Growing up, I was completely obsessed with old movies.
I owe this to my grandmother (also known as Nano) who introduced me to oldies but goldies like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Some Like it Hot, To Catch a Thief, and Pillow Talk whenever I would spend the night at her house.
While most of my friends were at home watching Barney and coloring, I was dressing up in Nano’s costume jewelry, singing “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” and dreaming of the day when my parents would allow me to dye my hair platinum so I could be glamorous like Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Doris Day. They were all so blonde and gorgeous!
A scene from Cleopatra. Filming began in London in 1960; however, Elizabeth became ill and was rushed to a hospital to have a tracheotomy to save her life. Six months later the production resumed in Rome. Elizabeth Taylor was the first actress to be paid $1 million for the role.
Then one day my madre, Pamela, and I were watching Cleopatra and I saw an entirely different type of movie star – Elizabeth Taylor. I don’t know why I loved Elizabeth Taylor so much – her movies certainly were not geared for 7-year-old audience, she did not sing and most roles were dramatic rather than funny – but I adored her. Her characters were real, outspoken and brave (plus, I always thought she looked like my mom). I immediately begged by mom to take me to the movie store so we could get other Liz Taylor classic films. We loved Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (“Maggie the cat is alive!!”), Giant, Father’s Little Dividend and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
Elizabeth had a daughter, Liza, with her third husband Mike Todd in 1957. Todd, a film producer, died in a plane crash on March 22, 2958. Prior to the accident he had told friends – "It is a good, safe plane. I wouldn't let it crash. I'm taking along a picture of Elizabeth and I wouldn't let anything happen to her."
Even now I have a portrait of Elizabeth in my home – reminding me that you can’t go wrong when you stay true to yourself. She was not an angel, but she was a blessing to her children. She used her celebrity to raise AIDS awareness. Her life was filled with loss and love. She was the most beautiful woman in the world and my favorite movie star.
Elizabeth with Richard Burton. The pair, who fell in love on the set of Cleopatra, famously married twice. She reportedly called Burton (husband #5 &6) and Todd (husband #3) the two great loves of her life.
I was sad to hear that she passed away March 23, 2011.
"I've been through it all, baby. I'm mother courage."
Due to illnesses, Taylor stayed out of the spotlight for many years prior to her death, focusing not on movies, but on The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (which raised an estimated $270 million during her lifetime) and perfume sales (Passion by Elizabeth Taylor is my Nano’s favorite – and what I buy her for Christmas every year). The February issue of Harper’s Bazaar published an article where modern glamour girl Kim Kardashian interviewed her idol – Ms. Taylor.
Kim Kardashian models a robe worn by Taylor in the movie Cleopatra for Harper's Bazaar.
Here is an excerpt from the magazine:
KIM KARDASHIAN: You are my idol. But I’m six husbands and some big jewels behind. What should I do?
LIZ TAYLOR: I never planned to acquire a lot of jewels or a lot of husbands. For me, life happened, just as it does for anyone else. I have been supremely lucky in my life in that I have known great love, and of course I am the temporary custodian of some incredible and beautiful things. But I have never felt more alive than when I watched my children delight in something, never more alive than when I have watched a great artist perform, and never richer than when I have scored a big check to fight AIDS. Follow your passion, follow your heart, and the things you need will come.
Kim Kardashian: I am a huge Elizabeth Taylor nerd, as will now become clear. You have the world’s most iconic jewelry collection. Of your three most famous diamond rings— a 29.4-carat from Mike Todd, the Krupp diamond at 33.19 carats, or the Taylor-Burton 69.42-carat diamond—which one meant the most? Does size matter?
Liz Taylor: The Krupp is an extraordinary stone. It has such life and brilliance when light shines through it. Size does matter, but so does the size of the emotion behind it.
Richard Burton gave Elizabeth the 33.19 carat Krupp Diamond in 1968.
Kim Kardashian: It is coming up on the 20th anniversary of your classic fragrance, White Diamonds. Could you have imagined it would do so well? How does a lady smell good for life?
Liz Taylor: I always wanted to have a fragrance, and I always wanted to be able to connect with people in ways other than through film. Fragrance is an incredibly intimate thing. It can evoke very specific thoughts or memories and is a little different for each person who wears it. I also think it’s the most accessible luxury. I had no idea that White Diamonds would become a classic when we began, but I am thrilled it has because it means we have really succeeded in giving women a little bit of luxury every day. It is very special to me, and we certainly plan to celebrate this anniversary all year!
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Great job, Sabrina. Elizabeth Taylor was my favorite movie star, too. I thought she was very beautiful. What she said is very true … big girls need big diamonds!!