--- name: "Elizabeth Taylor" canonical: "https://film.one/person/elizabeth-taylor-3635" roles: ["Actor"] born: "27 February 1932" died: "23 March 2011" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 72 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-20T02:18:25.003127+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Elizabeth Taylor Actor. Born 27 February 1932 in Hampstead, London, England, UK. Died 23 March 2011. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 27 February 1932, Hampstead, London, England, UK - **Died:** 23 March 2011 - **Active:** 1950–1963 - **Also known as:** Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, Liz Taylor, La Liz, Kitten, Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor - **Frequently works with:** [Pandro S. Berman](https://film.one/person/pandro-s-berman.md) - **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscars (2 won · 3 nominated) - **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 76 (3), 1960s 60 (1) - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 3 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Romance 4, Drama 3, History 2, Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1 - **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $76m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Taylor, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34851, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000072/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3635 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*Ivanhoe*](https://film.one/film/ivanhoe.md) (70) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Elizabeth Taylor > Elizabeth Taylor never had a lesson and never needed one when the part let her want something. Watchful and quick in the right room, she is at her best as a woman arguing, and at her weakest when asked only to be adored. She is unrolled from a carpet at Caesar's feet in *Cleopatra* (1963), and Rex Harrison, instead of gasping, asks her what she wants. Watch what Taylor does with the question. She does not simper and she does not pose; she thinks, and we can see the arithmetic. That is the Taylor we trust: watchful, quick, with something to argue about and a man across the table to argue it with. In the first half of Joseph L. Mankiewicz's film she is a politician, and she is good at it. She had no training and never claimed any. A child under contract at MGM after a 1942 debut, she became a star with *National Velvet* (1944), and the 1950s moved her into grown-up parts, in *A Place in the Sun* (1951), in *Giant* (1956), and above all in Tennessee Williams, with *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1958). Williams suited her. His women are volatile and will not be told, and Taylor could do volatile without a run-up. Three of her films in these years were with Montgomery Clift. The 1960s were the peak, and Richard Burton was the other half of it: eleven films together, most of them about couples who fight because they cannot leave. *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* (1966), with Taylor as Martha, is the one most critics point to when they want to prove she could act, and we would not argue. *Cleopatra* is the odder case. We were sad, somewhere past the three-hour mark, and not for Egypt. Once Burton arrives, the script hands the two of them one quarrel after another, each ending in a monologue, so that lovers who are supposed to be unable to keep apart are never quiet in the same room. Taylor is better as a politician than as a lover here, and we think the writing did that to her, not the reverse. The case against her is the obvious one: that she played versions of herself, and that when the writing thinned the lack of technique showed. There is something in it. She could not hide behind a voice or a walk; when the part was not there, neither was she. After the mid-1970s she worked less often, in film, on television and on stage, and the films that did come were mostly judged lesser, *The Flintstones* (1994) among them. She would not have disputed the technique point. She said herself that whatever talent she had was not technique at all, but instinct. Instinct is a good servant and a poor employer. Give her a room, an opponent and a reason, and she is as alive as anyone the studios produced. Give her a throne and a man to gaze at, and she waits, politely, for somebody to write her a line. ## Biography Elizabeth Taylor was a British-American actress. Born in London to American parents, she began her career as a child actress under contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. She appeared in films including *National Velvet* (1944), *Giant* (1956), *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1958), *Suddenly, Last Summer* (1959) and *Butterfield 8* (1960), for which she received the Academy Award for Best Actress. Taylor played the title role in *Cleopatra* (1963) and won a second Academy Award for *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* (1966). She collaborated with Richard Burton on several films after their meeting on the set of *Cleopatra*. From the mid-1970s Taylor appeared less frequently in film and took on occasional roles in television and theatre. She received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and was appointed DBE in 2001. