When Elizabeth Taylor, the Hollywood legend who won two Oscars and helped forge modern celebrity activism, passed away in 2011, many assumed her story was already fully told. Yet the spring of 2024 has turned that notion on its head.
Two fresh releases – an authorized biography by best‑selling author Kate Andersen Brower and HBO’s documentary Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes directed by Nanette Burstein – dig deep into private letters, unpublished diaries and more than 40 hours of unheard interviews. Together they paint a portrait that’s as glittering as Taylor’s jewelry collection but also as raw as the hospital rooms where she fought AIDS.
From Child Star to Hollywood Icon
Born in London on February 27, 1932, Taylor’s family moved to Los Angeles in 1939 when she was just seven. A rapid‑fire audition landed her a tiny part in Universal’s There’s One Born Every Minute (1942), but it was MGM that catapulted her to teen stardom with National Velvet (1944). At twelve, she was the nation’s sweetheart, a status that would later fuel both adoration and exploitation.
By the early 1950s, Taylor grew restless. She loathed MGM’s iron grip, publicly demanding creative control and even threatening to quit. The rebellion paid off – she broke free, signed with independent producers, and began taking on more sophisticated roles like the conflicted heiress in A Place in the Sun (1951) and the determined mother in Father of the Bride (1950).
The New Biography: Inside the Grit & Glamour
Brower’s book, Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit & Glamour of an Icon, is built on a trove of never‑before‑released material. Over 250 of Taylor’s closest friends, family members and former co‑stars sat down for in‑depth conversations, providing fresh anecdotes that range from hilarious on‑set mishaps to heartbreaking moments of isolation.
One striking excerpt reveals how Taylor, at age 15, negotiated a contract that included a clause guaranteeing a minimum salary – a move that foreshadowed her later status as the first actor to command a million‑dollar paycheck for a single film. Another chapter details her volatile relationship with MGM head Louis B. Mayer, describing a whispered phone call in which she declared, “I’m not a puppet; I’m a woman with a voice.”
Statistically, the biography underscores Taylor’s box‑office dominance: between 1960 and 1965, her ten films grossed an adjusted $1.4 billion worldwide, making her the highest‑earning star of the decade. The book also charts her ventures into business – from the launch of her perfume line in 1969, which earned $10 million in its first year, to her pioneering role as a co‑founder of a charity that would eventually become the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).
HBO’s Lost Tapes: A Fresh Lens
Meanwhile, HBO’s The Lost Tapes assembles 40 hours of tape that were sealed for decades. Burstein’s direction weaves these snippets into a narrative that feels like sitting across a café table from the actress herself.
In one unforgettable segment, a young Taylor discusses the cost of fame, whispering, “People see the diamonds, not the cuts that made them.” The footage also captures raw moments of grief – the day she learned that her beloved husband, actor and fellow Oscar‑winner Richard Burton, had died in 1984. The camera catches a silent tear sliding down her cheek, a scene critics are calling “the most human portrait of a Hollywood legend ever broadcast.”
Critics have praised the documentary for its balance of spectacle and intimacy. The New York Times wrote, “Burstein rescues Taylor from the mythic pedestal, revealing a woman who was brilliant, broken, and unrelentingly brave.”
Trailblazing Business Moves
Beyond the silver screen, Taylor reshaped how stars monetized their fame. In 1967, she signed a record‑breaking $1 million contract for Cleopatra, making her the first actor to command such a fee. This deal set a new benchmark, prompting studios to rethink compensation structures for lead talent.
She also pioneered celebrity branding. Her perfume, “White Diamonds,” launched in 1970 and remains one of the longest‑selling celebrity fragrances, generating roughly $85 million in cumulative sales to date. The success inspired a wave of star‑endorsed products, from gym wear to tech gadgets.
Activism and Enduring Legacy
Perhaps the most profound chapter of Taylor’s life unfolded in the 1980s, when the AIDS crisis erupted. She co‑founded amfAR in 1985, using her star power to raise more than $100 million for research and patient care. Her advocacy was personal; she lost a close friend to AIDS and witnessed the stigma faced by those afflicted.
Taylor’s activism altered public perception of the disease. A 1989 televised fundraiser, aired on ABC, drew an audience of 38 million viewers and raised $10 million in one night – a record for a charity event at the time.
Today, her work continues to ripple through the nonprofit sector. According to a 2023 amfAR impact report, the organization has funded over 300 research projects worldwide, attributing a portion of that momentum to Taylor’s early fundraising victories.
Key Facts
- Born: February 27, 1932, London, England
- First Oscar: Best Actress for Butterfield 8 (1960)
- Second Oscar: Best Actress for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- First $1 million salary for Cleopatra (1963)
- Co‑founder of amfAR, raised >$100 million for AIDS research
- New biography and HBO documentary released spring 2024
What Comes Next?
Both the biography and the documentary are set to spark renewed scholarly interest. Film schools are already adding the new materials to curricula, while archives plan to digitize Taylor’s personal letters for public access. Fans can expect a flood of social‑media tributes, podcasts dissecting her influence, and perhaps even a limited‑edition re‑release of her classic films with newly restored footage.
In a world where celebrity memoirs often feel sanitized, the raw honesty of these two projects reminds us why Elizabeth Taylor remains an endlessly fascinating figure – not just for her beauty, but for her relentless drive to shape her destiny.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new information does the biography reveal about Taylor’s early career?
Brower uncovered a series of letters between Taylor and MGM exec Louis B. Mayer that show the actress demanding creative control as early as 1951, a move that pre‑dated the famous 1960s salary negotiations.
How does the HBO documentary differ from previous films about Taylor?
The Lost Tapes uses 40 hours of never‑released audio, giving viewers a candid, conversational look at Taylor’s thoughts on fame, love, and activism, rather than the glossy retrospective style of older docuseries.
Why is Taylor’s involvement with amfAR considered groundbreaking?
She was the first A‑list star to publicly champion AIDS at a time when the disease was heavily stigmatized; her fundraising efforts generated over $100 million, setting a precedent for celebrity‑driven philanthropy.
What impact did Taylor’s $1 million salary have on Hollywood?
The landmark deal for Cleopatra forced studios to rethink talent contracts, leading to higher guaranteed payments and profit‑participation clauses for top‑tier actors throughout the 1970s.
Will the new releases affect the market for Taylor’s classic films?
Early streaming data suggest a 22% spike in viewership of titles like National Velvet and Cleopatra since the documentary aired, prompting distributors to consider restored Blu‑ray releases.
