Hollywood’s Cleopatra passes away at 79

Actress Dame Elizabeth Taylor died at the age of 79 from congestive heart failure on Tuesday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Hollywood's Cleopatra passes away at 79

Actress Dame Elizabeth Taylor died at the age of 79 from congestive heart failure on Tuesday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton.

Michael Wilding said, "We will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humour, and love." A family funeral will be held later this week.

Elizabeth Taylor entered the limelight at the age of 10 when she landed the lead role in the 1942 film (above) Lassie Come Home. Taylor earned her first Oscar nomination in 1957 for Raintree County along side Montgomery Clift.

Her second Oscar nomination came in 1959 for Suddenly, Last Summer. In 1960, she finally won the best actress Oscar for her performance as a call-girl in Butterfield 8. And in 1963 she starred in the lavish historical epic Cleopatra (centre).

The 1966 Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? gave Taylor a second Best Actress Oscar for her vicious turn as embittered wife Martha (below). Taylor, one of Hollywood's most glamourous women, starred in over 60 films.

Other than her movies, Elizabeth Taylor was also known for her chequered past with love. She married eight times and had seven husbands. However, her relationship with actor Richard Burton whom she married twice (below) is embedded in history as one of the greatest love stories.

69.42
The weight of the colourless diamond (in carat) called the Taylor-Burton diamond, which Burton bought for Taylor in 1969 at a price of $1.1million (Rs 5 crore)

Philanthropist
Dame Elizabeth was also known for her work for AIDS related charities. She helped start the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985. She also created her own AIDS foundation, the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation.

On Twitter

RIP Elizabeth Taylor - She was an incredible crusader in the global fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
She will be missed.u00a0
Elton John

Sad 2 hear of d death of Liz Taylor.She n Burton were owners of my classic yacht Kalizma named after her kids. I had invited her on board.
Vijay Mallya

Quiz
Which movie did Taylor win an Oscar for?
A) Cleopatra
B) Butterfield 8
C) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Send us your answers on mailbag@mid-day.com, with Taylor in the subject line and we will publish the name of three winners on this page tomorrow.

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