In the late afternoon of a Friday in 1998, Elizabeth Taylor, the iconic 20th-century movie star, found herself in an unexpected situation. Dressed in her nightgown, meticulously applying makeup, she showcased a dazzling yellow diamond ring to her friend Dorothy Flagler, a salesperson at Van Cleef & Arpels in Beverly Hills. They engaged in casual conversation, sitting in Taylor's bathroom.
However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when Taylor's assistant, Tim Mendelson, entered with somber news – a friend of a friend had succumbed to AIDS-related causes that day. Taylor, undeterred by her glamorous setting, immediately instructed Mendelson to contact her business manager to arrange the deceased's burial. The response, indicating a delay until Monday, triggered a fiery reaction from Taylor.
"We will not wait until Monday. We will do it right now. Get him on the phone again. I want to talk to him. No one will lay on a cold slab for the weekend when I can do something to stop it," she asserted vehemently.
This fervor was not new to Taylor; it echoed her impassioned advocacy in 1985 when she became the most prominent celebrity to spotlight the devastating impact of the AIDS virus on the gay community. Taylor's commitment to fighting injustice had been a lifelong journey, and she famously stated, "The most awful thing of all is to be numb."
From her early fame at 12 as the lead in "National Velvet" to becoming the last star shaped by the Hollywood studio system, Taylor's global renown rivaled that of Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Queen Elizabeth II. Unlike her counterparts, Taylor flourished under the scrutiny of fame. Despite starring in 56 films and 10 television movies over nearly six decades, her personal life, marked by eight marriages, became as legendary as her professional achievements.
However, beneath the tabloid drama, Taylor was a spirited woman, quick to laughter and self-deprecation. What set her apart was not just her enduring celebrity status but her transformation of it into a force for change. Beyond the screens, Taylor's advocacy during the AIDS epidemic saved countless lives and inspired others to join her cause.
