Hadleigh - Elizabeth taylor - tribute to a legend

As always, Ronald Boze supplied the most help, with the welcome bonus of clippings galore via Linda Fresia.

I thank my agents Stephen A. Fraser and Jennifer De Chiara, editor Rick Rinehart, editor Ellen Urban, and publicist Jessica Kastner.

Also Dr. Jeffrey Brettler, Andrew Budgell, Tyler Cassity, Charles Coffman, Rick Egusquiza, E. J. Fleming, Jim Key, Robert Kovacik, Jerry Kunz and Richard Winger, Eric Larson, Chad Oberhausen, Shawn Pelofsky, Andrew Pincus, Aimee Rand, Greg Schreiner, Roy Stone, Marilyn Taniguchi, and Harry Walders.

Interested Taylor fans may wish to visit, among other quality websites, DameElizabethTaylor.com, fanpop.com, and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation at etaf.com.

Photos courtesy of Photofest: Pages 10, 15, 24, 34, 41, 42, 49, 55, 61, 66, 71, 76, 81, 86, 95, 103, 113, 134, 140, 148, 153; Photos courtesy of MGM/Photofest: Pages iv, 5, 29, 90; Photos courtesy of Paramount/Photofest: Page 38; Photos courtesy of Warner Bros./Photofest: Page 108; Photos courtesy of Columbia Pictures/Photofest: Page 126 (Photographer: Bob Penn); Photos courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox/Photofest: Pages 130 (Photographer: Bob Penn), 158

What a life! A spectacular career, yes. Spectacular looks, of course. But its the ups and downsthe drama, including the husbands and the deaths and divorces and illnessesthat keep Elizabeth Taylor on top. She fascinates a global public.

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar

Her own life was as watchable as anything she ever played. Meryl Streep

She and Marilyn were the most magnetic beauties of the 20th centuryone light, one dark. If you study their photos, Monroe was usually smiling and Taylor usually wasnt. But no wonder, with all she went through. Elizabeth Taylor was the ultimate survivor.

Matt Damon

Theres a line in the Stephen Sondheim song Im Still Here about a sloe-eyed vamp. It reminds me of Elizabeth Taylor. Mila Kunis

Elizabeth Taylor has had the most dramatic life of any movie star. With the whole world watching every step and misstep. Carol Burnett, friend and costar (Between Friends)

When the Vatican publicly denounced her for erotic vagrancy, it did get to her. But Elizabeth kept her cool. She kept it in perspective and simply asked, Can I sue the Pope? Roddy McDowall, friend and costar (Cleopatra)

From what Ive read, Elizabeth Taylor was popular for a long time mainly for her looks. But she went so beyond that and did so much more with her life. For acting she received two Academy Awards, and later another Oscar for her AIDS and charity work.

Kate Beckinsale

Of course Elizabeth had vanity. Otherwise she wouldnt have lookedor presentedthe way she did, which people enjoyed looking at. But she wasnt narcissistic. Big difference. costume designer Nolan Miller

Not since royalty and empires has one woman owned so many magnificent gems and diamonds. Most royals, like you see in old paintings, were ugly but wore beautiful jewelrymaybe thats why. Elizabeth Taylor, you can see in hundreds of photos, looked gorgeous wearing beautiful jewelry.

Francesca Hilton, daughter of Zsa Zsa Gabor and hotelier Conrad Hilton

Its sad to think that since her passing, Elizabeth Taylors diamond collection has been scattered to the highest-bidder-at-auction winds. Julianne Moore

I sometimes wear Elizabeth Taylors White Diamonds [perfume]. Why not? Dont tell me diamonds have a gender. actor-comedian Andy Dick

One of my most favorite fragrances is [Elizabeth Taylors] Violet Eyes. Now you can also buy violet contact lenses! Charo, Spanish comedian-singer-guitarist

The word spectacular has the same root as spectator. It means to look. Elizabeth Taylor was typically a spectacle to behold. Or else she was making a spectacle of herself.

British actress Stephanie Beacham

Her life became a continuing soap opera, but because it was real and so full of glamour, wealth, and romance, not to mention controversy, it was more interesting than any TV soap opera. publicist Dale Olson

Fifty percent of all box-office income in 196667 was made from movies starring one or other or both Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. film distributor Harry Walders

She was in the news constantly during her two marriages to Richard Burton. But she was hardly unpublicized before him. Or after him. Elizabeth attracted publicity like a magnet Jane Fonda

At least one of her marriages was publicity-orientedto politico John Warner. She later said it had been a mistake... they differed so much. For all her ultra-feminine display, Elizabeth Taylor was very strong. Regardless, Warner banned any reference to the Equal Rights Amendment during his campaign, of which his wife was the centerpiece.

journalist Shana Alexander

A woman like you could probably help get me elected senator.

John Warners pre-ET proposal to Barbara Walters, which she declined

The Taylor-Warner relationship could be interpreted as pro-celebrity from both sides. He won his race with her help. And she, middle-aged and no longer a Hollywood lead, went east for a new spotlight and a temporary career as Mrs. Politician... and got fat in the process. Then she divorced, lost the fat, regained her looks, and started over again. People were agog. Entertainment Tonight writer Wayne Warga

So the irony is that Senator John Warner, thanks to a pro-gay, somewhat pro-feminist celebrity, is in office for thirty years and gets to vote against gay rights and womens rights. That is extremely ironic.

Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? playwright Edward Albee

Liz Taylor is the most publicized movie star of them all. Marilyn would compete for the title, except she didnt live long enough. The other contender is Garbo, but she avoided publicity and retired early, even though unwanted publicity continued to pursue her.

film historian Douglas Whitney

Her timing was very lucky indeed. Had she been born ten years earlier, or even six like Marilyn Monroe, the Fisher-Reynolds scandal would have stopped Taylors career cold. Contrariwise, had Monroe been born six or ten years later and lived, she could have transitioned to a dramatic actress less dependent on her sex appeal.

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) agent Rick Marroquin

In the 1950s and into the 60s Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor were roundly criticized by the media and morality groups. In different ways, for different reasons. Marilyn for being too sexy and turning the male public on too much. Liz for being too sexual and aggressive in turning specific men on too much, taking them away from their wives and kids. You can see in retrospect that Marilyn did nothing wrong. She was blameless. Liz Taylor did bust up some famous households.

Susan Strasberg, actress and daughter of Marilyn Monroes acting coach, Lee Strasberg

She was one of the great beauties of history, and played some of the great beauties of history. She was criticized for both... I dont think if Elizabeth Taylor had been a man shed have gotten half the denunciations she did. It was a much more patriarchal time.

Angelina Jolie

When a mans terrific-looking hes quietly or secretly put down. If he marries, the criticism dies down, like a Rock Hudson, and if he also has kids, like Tyrone Power, it tends to die out. But if a womans terrific-looking, like Marilyn or Liz or Ava [Gardner] and she doesnt stay married to one man, shes wild and has to be contained and limited. actress Nedra Volz (