Elizabeth Taylor’s life sparkled with Hollywood success and deep personal challenges. From groundbreaking film salaries to fierce AIDS activism, her legacy is vast. Explore lesser-known stories about her iconic career, enduring friendships, numerous marriages, and inspiring strength that defined her as a true legend.
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor was the first actress to earn $1 million for a movie role, in Cleopatra (1963), a groundbreaking payday in Hollywood.
She was born in London but moved to Los Angeles at age 7 when World War II broke out, starting her career in American cinema.
Elizabeth Taylor underwent more than 40 surgeries and was hospitalized over 100 times, showing incredible resilience throughout her life.
She developed a lifelong friendship with Rock Hudson, supporting him during his secret battle with HIV, which inspired her AIDS activism.
Taylor won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, but she reportedly disliked the film BUtterfield 8, which earned her the first Oscar.
At just 15, she appeared on the cover of Life magazine—more times than any other Hollywood star—totaling 14 covers.
Elizabeth Taylor married eight times to seven husbands, notably marrying Richard Burton twice, in one of Hollywood’s most famous romances.
She converted to Judaism in 1959 and remained a practicing Jew for the rest of her life.
Despite the glamor, she detested paparazzi and often described fame as a burden rather than a blessing.
Taylor was also a shrewd businesswoman, investing wisely in real estate and a successful perfume business.
She insisted on physical training between takes, using ballet workouts to maintain her slender figure during filming.
Elizabeth Taylor was instrumental in raising nearly $270 million for AIDS research and treatment through her high-profile activism.
Taylor had violet eyes, a rare color that became part of her mystique and on-screen allure.
She was once declared clinically dead due to pneumonia but made a remarkable recovery.
Elizabeth Taylor detested the nickname “Liz” and preferred Elizabeth or “Betty” by close friends.
Indiana Jones, the legendary archaeologist, thrills fans with globe-trotting adventures, iconic style, and unexpected twists. Since his debut, Indiana Jones has redefined the action hero, influencing pop culture and inspiring real-life explorers. Discover what truly sets Indiana Jones apart from every other cinema legend.
Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones sprang from a creative conversation between George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, aiming for a new kind of movie hero.
The character’s full name is Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr., but everyone knows him as “Indy” or “Indiana Jones”.
Lucas named Indiana after his own dog. Spielberg’s dog inspired the name of Willie Scott, Indy’s love interest in Temple of Doom.
Tom Selleck was originally cast as Indiana Jones, but TV commitments meant Harrison Ford got the iconic role instead.
Indy’s iconic fedora, whip, and leather jacket became some of cinema’s most recognized costume elements.
Beneath his fearless persona, Indiana secretly hates snakes—a trait established in the legendary Well of Souls scene with thousands of live snakes.
Set designers sometimes had to use rubber hoses when real snakes ran out, making the pit even more crowded.
The famous scene where Indy shoots a swordsman in Raiders of the Lost Ark was improvised by Ford due to illness on set.
In Temple of Doom, Club Obi-Wan is a clever Easter egg, referencing Star Wars, another Lucas creation.
Indy’s satchel is actually a World War II-era gas mask bag, adding a touch of real history to his look.
Harrison Ford taught Ke Huy Quan (Short Round) to swim during their downtime while filming in Sri Lanka.
In The Last Crusade, the production bred over 2,000 rats for the underground Venice scenes, ensuring safety for the cast.
Indy’s adventures have won multiple Oscars, celebrating achievements in sound, visual effects, and editing over the years.
Raiders of the Lost Ark’s epic boulder chase required Ford to run from the rolling prop at least ten times for different camera angles.
Indiana Jones inspired countless real-life archaeologists.
Daniel Craig redefined James Bond with raw action and layered depth. His journey from early roles to global stardom is packed with unique insights and little-known trivia. Dive into rare facts about Daniel Craig and discover what makes this English actor captivating.
Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig is the only James Bond actor who refused to dye his hair black for the role, keeping his natural blond look throughout his tenure.
Craig is the shortest actor to play James Bond, standing at 5’10”.
Before landing his breakthrough, Craig starred as an Afrikaner in his first film appearance in 1992’s “The Power of One.”
He won his big break with the BBC drama “Our Friends in the North” in 1996, despite struggling with the Geordie accent at his audition.
Craig became lifelong friends with Mark Strong during filming of that series and is now godfather to Strong’s sons.
Craig was reportedly offered $150 million to return for two more Bond movies after Spectre.
He had his body insured for $9.5 million between Bond productions, a testament to the physical demands of the role.
In Casino Royale, Craig quit smoking and gained twenty pounds of muscle for the physically intense fight scenes.
He played a crucial role in the casting of the Bond girls, he approved personally all of them.
Daniel Craig made an uncredited cameo in Star Wars: Episode VII as the stormtrooper manipulated by Rey’s Jedi mind trick.
He does not use social media and enjoys a low profile outside the film world.
Craig is a huge fan of science fiction, especially Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the cult series Firefly.
Audiences once didn’t recognize him in a U.S. cinema; asked if he looked like Daniel Craig, he said “no” and walked away.
In 2021, Craig was appointed honorary Royal Navy Commander, commemorating his on-screen role as a Navy Commander.
He is only the second Englishman after Roger Moore to play Bond, and officially became the longest-serving James Bond actor in 2019.
