Mommy The Journalist: March 2011

Hollywood lost a legend today, and I lost one of my favorite actresses.

Elizabeth Taylor passed away this morning at the age of 79.

Elizabeth made her debut on the silver screen when she was just 12-years-old in National Velvet (1944). She starred alongside another of my favorites, Micky Rooney, as a spirited young girl who wants nothing more than to compete in England's Grand National Sweepstakes with the Pie, a horse she won in the town lottery.

Her violet eyes captured the hearts of her audience and her many marriages and scandalous affairs held them enraptured for 70 years. The world held its breath through her many illnesses, shook their heads at her ever-changing appearance and looked to her for inspiration as she managed to come out on top time and time again.

Elizabeth was the sparkle in the silver screen, starring in such blockbusters as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Little Women. She even graced the world of the sitcom, making appearances in 'General Hospital' and 'All My Children'.

Elizabeth became the highest-paid actress in Hollywood's history in 1963 when she received $1 million for her role in Cleopatra.

Elizabeth & Richard Burton

Elizabeth was married eight times to seven different men. Her marriage to Michael Todd was the only one to not end in divorce. She called him one of the two loves of her life, the other being Richard Burton to whom she was married twice.

Elizabeth was one of the earliest advocates of AIDS. She helped start the American Foundation for AIDS Research after her friend and co-star, Rock Hudson, died from the disease. She helped raise more than $100 million for the disease and created her own foundation, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Elizabeth won two Academy Awards for Best Actress (Butterfield 8 1960, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf 1966) and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1999.

Hers is a legacy that won't be quickly forgotten, but with a legacy like hers why should we forget?