Actress Liz Taylor, who has been married seven times, died of heart failure in March 2011 in Los Angeles at the age of 79.
On March 23, 2011, one of the last great movie stars died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles: Elizabeth Taylor. He was 79 years old. After seven decades in the world of cinema and more than 50 films behind her, Taylor was not only the leading lady in unforgettable productions like Cleopatra or Suddenly, Last Summer, but she was also a woman who attracted attention worldwide for her private life : She had seven husbands and eight marriages. She was also addicted to alcohol and drugs.
The journalist writes in the artist’s first authorized biography, Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit & Glamor of an Icon, which has just been published in the USA Kate Andersen Brower offers unprecedented data on this woman who dazzled on the big screen.
With family permission to search the actress’ archives and personal material (including 7,358 letters and notes) and interviews with 250 of Taylor’s closest loved ones and other acquaintances, the author attempted to document the life of the legendary star, with whom he spoke to the people who knew her best on set.
Demi Moore, Carol Burnett Y Colin Farell, were some of the personalities willing to give their testimonies for the book. The actress’ four children and even some of Liz’s former loves such as George Hamilton, Robert Wagner and her last husband, Senator John WarnerThe journalist, who died in May 2021, also allowed the journalist to inquire about Taylor’s past.
Liz Taylor and Richard Burton on their wedding day in March 1964
Using testimonies from her family and Taylor’s files, the author was able to tell the story of an actress who battled addiction, was a victim of abuse, or fought for AIDS in the 1980s.
“He said his whole life has been a struggleBrower explains. “Her resilience was refusing to be a victim. Once his father beat him up and he hit him because he felt intimidated because his 12-year-old daughter was making more money as a child star than he was,” says the writer.
“They reconciled when she was 20 years old, but the fact of the matter is that she didn’t allow herself to be bullied. But she got back up like she almost died of pneumonia at 20, and it went on and on. It never gave up”he adds in his book.
Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra in 1963 directed by Joseph (Getty Images)
“To be able to go through his life, read his inner thoughts and find out how he was psychologically working on the things that were happening to him all the time. And also, how empathetic she was to other people, how she fought to be a working mother of four, she fought to love… I think there was a lot more to her than we could see,” she said Brower in an interview with People magazine. .
The book also reveals a flirtation with the director David Lynchwhat happened at the 1987 post-Oscars party where they shared a kiss: “I slowly leaned forward, approaching her lips, but was mesmerized by those violet eyes.‘ the director recalls. “I saw those eyes close as we kissed, and then close mine. We are entering a dream. I will never forget”.
Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner
His addiction is another of the great revelations of the biography. Taylor shared about her struggle to overcome her drug addiction in numerous letters to various people. It is one of her children, Chris Wilding, the result of her marriage to the English actor Michael Wildingwho has spoken of some of the most dramatic episodes of the 1970s when her mother was on medication demerol, which was administered intravenously: “Her son said that Elizabeth had a completely blank look when she handed him a syringe so that he could administer the dose,” explains the journalist in an interview with People. “There was always a void she was trying to fill.”
“Elizabeth said her whole life was like a struggle,” reveals Brower.
He also references episodes of abuse he has suffered from his partners; One of the most violent was during her marriage to the actor vortex fisherman, her fourth husband who He pointed a pistol at her temple. “Don’t worry, you’re too beautiful to kill yourself,” he told her. Elizabeth said being married to him was “like slow suicide,” Brower explains, “so she had to go. She’s been getting out of those abusive situations her whole life, but I think what’s special about her is that she always thought she’d be better off married.”
According to the journalist, the actress’ children have thanked her for her work, although they have admitted that they found episodes hard to digest, “but they also learned things from their mother by reading it, because their lives encompassed so much.” that no one was there to see it.
Colin Farrell offered details of the “romantic relationship” he had with Liz Taylor
The bio also reveals more details of the romance with the Irish actor Colin Farell44 years younger than her.
While he doesn’t like to talk about his loves and accomplishments, Farrell opened up about the platonic relationship he had with the legendary actress in the final days of his life.
The story – told by the actor – was like this. While he was in the Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles in late 2009 for being the father of Henry, his second son, he learned the legendary actress was hospitalized with a heart problem. He did not hesitate and sent her a bouquet of flowers. He was convinced that the diva did not know him. But I was wrong. Liz returned his attention with another bouquet of flowers and a note in her own handwriting. That’s how it all started.
After a brief meeting, the actor spoke to Taylor’s agent to request a private tour of the star’s home: “Elizabeth was intrigued,” Brewer writes. “His Irish accent and reputation for nonconformity reminded him of his mistress Richard Burton“.
Their first meeting was at Taylor’s Bel Air mansion, where Farrell brought a copy of Yeats’s poetry as a gift. “He told her that if she ever wanted him to come back and read her poetry, he would be happy to follow her,” the biographer says. Taylor then wrote to the actor, “What a pleasure to meet you… You remind me of so many good things… so many happy things. Thanks for being so real.”
“He kept going back and reading to her,” says Brewer. “She would sit in a chair next to her bed and occasionally put on recordings of Richard reading poetry.”
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A decade later, in 2013, Farell revealed some details of that relationship during an interview. “That was the beginning of a year and a half or two of a very special relationship.‘ the interpreter confessed during his time on the Ellen DeGeneres program in 2018.
“She was a spectacular woman. For me, at least in my mind, it was the last romantic relationship I’ve ever had. Although it was never finishedsaid the actor, who explained that they both had long, late-night phone calls.
“We talked about everything. Poetry, food, travel… Not so much about cinema. To my friends’ despair, I never asked him about James Dean or Montgomery Clift. She didn’t sleep much at night like me, so I called her at two in the morning. I sat in my garden and we talked for hours,” said the then 34-year-old Irish actor.
“I loved her, I still do, and I was lucky enough to be friends with her for the last two years of her life. It was a wonderful friendship that fell from heaven‘ the actor stated of the iconic Hollywood star. “I wanted to be husband number eight, but we ran out of time.”.
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