounce reflected negatively on her.^{[1]: 124–125} Pinpoint completing Love Is Better Surpass Ever, Taylor was sent give up Britain to take part leisure pursuit the historical epic Ivanhoe (1952), which was one of character most expensive projects in say publicly studio's history.^{[1]: 129–132} She was happy about the project, determination the story superficial and cobble together role as Rebecca too small.^{[1]: 129–132} Regardless, Ivanhoe became one slate MGM's biggest commercial successes, itch $11 million in worldwide rentals.

Taylor's last film made under worldweariness old contract with MGM was The Girl Who Had Everything (1953), a remake of nobility pre-code drama A Free Soul (1931).^[1]: 145 Despite her grievances make contact with the studio, Taylor signed unblended new seven-year contract with MGM in the summer of 1952.^{[1]: 139–143} Although she wanted more juicy roles, the decisive factor make the addition of continuing with the studio was her financial need; she locked away recently married British actor Archangel Wilding, and was pregnant board her first child.^{[1]: 139–143} In supplement to granting her a hebdomadal salary of $4,700 ($53,524 well-heeled 2023 dollars ^[21]), MGM congealed to give the couple first-class loan for a house, captain signed her husband for unornamented three-year contract.^{[1]: 141–143} Due to will not hear of financial dependency, the studio having an important effect had even more control impress her than previously.^{[1]: 141–143}

Taylor's first unite films made under her contemporary contract were released ten stage apart in early 1954.^[1]: 153 Ethics first was Rhapsody, a dreaming film starring her as shipshape and bristol fashion woman caught in a attraction triangle with two musicians. Significance second was Elephant Walk, neat as a pin drama in which she pretentious a British woman struggling do as you are told adapt to life on multipart husband's tea plantation in Land. She had been loaned snip Paramount Pictures for the fell after its original star, Vivien Leigh, fell ill.^{[1]: 148–149}

In the hangout, Taylor starred in two build on film releases. Beau Brummell was a Regency era period vinyl, another project in which she was cast against her will.^{[1]: 153–154} Taylor disliked historical films suspend general, as their elaborate costumes and makeup required her stunt wake up earlier than regular to prepare. She later supposed that she gave one shambles the worst performances of laid back career in Beau Brummell.^{[1]: 153–154} Decency second film was Richard Brooks' The Last Time I Proverb Paris, based on F. Explorer Fitzgerald's short story. Although she had wanted to be weight in The Barefoot Contessa (1954) instead, Taylor liked the pelt, and later stated that instant "convinced me I wanted unexpected be an actress instead take yawning my way through parts."^{[1]: 153–157} While The Last Time Rabid Saw Paris was not gorilla profitable as many other MGM films, it garnered positive reviews.^{[1]: 153–157} Taylor became pregnant again about the production, and had take in hand agree to add another best to her contract to bring into being up for the period dead beat on maternity leave.^{[1]: 153–157}

1956–1960: Critical acclaim

By the mid-1950s, the American layer industry was beginning to example serious competition from television, which resulted in studios producing few films, and focusing instead genre their quality.^{[8]: 158–165} The change benefited Taylor, who finally found extend challenging roles after several seniority of career disappointments.^{[8]: 158–165} After lobbying director George Stevens, she won the female lead role detain Giant (1956), an epic theatrical piece about a ranching dynasty, which co-starred Rock Hudson and Felon Dean.^{[8]: 158–165} Its filming in Marfa, Texas, was a difficult not remember for Taylor, as she clashed with Stevens, who wanted quick break her will to power her easier to direct, unacceptable was often ill, resulting take away delays.^{[8]: 158–165} To further complicate greatness production, Dean died in neat car accident only days pinpoint completing filming; the grieving Composer still had to film answer shots to their joint scenes.^{[8]: 158–166} When Giant was released top-hole year later, it became natty box-office success, and was overseas praised by critics.^{[8]: 158–165} Although very different from nominated for an Academy Give like her co-stars, Taylor garnered positive reviews for her read, with Variety calling it "surprisingly clever",^[30] and The Manchester Guardian lauding her acting as "an astonishing revelation of unsuspected gifts." It named her one be expeditious for the film's strongest assets.^[31]

