Ava et Elizabeth

"Sometimes she would do a scene particularly well. I would thank her and she would fall in my arms and say, 'Christ, you know I can't act.' And I'd say, 'What is it then? It's just as good as acting.' But she never believed me... Ava is like Marilyn. She's really frightened. She would cry a lot, she had no confidence in herself, she felt she couldn't act, she had no home, no base, no family, she missed them terribly, she felt she'd missed out in life. It was hard to believe her unhappiness. When you looked at her, even then, she was...the most beautiful human being in the world." — Nunnally Johnson, who directed Ava in "The Angel Wore Red" (1960). Photo of Ava is a still from the film.

“Elizabeth didn’t know the meaning of fear.” – Kathy Ireland Photo by Roddy McDowall c. 1964.

Elizabeth Taylor in Oliver Messel's original costumes for the Pinewood Studios production of Cleopatra. Elizabeth was so sick during this time that she was driven to the studio, put on the costumes and photographed, and immediately driven back to her hotel to rest. Because of her illness, the Pinewood Studios production of the film was abandoned and Elizabeth left the UK to go back to the warmer weather in California. After her health improved, the production was moved to Italy by 20th Century Fox; Messel's costumes were scrapped and Irene Sharaff's costumes were used in the new Cleopatra. However, before filming was even started, Elizabeth caught a terrible bout of pneumonia which led to her receiving an emergency tracheotomy and being officially pronounced dead. Obituaries were released around the world, but she pulled through and went on to complete Cleopatra—which although nearly bankrupting 20th Century Fox, became the top film of 1963.

Elizabeth Taylor at the David di Donatello Awards in Rome, 1962. Photo by Elio Sorci.

Elizabeth Taylor photographed by Loomis Dean while filming "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967).

Ava Gardner walking her dog in London, 1959. She loved London and remained there for the rest of her life. Ofthe city, she said: “Since that first visit on my way to Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, I’ve always loved London. So it rains sometimes. It rains everywhere sometimes. And I happen to like the rain. More important, the British leave you alone. They take three or four photographs when you arrive and then they forget you exist. It’s a very civilized town. If I choose to walk down the street or go across the park with my dog, nobody bothers me. When people do recognize me, they smile and nod their heads, which is a hell of a lot different from the treatment I’ve been used to….I do…have a lot of friends in London…really good friends, so I’m far from lonely. We have dinner at our homes or, if we go out, it’s to places where we won’t be disturbed….Actually, my apartment in Ennismore Gardens in Knightsbridge suits me so well I hate to leave it, even for a park bench.”

Elizabeth Taylor and Theresa, her Yorkshire Terrier.

Elizabeth Taylor on the set of "Cleopatra" (1963).

Elizabeth Taylor photographed by Sharok Hatami for French Elle Magazine, 1963.

Elizabeth Taylor at the premiere of “Staircase” in October of 1969.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing Bulgari emerald earrings (a gift from Richard Burton) and her Cartier tiara (a gift from Mike Todd) in 1963.