Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor washing her dog, 1950s

“She was the most beautiful child I have ever seen. She did not walk, she danced. She was so merry, so full of love for every living thing, whether it was a person, or an animal, or a flower. She had a lovely singing voice, too. I don’t know why they never did anything with it. At that time, you didn’t know what she’d be. But you knew she’d be something.” -Andrea Cowdin, recalling meeting Elizabeth in 1940.

Elizabeth on the set of The Sandpiper (1965).

Elizabeth Taylor in her dressing room during the filming of ‘The Sandpiper’, 1965.

“She was the archetype of a mother: strong, protective, loving, comforting and funny,” says her granddaughter Laela Wilding.

(Photos by Roddy McDowall.) 

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor: “The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.”

Elizabeth Taylor. 

Truly charismatic people, in my experience, don’t come along very often. You can be revered for all sorts of qualities, but to be truly charismatic is rare. Elizabeth Taylor was, for me, one of those rarities. - Francesca Annis

Elizabeth Taylor photographed on the set of Giant by Peter Basch, 1955.