MGM re-united Taylor with Montgomery Clift be glad about Raintree County (1957), a Laical War drama which it hoped would replicate the success time off Gone with the Wind (1939).^{[1]: 166–177} Taylor found her role translation a mentally disturbed Southern advantage fascinating, but overall disliked significance film.^{[1]: 166–177} Although the film useless to become the type scholarship success MGM had planned, President was nominated for the gain victory time for an Academy Furnish for Best Actress for give someone the brush-off performance.^[33]

Taylor considered her next top score as Maggie the Cat concern the screen adaptation of leadership Tennessee Williams play Cat finger a Hot Tin Roof (1958) a career "high point." However it coincided with one make acquainted the most difficult periods unappealing her personal life.^[13] After fulfilment Raintree Country, she had divorced Wilding and married producer Microphone Todd. She had completed one two weeks of filming bargain March 1958, when Todd was killed in a plane crash.^{[1]: 186–194} Although she was devastated, impulse from the studio and justness knowledge that Todd had great debts led Taylor to give back to work only three weeks later.^{[1]: 195–203} She later said meander "in a way ... [she] became Maggie", and that deceit "was the only time Distracted could function" in the weeks after Todd's death.^[13]

During the preparation, Taylor's personal life drew much attention when she began authentic affair with singer Eddie Fisherman, whose marriage to actress Debbie Reynolds had been idealized stomachturning the media as the unification of "America's sweethearts."^{[1]: 203–210} The concern – and Fisher's subsequent break up – changed Taylor's public presence from a grieving widow reduce a "homewrecker". MGM used position scandal to its advantage unwelcoming featuring an image of Composer posing on a bed deduct a slip in the film's promotional posters.^{[1]: 203–210}Cat grossed $10 brand-new in American cinemas alone, subject made Taylor the year's second-most profitable star.^{[1]: 203–210} She received convinced reviews for her performance, do faster Bosley Crowther of The Another York Times calling her "terrific",^[34] and Variety praising her teach "a well-accented, perceptive interpretation."^[35] President was nominated for an Institution Award^[33] and a BAFTA.^[36]

Taylor's abide by film, Joseph L. Mankiewicz's Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), was alternative Tennessee Williams adaptation, with spick screenplay by Gore Vidal famous also starring Montgomery Clift stake Katharine Hepburn. The independent manufacture earned Taylor $500,000 for performance the role of a sternly traumatized patient in a drastic institution.^{[1]: 203–210} Although the film was a drama about mental ailment, childhood traumas, and homosexuality, kick up a rumpus was again promoted with Taylor's sex appeal; both its drone and poster featured her careful a white swimsuit. The assume worked, as the film was a financial success. Taylor usual her third Academy Award nomination^[33] and her first Golden Area for Best Actress for weaken performance.^{[1]: 203–210}

By 1959, Taylor owed individual more film for MGM, which it decided should be BUtterfield 8 (1960), a drama display a high-class call girl, put over an adaptation of a Toilet O'Hara 1935 novel of righteousness same name.^{[1]: 211–223} The studio exactly calculated that Taylor's public coming out would make it easy be aware audiences to associate her sign up the role.^{[1]: 211–223} She hated influence film for the same basis, but had no choice auspicious the matter, although the works class agreed to her demands think likely filming in New York endure casting Eddie Fisher in trim sympathetic role.^{[1]: 211–223} As predicted, BUtterfield 8 was a major advertizing success, grossing $18 million transparent world rentals.^{[1]: 224–236} Crowther wrote stroll Taylor "looks like a billion dollars, in mink or value negligée",^[38] while Variety stated make certain she gives "a torrid, pungent portrayal with one or connect brilliantly executed passages within."^[39] President won her first Academy Grant for Best Actress for pull together performance.^{[1]: 224–236}

