Elizabeth Taylor, the Hollywood icon who captivated the world with her striking beauty and talent, had a life that seemed picture-perfect from the outside. But as the saying goes, every rose has its thorns, and Elizabeth’s life was no exception. Let me tell you, her journey was filled with both dazzling highs and gut-wrenching lows. In her own words, “Everything was handed to me—looks, fame, wealth, honors, love.” But she didn’t stop there. She added, “I’ve paid for that luck with disasters, terrible illnesses, destructive addictions, broken marriages.”
Her Love Life: A Rollercoaster of Marriages
Born in London, Elizabeth Taylor wasn’t just a screen legend but also a woman who wore her heart on her sleeve. Over the years, she married eight times to seven different men. Her list of husbands reads like a Hollywood who’s who: Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr., Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton (twice!), John Warner, and Larry Fortensky. Each relationship brought its own set of challenges and heartbreaks, leaving a lasting impact on her life.
Understanding Elizabeth’s Complex Relationships
Author Kate Andersen Brower, who penned the biography "Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit & Glamour of an Icon," sheds light on the complexities of Elizabeth’s personal life. Brower suggests that one reason her marriages didn’t last was that Elizabeth was "trying to be something other than Elizabeth Taylor" during those relationships. "I get the sense that she was very lonely," Brower explained. "She didn’t have many friends her age, and that isolation likely played a role in her choices."
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Her Early Marriages: A Rocky Start
Elizabeth’s journey in love began with heartbreak. Her engagement to her teenage sweetheart, Bill Pawley, ended abruptly. Soon after, Conrad “Nicky” Hilton, a hotel heir, pursued her aggressively. "She was pushed into that marriage by her parents because he was from a wealthy family," Brower revealed. Unfortunately, the marriage turned sour quickly. Nicky was an abusive alcoholic who physically harmed her, and Elizabeth suffered a miscarriage during their time together. Their marriage lasted just a year, from 1950 to 1951. Elizabeth later described the union as a "pink cloud" that crashed to the ground with a thud.
Marriages That Followed: Triumphs and Tragedies
Her second marriage to actor Michael Wilding was a bit more stable but lacked compatibility. Elizabeth, known for her fiery temper, found Michael to be too calm and unflappable. They had two sons together, Michael Jr. and Christopher, but their marriage ended in 1957. Her third marriage to Mike Todd seemed to be a better match. He showered her with attention and gifts, giving her everything she craved. However, tragedy struck when Todd died in a plane crash just a year after their wedding. They had a daughter, Liza, together. Brower noted that Todd wanted Elizabeth to give up her career, which might have led to further conflict if he had lived longer.
Elizabeth went on to marry four more times, including two tumultuous marriages to Richard Burton, with whom she shared a daughter, Maria. Her final marriage was to construction worker Larry Fortensky, whom she was with until her passing in 2011 at the age of 79.
Reflecting on Fame and Loneliness
Elizabeth often reflected on the impact fame had on her life, especially during her formative years. "I was so totally chaperoned that I never had a moment alone to ever think or be silent just by myself," she once said. Brower shared a poignant moment from Elizabeth’s life: "There’s a letter in my book where she tells her mother she wants to quit." This desire to step away from the spotlight began early, when Elizabeth starred in the 1944 film "National Velvet." Her mother’s criticism of her appearance during filming left a lasting mark. "To be scrutinized like that since the age of 12 was very hard," Brower explained.
