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.
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Helena Bonham Carter stands out with her captivating performances and unique style. From period dramas to blockbuster fantasies, she blends eccentricity with depth. Known for bold fashion and memorable roles, Helena’s career spans decades of unforgettable characters and award-winning work. Here’s a look into the lesser-known sides of this acting icon.
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter began her career with period dramas, often cast as the “English rose,” a label she found limiting.
She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for The Wings of the Dove (1997).
Helena won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress playing Queen Elizabeth in The King’s Speech (2010).
She is famous for playing eccentric characters, notably Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter series.
Helena Bonham Carter collaborated on seven films with director Tim Burton, with whom she shares two children.
She accidentally perforated Matthew Lewis’s eardrum (Neville Longbottom) on the set of Harry Potter with her wand!
Helena has starred in films that have collectively earned over 19 Academy Award nominations.
She voiced the mother squirrel in the animated adaptation of The Gruffalo (2009).
Her distinct fashion style, including gothic and vintage elements, makes her a red-carpet icon.
She was the first woman to star in two billion-dollar-plus grossing films—Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
On set, Helena often wears quirky accessories and enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional red carpet looks.
She played two decapitated Tudor queens: Lady Jane Grey in Lady Jane (1986) and Anne Boleyn in Henry VIII (2003).
Helena took only eight months off work after giving birth to her son before filming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
She once voiced a character in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005).
Helena studied French and English at Cambridge University before fully committing to acting.
Robert Redford stands as a titan of Hollywood, conquering both sides of the camera. Initially, he captured hearts as a leading man with his golden-boy looks and undeniable charm. Furthermore, he reshaped the industry by founding the Sundance Film Festival to support independent artists. Consequently, his legacy extends far beyond his famous roles in Westerns and political thrillers. Explore these intriguing details about the Sundance Kid.
Robert Redford
He wanted to become a professional painter. Before he discovered acting, he traveled through Europe to study art. He lived in Paris and Florence, where he slept in hostels and sketched daily.
Surprisingly, the University of Colorado expelled him. He originally attended the school on a baseball scholarship. However, he began drinking heavily after his mother died, and the administration revoked his scholarship.
Robert Redford never won an Academy Award for acting. Although he received a nomination for The Sting, the voters passed him over. Ironically, he won his first Oscar for directing the film Ordinary People instead.
He founded the Sundance Institute with his own money. In 1981, he used his personal savings to create a haven for independent filmmakers. Today, the Sundance Film Festival ranks as the most prestigious independent film event in the United States.
Directors rejected him for the lead role in The Graduate. Mike Nichols refused to cast him as Benjamin Braddock. Specifically, Nichols argued that no one would believe Redford could struggle to get a date with a woman.
He performed his own stunts in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. During the famous cliff jump scene, he and Paul Newman really jumped onto a mattress below. However, Redford wanted to do the train jump himself too, but Newman stopped him.
Politically, he helped expose the Watergate scandal. Robert Redford purchased the rights to All the President’s Men before the journalists even wrote the book. Subsequently, he produced the film to ensure the public understood the gravity of Nixon’s crimes.
Tragically, his first son died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He and his wife lost their son Scott just months after his birth. Consequently, Redford threw himself into his work to cope with the devastating grief.
He holds the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Barack Obama awarded him the nation’s highest civilian honor in 2016. The President praised him for his artistic achievements and his lifelong dedication to environmental protection.
Unusually, he played a baseball star in his late 40s. When he filmed The Natural, he was 47 years old. Therefore, the cinematographer used special lighting and soft filters to make him look like a young rookie.
He saved a Utah wilderness area from development. He bought the entire Timpanogos ski area specifically to stop developers from building condos there. Instead, he preserved the land and built the rustic Sundance Resort.
Brad Pitt played a young version of him. When Redford directed A River Runs Through It, he cast Brad Pitt in the lead role. Critics and fans immediately noted the uncanny physical resemblance between the director and the young star.
Reportedly, he wore two pairs of underwear for The Way We Were. He wanted to protect himself during the love scenes with Barbra Streisand. Jokingly, he claimed he did it because she was infatuated with him.
Robert Redford suffered a severe ear infection while filming All Is Lost. Because the director submerged him in water for weeks, he lost 60 percent of his hearing in one ear. Stubbornly, he refused to use a stunt double for the sailing scenes.
Finally, Robert Redford retired from acting in 2018. He announced that The Old Man & the Gun would be his final film as an actor. He wanted to end his career on an upbeat note playing a gentleman bank robber.
