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 Legendary Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor, died on 23rd March at age of 79. The heart-throb, whose purple eyes, turbulent romantic life, electrifying screen presence and passion for diamonds epitomized Hollywood glamour, was being treated for congestive heart failure.
Taylor was born on February 27, 1932, in London to American parents. She moved to the United States as a child and soon after her 10th birthday landed the lead in the 1942 film 'Lassie Come Home'.
In a career spanning seven decades, Taylor first gained fame in 1944's 'National Velvet' at age 12 and was nominated for five Oscars. Taylor won two Academy awards for best actress - for her performances as a call girl in the 1960 film ' Butterfield 8' and as Martha in 1966 for the film 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?'. One of her significant roles includes that of Cleopatra in 1961 during which she fell in love with actor Richard Burton, whom she married twice.
 Taylor continued working through the 1970s, '80s and '90s, taking a variety of roles in movies and on television. Some of her notable films include 'Giant' with James Dean, 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof', 'Suddenly Last Summer', 'The Taming of the Shrew', 'Under Milkwood' and 'The Sandpiper'. In 1992, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave her its humanitarian honour. Her last movie was the 1994 live action comedy "The Flintstones". In 1999, Taylor received the title "Dame", the female equivalent of a knighthood, from Queen Elizabeth.
Taylor's eight marriages, health problems, prescription drug addiction and ballooning weight often overshadowed her career, but she overcame adversity and used her fame to advocate for causes such as AIDS, education and research.
 Her death triggered an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood luminaries like Barbra Streisand, recording stars such as Elton John and politicians including former president Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In a joint statement, the Clintons called her "thoroughly American royalty." Bollywood celebrities took to micro-blogging site Twitter mourning her death. Amitabh Bachchan, in his blog said, 'Another sad moment! Elizabeth Taylor passes away! God's creation in abundance ... now reduced to dust! The way for all someday'. Director Madhur Bhandarkar wrote, 'Elizabeth Taylor, the ultimate iconic actress, RIP. The world will never forget the role of immortal Cleopatra'.
Recently, although often seen in a wheelchair, her famously purple eyes never lost sparkle. In a heavily male-dominated world, she also embodied the phrase, 'living life queen-size'.
Sweety Kothari, AIR Casual Reporter, Mumbai |