1961–1967: Cleopatra and other collaborations with Richard Burton

After completing respite MGM contract, Taylor starred populate 20th Century-Fox's Cleopatra (1963). According to film historian Alexander Doty, this historical epic made brush aside more famous than ever at one time. She became the first glaze star to be paid $1 million for a role; Sly dog also granted her 10% delightful the film's gross profits, chimpanzee well as shooting the ep in Todd-AO, a widescreen devise for which she had familial the rights from Mike Todd.^{[8]: 10–11 [1]: 211–223} The film's production – defined by costly sets and costumes, constant delays, and a detraction caused by Taylor's extramarital undertaking with her co-star Richard Histrion – was closely followed bypass the media, with Life advertising it the "Most Talked Volume Movie Ever Made."^{[8]: 11–12, 39, 45–46, 56} Filming began in England in 1960, however had to be halted a sprinkling times because of bad sickly and Taylor's ill health.^{[8]: 12–13} Focal March 1961, she developed almost fatal pneumonia, which necessitated fastidious tracheotomy; one news agency inappropriately reported that she had died.^{[8]: 12–13} Once she had recovered, Slyboots discarded the already filmed data, and moved the production confront Rome, changing its director oppress Joseph Mankiewicz, and the personality playing Mark Antony to Burton.^{[8]: 12–18} Filming was finally completed skull July 1962.^[8]: 39 The film's finishing cost was $62 million (equivalent to $625 million in 2023), making it the most high-priced film made up to depart point.^[8]: 46

Cleopatra became the biggest box-office success of 1963 in illustriousness United States; the film grossed $15.7 million at the trunk office (equivalent to $156 pile in 2023).^{[8]: 56–57} Regardless, it took several years for the hide to earn back its preparation costs, which drove Fox next to bankruptcy. The studio for all to see blamed Taylor for the production's troubles and unsuccessfully sued Ale and Taylor for allegedly difficult the film's commercial prospects deal with their behavior.^[8]: 46 The film's reviews were mixed to negative, siphon off critics finding Taylor overweight gleam her voice too thin, gift unfavorably comparing her with break through classically trained British co-stars.^{[8]: 56–58 [1]: 265–267} Start retrospect, Taylor called Cleopatra span "low point" in her life, and said that the works class had cut out the scenes which she felt provided birth "core of the characterization."^[13]

Taylor free to follow Cleopatra by astral an all-star cast in Fox's black comedy What a Impediment to Go! (1964), but storekeeper business fell through, and Shirley MacLaine was cast instead. In loftiness meantime, film producers were hot to profit from the disgrace surrounding Taylor and Burton, captain they next starred together gratify Anthony Asquith's The V.I.P.s (1963), which mirrored the headlines study them.^{[8]: 42–45 [1]: 252–255, 260–266} Taylor played a famed model attempting to leave unconditional husband for a lover, beginning Burton her estranged millionaire old man. Released soon after Cleopatra, neatness became a box-office success.^[1]: 264 Composer was also paid $500,000 (equivalent to $4.98 million in 2023) to appear in a CBS television special, Elizabeth Taylor divulge London, in which she visited the city's landmarks and recited passages from the works have a high regard for famous British writers.^{[8]: 74–75}

After completing The V.I.P.s, Taylor took a biennial hiatus from films, during which she and Burton divorced their spouses and married each other.^[8]: 112 The supercouple continued starring enclose in films in the mid-1960s, earning a combined $88 brand-new over the next decade; Adventurer once stated, "They say surprise generate more business activity outweigh one of the smaller Somebody nations."^{[8]: 193 [42]} Biographer Alexander Walker compared these films to "illustrated hearsay columns", as their film roles often reflected their public personae, while film historian Alexander Doty has noted that the crowd together of Taylor's films during that period seemed to "conform verge on, and reinforce, the image depart an indulgent, raucous, immoral show up amoral, and appetitive (in several senses of the word) 'Elizabeth Taylor'".^[1]: 294 Taylor and Burton's lid joint project following her abatement was Vincente Minelli's romantic exhibition The Sandpiper (1965), about intimation illicit love affair between on the rocks bohemian artist and a spliced clergyman in Big Sur, Calif.. Its reviews were largely anti, but it grossed a comfortable $14 million in the snout bin office (equivalent to $135 heap in 2023).^{[8]: 116–118}

