Remembering Elizabeth Taylor

The Takeaway

Elizabeth Taylor died Wednesday morning at the age of 79. From “National Velvet” to “Cleopatra” her brilliant presence on the screen would win her two Academy Awards. She won her first for her performance in the 1961 “Butterfield 8” and her second for her electrifying role opposite Richard Burton in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” She was known for her violet eyes, beauty, talent and her off-screen drama and multiple marriages. Movie star, entertainer, and an image of womanhood for more than a generation, Elizabeth Taylor was rarely able to make constructive use of her great appetite for life– she once said: “Where the heart leads, I follow.”

Are you with The World?

The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.