Dame Elizabeth Taylor, once the world's biggest female star and arguably its most beautiful ever, has died at the age of 79 following a battle with congestive heart failure. The screen legend was best known for her roles in films from National Velvet to Cleopatra to Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, but is probably best remembered these days for her personal life and loves.
Taylor was born in Hampstead in 1932 but moved to the US when she was just 7, appearing in her first film at the age of 9. She became a star at 12 with her role in National Velvet, and was catapulted into the public spotlight - where she remained for the rest of her life. Roles in the original Father Of The Bride and a much-acclaimed turn in A Place In The Sun established her as an adult actress, and after a brief (and frustrating) studio-imposed hiatus in dull roles in the early 1950s, managed to turn in some unforgettable performances in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Giant and of course Cleopatra.
It was the last film on which she began a love affair with Richard Burton which was to last - on and off - until he died in 1984. The pair were both married to other people at the time, but began what seemed to observers to be an inevitable affair, which in time turned to marriage. In fact, two marriages, after the stormy pair divorced and then fell back together.They starred together in 11 films, one TV movie and a Broadway play during a remarkable creative and romantic partnership that fascinated tabloid newspapers around the world. While Taylor was married eight times, it was the partnership with Burton that was the most enduring.
Due to worsening health, Taylor's last film appearance was in 1994's The Flintstones, but she did work on television throughout the last couple of decades - including the singular honour of providing the voice of Maggie Simpson's single word, Daddy.
She is survived by her four children and nine grandchildren.