On Friday, October 3rd, Taylor Swift dropped her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, featuring a track named “Elizabeth Taylor.” I bet you have probably heard that name before — but do you actually know the story behind this Hollywood legend?
The career of a Hollywood star
Elizabeth Taylor’s career began early, she was just 10 years old when she played Gloria Twine in There’s One Born Every Minute (1942). From that moment on, her rise to fame never stopped. Throughout her life, Liz Taylor — as she was often called — appeared in over 50 films, becoming one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history.
One of her most iconic roles was in Cleopatra (1963), where she portrayed the Egyptian queen herself. Other major hits include Raintree County (1957), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), Butterfield 8 (1960), and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966). These roles earned her five Academy Award nominations for Best Actress — and she won twice, placing her among the most celebrated women in the category.
Elizabeth also used her fame for good. She was one of the first, and few, celebrities to publicly speak out about the HIV/AIDS epidemic, saying: “It’s bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance”. In 1991, she founded The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which remains active even after her passing in 2011.
A scandalous love life
Despite her successful career, Elizabeth’s personal life often overshadowed her professional achievements. Her love life became a major topic of gossip, she was married eight times to seven different men, twice the same one. Being such a powerful public figure, her relationships were constantly under scrutiny.
The violet-eyed actress wasn’t only known for her romances, like the one with Richard Burton — mentioned in Swift’s song …Ready For It? (“And he can be my jailer, Burton to this Taylor”) — but also for her glamour. She was obsessed with jewelry, often seen wearing diamonds, rubies, and emeralds in every possible form: earrings, necklaces, rings, and tiaras.
The two Taylors
Taylor Swift and Elizabeth Taylor actually have a lot in common — both are highly influential women who defined their generations. Elizabeth’s life was intensely public, sparking both admiration and criticism, just like Swift’s. “She’s always someone that I’ve looked up to as being this very glamorous, very beloved, but for some reason a polarizing figure which I’ve found myself in that place, too” Swift said in an interview at Elvis Duran Show.
In the song “Elizabeth Taylor,” Swift includes direct nods to the actress, like “I’d cry my eyes violet”, a reference to her famous eye color, and “white diamonds”, her signature perfume. Swift uses Elizabeth as an imaginary confidant, asking her for advice about love. The lyrics explore how both women managed to achieve incredible success while being judged for their romantic lives.
When the tribute was announced, Elizabeth’s son Christopher Wilding told TMZ that he hopes the song inspires young women, saying he sees both Taylors as “positive role models for young girls.” He added that if they’d ever met, they probably would’ve gotten along perfectly.
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The article above was edited by Maria Esther Cortez.
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