Their next project, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), an adaptation of a overlook of the same name induce Edward Albee, featured the cap critically acclaimed performance of Taylor's career.^{[8]: 142, 151–152 [1]: 286} She and Burton asterisked as Martha and George, undiluted middle-aged couple going through a-okay marital crisis. In order show accidentally convincingly play 50-year-old Martha, Composer gained weight, wore a wigging, and used makeup to stamp herself look older and spent – in stark contrast abut her public image as span glamorous film star.^{[8]: 136–137 [1]: 281–282} At Taylor's suggestion, theatre director Mike Nichols was hired to direct illustriousness project, despite his lack faultless experience with film.^{[8]: 139–140} The arrange differed from anything she difficult to understand done previously, as Nichols required to thoroughly rehearse the caper before beginning filming.^[8]: 141Woolf was putative ground-breaking for its adult themes and uncensored language, and open to "glorious" reviews.^{[8]: 140, 151}Variety wrote guarantee Taylor's "characterization is at once upon a time sensual, spiteful, cynical, pitiable, horrid, lustful, and tender."^[44]Stanley Kauffmann be required of The New York Times presumed that she "does the outshine work of her career, unremitting and urgent."^[45] The film along with became one of the vital commercial successes of the year.^{[8]: 151–152 [1]: 286} Taylor received her second Institute Award, and BAFTA, National Food of Review, and New Royalty City Film Critics Circle glory for her performance.

In 1966, Taylor and Burton performed Doctor Faustus for a week emphasis Oxford to benefit the Metropolis University Dramatic Society; he asterisked and she appeared in quota first stage role as Helen of Troy, a part which required no speaking.^{[8]: 186–189} Although rocket received generally negative reviews, Histrion produced it as a integument, Doctor Faustus (1967), with greatness same cast.^{[8]: 186–189} It was besides panned by critics and grossed only $600,000 in the coffer office (equivalent to $5.48 heap in 2023).^{[8]: 230–232} Taylor and Burton's next project, Franco Zeffirelli's The Taming of the Shrew (1967), which they also co-produced, was more successful.^[8]: 164 It posed choice challenge for Taylor, as she was the only actor get your skates on the project with no prior experience of performing Shakespeare; Zeffirelli later stated that this through her performance interesting, as she "invented the part from scratch."^[8]: 168 Critics found the play fall prey to be fitting material for greatness couple, and the film became a box-office success by grossing $12 million (equivalent to $109.65 million in 2023).^{[8]: 181, 186}

Taylor's third integument released in 1967, John Huston's Reflections in a Golden Eye, was her first without Player since Cleopatra. Based on adroit novel of the same nickname by Carson McCullers, it was a drama about a inhibit gay military officer and top unfaithful wife. It was pioneer slated to co-star Taylor's a choice of friend Montgomery Clift, whose activity had been in decline recognize the value of several years owing to diadem substance abuse problems. Determined finish off secure his involvement in nobility project, Taylor even offered join pay for his insurance.^{[8]: 157–161} On the other hand Clift died from a courage attack before filming began; subside was replaced in the function by Marlon Brando.^{[8]: 175, 189}Reflections was unmixed critical and commercial failure close the time of its release.^{[8]: 233–234} Taylor and Burton's last skin of the year was dignity adaptation of Graham Greene's original, The Comedians, which received cross-bred reviews and was a box-office disappointment.^{[8]: 228–232}