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *Cleopatra* (1963), Fi1m 60, as Cleopatra — [page](https://film.one/film/cleopatra.md) - *Ivanhoe* (1952), Fi1m 70, as Rebecca — [page](https://film.one/film/ivanhoe.md) - *A Place in the Sun* (1951), Fi1m 81, as Angela Vickers — [page](https://film.one/film/a-place-in-the-sun.md) - *Father of the Bride* (1950), Fi1m 77, as Kay Banks — [page](https://film.one/film/father-of-the-bride.md) ## Complete filmography (96) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Mythos Côte d'Azur - Liebe, Luxus, Leidenschaft* (2021), Actor - *Andy Warhol, Fluorescent* (2016), as (archive footage) - *Destins secrets d’étoiles - Grace, Jackie, Liz, Marilyn…* (2015), Actor - *Bert Stern - Original Madman* (2011), Actor - *Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored* (2011), as (archive footage) - *Edith Head: The Paramount Years* (2002), as (archive footage) - *Bride of Trailer Camp* (2001), as (archive footage) - *These Old Broads* (2001), as Beryl Mason - *God, the Devil and Bob* (2000), series, as Sarah (voice) - *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor - *High Society* (1995), series, as Elizabeth Taylor (voice) - *Can't Hurry Love* (1995), series, as Elizabeth Taylor - *That's Entertainment! III* (1994), as (archive footage) (uncredited) - *The Flintstones* (1994), as Pearl Slaghoople - *The Nanny* (1993), series, as Elizabeth Taylor - *Captain Planet and the Planeteers* (1990), series, as Mrs. Andrews - *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Maggie Simpson (voice), Elizabeth Taylor (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) - *Sweet Bird of Youth* (1989), as Alexandra Del Lago - *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Elizabeth Taylor — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md) - *Young Toscanini* (1988), as Nadina Bulichoff - *Poker Alice* (1987), as Alice Moffit - *There Must Be a Pony* (1986), as Marguerite Sydney - *An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.* (1986), Actor - *North and South* (1985), series, as Madam Conti, Madame Conti - *George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey* (1985), as (archive footage) - *Malice in Wonderland* (1985), as Louella Parsons - *Between Friends* (1983), as Deborah Shapiro - *Hotel* (1982), series, Actor - *Genocide* (1982), as Narrator (voice) - *The Mirror Crack'd* (1980), as Marina Rudd - *Winter Kills* (1979), as Lola Comante (uncredited) - *Return Engagement* (1978), as Dr. Emily Loomis - *A Little Night Music* (1977), as Desiree Armfeldt - *Victory at Entebbe* (1976), as Edra Vilnofsky - *That's Entertainment, Part II* (1976), as (archive footage) - *The Blue Bird* (1976), as Queen of Light/Mother/Witch/Maternal Love - *Identikit* (1974), as Lise - *Night Watch* (1973), as Ellen Wheeler - *Ash Wednesday* (1973), as Barbara Sawyer - *Divorce His, Divorce Hers* (1973), series, as Jane Reynolds - *Divorce His - Divorce Hers* (1973), as Jane Reynolds - *Hammersmith Is Out* (1972), as Jimmie Jean Jackson - *Under Milk Wood* (1972), as Rosie Probert - *Zee and Co.* (1972), as Zee Blakeley - *The Only Game in Town* (1970), as Fran Walker - *The Happy Ending* (1969), as Kay Banks (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Anne of the Thousand Days* (1969), as Masked Courtesan (uncredited) - *Secret Ceremony* (1968), as Leonora - *Here's Lucy* (1968), series, as Elizabeth Taylor - *Boom!* (1968), as Flora 'Sissy' Goforth - *The Comedians* (1967), as Martha Pineda - *Reflections in a Golden Eye* (1967), as Leonora Penderton - *Omnibus* (1967), series, Actor - *Doctor Faustus* (1967), as Helen of Troy - *Mondo Hollywood* (1967), Actor - *The Taming of the Shrew* (1967), as Katharina - *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* (1966), as Martha - *The Sandpiper* (1965), as Laura Reynolds - *Becket* (1964), as Blonde Village Woman (uncredited) - *The Caretaker* (1964), Associate Producer - *The V.I.P.s* (1963), as Frances Andros - *Cleopatra* (1963), as Cleopatra — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/cleopatra.md) - *Lykke og krone* (1962), Actor - *BUtterfield 8* (1960), as Gloria Wandrous - *Scent of Mystery* (1960), as Woman of Mystery - *Suddenly, Last Summer* (1959), as Catherine Holly - *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1958), as Maggie Pollitt - *Raintree County* (1957), as Susanna Drake Shawnessy - *Giant* (1956), as Leslie Lynnton Benedict - *The Last Time I Saw Paris* (1954), as Helen Ellswirth - *Beau Brummell* (1954), as Lady Patricia - *Elephant Walk* (1954), as Ruth Wiley - *Rhapsody* (1954), as Louise Durant - *The Girl Who Had Everything* (1953), as Jean Latimer - *Ivanhoe* (1952), as Rebecca — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/ivanhoe.md) - *Love Is Better Than Ever* (1952), as Anastacia (Stacie) Macaboy - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Dr. Emily Loomis - *Callaway Went Thataway* (1951), as Elizabeth Taylor (uncredited) - *Quo Vadis* (1951), as Christian Prisoner in Arena (uncredited) — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/quo-vadis.md) - *A Place in the Sun* (1951), as Angela Vickers — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/a-place-in-the-sun.md) - *Father's