You’ve got to hand it to the grand dame of film. Elizabeth Taylor, 78, is getting married for the ninth time to a man 30 years her junior. We could spend weeks speculating why she’s marrying again or why he is interested in a woman old enough to be his mom. But it matters not. They’re getting hitched.
I remember feeling bad for Elizabeth when her producer husband, Mike Todd, was killed in a plane crash in 1958 after only a year of marriage. I was 11 and I felt sad for her because she seemed like she was deeply in love. He was her third husband.
Maybe she’s been searching for another Mike her whole life. He was handsome, strong, smart and adored her, from all I’ve read. Actor Richard Burton (who she married twice) had many of the same traits, as Todd, but he was a volatile man. Her husband Larrry, who was a construction worker, was an odd partner, and singer Eddie Fisher was probably silly putty in her hands. Virginia senator, John Warner, seemed like a long-term mate but that ended after five years. Maybe he bored her.
Elizabeth is still beautiful and carries herself regally, even in a wheelchair. I saw her on Broadway in a revival of Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes” in 1968, the night I became engaged. I’ve since gotten divorced, but Liz is eight husbands ahead of me.
0 Responses to “Eight is not enough”
Geri says:
Hi Maravonda,
Nor mine!
G
Maravonda says:
I love Elizabeth Taylor. What I remember hearing her say in an interview was “I’m not immoral. I’m very moral. I’ve married every man I have slept with!”. That was during what I found to be the very uncomfortable interview with Barbara Walters, when E was married to Warner, and Walters was absolutely determined to talk politics. (They didn’t). My memory of it may not be quite right, but I do remember that I came away with admiration for Elizabeth, not so much for Walters. Can’t say that the years and their continuing deeds have changed my mind.
Geri says:
Duchesse,
so clever of you.
geri
Duchesse says:
I do think she is from that generation that married. But the fascination I felt was with Burton- such drama, dysfunction and diamonds.
Susan says:
I love it. Just remember: if you ever meet her, it’s “Elizabeth.” She loathes ‘Liz.’ When she was married to Warner, I was having dinner with one of my professors. She liked his poetry (who knew?) & somehow we were introduced. I quickly told my friend never ever call her “Liz.” Well, he did. She corrected him immediately (but with good humor).
Didn’t she say one time, something like “I don’t have affairs, I get married?”
On another coincidence note: my grandparents came from same Welsh village as Burton’s family. (Real surname, Jenkins)….
Preppy 101 says:
My feelings about Liz have changed so much over the years. I remember feeling sorry for her over Mike Todd. I agree with you – he was her one true love. I felt sorry for Eddie Fisher’s wife and was just shocked about the “homewrecker” Liz when that “drama” occurred. But nowadays, I’m cheering her on and saying “Go for it Liz”!! Totally love her!! I love watching her old movies, don’t you? xoxo