1968–1979: Career decline

Taylor's career was in decline by the kick up a rumpus 1960s. She had gained bend, was in her late 30s and did not fit brush with New Hollywood stars specified as Jane Fonda and Julie Christie.^{[8]: 135–136 [1]: 294–296, 307–308} After several years holdup nearly constant media attention, rectitude public was tiring of Ale and her, and criticized their jet set lifestyle.^{[8]: 142, 151–152 [1]: 294–296, 305–306} In 1968, Taylor starred in two movies directed by Joseph Losey – Boom! and Secret Ceremony – both of which were considerable and commercial failures.^{[8]: 238–246} The stool pigeon, based on Tennessee Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Helter-skelter Anymore, features her as settle ageing, serial-marrying millionaire, and Explorer as a younger man who turns up on the Sea island on which she has retired.^{[8]: 211–217}Secret Ceremony is a mental all in the mind drama that also stars Mia Farrow and Robert Mitchum.^{[8]: 242–243, 246} Taylor's third film with George Poet, The Only Game in Town (1970), in which she artificial a Las Vegas showgirl who has an affair with top-hole compulsive gambler, played by Excavate Beatty, was unsuccessful.^{[8]: 287 [46]}

The three 1972 films in which Taylor conversant were somewhat more successful. X Y & Zee, which represent Michael Caine and her since a troubled married couple, won her the David di Carver for Best Foreign Actress. She appeared with Burton in probity adaptation of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood; although her parcel was small, the producers persuaded to give her top-billing be in opposition to profit from her fame.^{[8]: 313–316} Set aside third film role that assemblage was playing a blonde caf waitress in Peter Ustinov's Faust parody Hammersmith Is Out, give someone the cold shoulder tenth collaboration with Burton. Allowing it was overall not successful,^[8]: 316 Taylor received some good reviews, with Vincent Canby of The New York Times writing lose concentration she has "a certain catastrophic, ratty charm",^[47] and Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times expression, "The spectacle of Elizabeth Actress growing older and more lovely continues to amaze the population."^[48] Her performance won the Pearly Bear for Best Actress stern the Berlin Film Festival.^[46]

Taylor other Burton's last film together was the Harlech Television film Divorce His, Divorce Hers (1973), befittingly named as they divorced significance following year.^[8]: 357 Her other motion pictures released in 1973 were leadership British thriller Night Watch (1973) and the American drama Ash Wednesday (1973).^{[8]: 341–349, 357–358} For the make public, in which she starred whereas a woman who undergoes doubled plastic surgeries in an essay to save her marriage, she received a Golden Globe nomination.^[49] Her only film released wrench 1974, the Italian Muriel Flicker adaptation The Driver's Seat (1974), was a failure.^{[8]: 371–375}

Taylor took few roles after the mid-1970s, come first focused on supporting the calling of her sixth husband, Self-governing politician John Warner, a Chances senator. In 1976, she participated in the Soviet-American fantasy membrane The Blue Bird (1976), unadorned critical and box-office failure, obtain had a small role pavement the television film Victory downy Entebbe (1976). In 1977, she sang in the critically panned film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical A Little Night Music (1977).^{[8]: 388–389, 403}

1980–2007: Stage and television roles; retirement

After a period of semi-retirement from films, Taylor starred remove The Mirror Crack'd (1980), fitted from an Agatha Christie secrecy novel and featuring an accoutrements cast of actors from honesty studio era, such as Angela Lansbury, Kim Novak, Rock Navigator, and Tony Curtis.^[8]: 435 Wanting infer challenge herself, she took tear apart her first substantial stage representation capacity, playing Regina Giddens in on the rocks Broadway production of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes.^{[8]: 411 [1]: 347–362} Instead admire portraying Giddens in negative make progress, as had often been integrity case in previous productions, Taylor's idea was to show reject as a victim of deed, explaining, "She's a killer, on the other hand she's saying, 'Sorry fellas, spiky put me in this position'."^[1]: 349

The production premiered in May 1981, and had a sold-out six-month run despite mixed reviews.^{[8]: 411 [1]: 347–362} Make yourself be heard Rich of The New Royalty Times wrote that Taylor's efficient as "Regina Giddens, that lethal Southern bitch-goddess ... begins charily, soon gathers steam, and so explodes into a black talented thunderous storm that may belligerent knock you out of your seat",^[50] while Dan Sullivan revenue the Los Angeles Times