Little Dividend* (1951), as Kay Dunstan - *The Big Hangover* (1950), as Mary Belney - *Father of the Bride* (1950), as Kay Banks — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/father-of-the-bride.md) - *Conspirator* (1949), as Melinda Greyton - *Little Women* (1949), as Amy - *Julia Misbehaves* (1948), as Susan Packett - *A Date with Judy* (1948), as Carol Pringle - *Life with Father* (1947), as Mary Skinner - *Cynthia* (1947), as Cynthia Bishop - *Courage of Lassie* (1946), as Kathie Eleanor Merrick - *National Velvet* (1945), as Velvet Brown - *The White Cliffs of Dover* (1944), as Betsy Kenney at Age 10 (uncredited) - *Twenty Years After* (1944), as (archive footage) - *Jane Eyre* (1943), as Helen Burns - *Lassie Come Home* (1943), as Priscilla - *There's One Born Every Minute* (1942), as Gloria Twine ## Gallery - ![Elizabeth Taylor](https://film.one/media/person/1226860/gallery-d0d23414f867.jpg) Elizabeth Taylor — Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Elizabeth_Taylor_with_Kennedy_award.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Elizabeth Taylor performing (together with Bob Hope) in a United Service Organization (USO) show aboard the training aircraft carrier USS Lexington (AVT 16) sta (1986)](https://film.one/media/person/1226860/gallery-78dd36c94af9.jpg) Elizabeth Taylor performing (together with Bob Hope) in a United Service Organization (USO) show aboard the training aircraft carrier USS Lexington (AVT 16) sta (1986) — BobHopeElizabethTaylorUSOMay1986.jpg: PH1 Blakemore derivative work: Lady Whistler (talk), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/ElizabethTaylor_1986_cropped2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Theater advertisement for the film, Lassie Come Home. 16 December, 1943.](https://film.one/media/person/1226860/gallery-7e0481862d24.png) Theater advertisement for the film, Lassie Come Home. 16 December, 1943. — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Lassie_Come_Home_-_Theatre_ad_-_16_December%2C_1943.png/1280px-Lassie_Come_Home_-_Theatre_ad_-_16_December%2C_1943.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Elizabeth Taylor](https://film.one/media/person/1226860/gallery-3bdea6082f50.jpg) Elizabeth Taylor — Image via TMDB - ![Elizabeth Taylor](https://film.one/media/person/1226860/gallery-41eb4f2bfde2.jpg) Elizabeth Taylor — Image via TMDB - ![Elizabeth Taylor](https://film.one/media/person/1226860/gallery-500ca48dd759.jpg) Elizabeth Taylor — Image via TMDB - ![Elizabeth Taylor](https://film.one/media/person/1226860/gallery-1466817d65d7.jpg) Elizabeth Taylor — Image via TMDB - ![Elizabeth Taylor](https://film.one/media/person/1226860/gallery-4d082163a085.jpg) Elizabeth Taylor — Image via TMDB - ![Elizabeth Taylor](https://film.one/media/person/1226860/gallery-d2d75e401618.jpg) Elizabeth Taylor — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 2 won, 3 nominated - 1967: Best Actress (won), for *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* - 1961: Best Actress (won), for *BUtterfield 8* - 1960: Best Actress (nominated), for *Suddenly, Last Summer* - 1959: Best Actress (nominated), for *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* - 1958: Best Actress (nominated), for *Raintree County* ### BAFTA Film Awards — 2 won - 1999: BAFTA Fellowship (won) - 1966: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* ### Golden Globes — 2 won - 1984: Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (won) - 1960: Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *Suddenly, Last Summer* ### SAG Awards — 1 won - 1998: Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (won) ### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won - 1972: Best Actress (won), for *Hammersmith Is Out* ### Other awards — 14 won, 1 nominated - Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award 2011: Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award (won) - California Hall of Fame 2007: California Hall of Fame (won) - Britannia Awards 2005: Britannia Awards (won), for *Excellency* - GLAAD Vanguard Award 2000: GLAAD Vanguard Award (won) - Marian Anderson Award 2000: Marian Anderson Award (won) - Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire 1999: Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (won) - AFI Life Achievement Award 1993: AFI Life Achievement Award (won) - Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award 1993: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (won) - Knight of the Legion of Honour 1987: Knight of the Legion of Honour (won) - Crystal Award 1985: Crystal Award (won) - Theatre World Special Award 1981: Theatre World Special Award (won) - Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1981: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated) - Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year 1977: Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year (won) - David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress 1972: David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress (won), for *Zee and Co.* - National Board of Review Award for Best Actress 1966: National Board of Review Award for Best Actress (won), for *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/elizabeth-taylor-3635