Born in London in 1932 and moving to Los Angeles with her family in the late 1930s, Elizabeth Taylor was primed for stardom from an early age. She made her mark as a child actress in “National Velvet” (1944), a role that catapulted her to fame.

Throughout her career, Taylor was known for her versatility and depth, earning two Academy Awards for her performances in “Butterfield 8” (1960) and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966). Her role in “Cleopatra” (1963) remains one of the most iconic, not just for her acting but for the lavish production that surrounded it.

Taylor’s personal life often mirrored the drama of her films, with eight marriages and a life played out in the full glare of the media. Her relationship with Richard Burton was especially notable, marked by two marriages and numerous joint film projects.

Aside from her film career, Taylor was a dedicated activist, significantly contributing to AIDS awareness and research. After the loss of her friend Rock Hudson, she co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research and established her own Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.