Elizabeth Taylor - one of the greatest actresses of Hollywood.

Elizabeth Taylor – one of the greatest actresses of Hollywood.

Elizabeth Taylor was considered one of the greatest actresses of bollywood films of all times. If the golden era, that is the 50s and 60s is associated with everlasting performances of towering actresses like Sofia Lorrain, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Marylyn Monroe, etc, then Liz Taylor (Elizabeth Taylor) can be considered the superstar who ruled the industry inspite of performance of the other beautiful actresses.

Liz Taylor, the other name of Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, was born on 27th February, 1932, in Hampstead, UK. Her parents Francis Lenn Taylor and Sara Viola Warmbrodt were Americans who settled in UK. After the second world war II, Liz Taylor settled in Los Angeles, California, US. Hedda Hopper, a famous columnist entered Liz Taylor’s father’s art gallery and recommended her to known directors of Hollywood films. After being introduced to Andrea Berens, John Considine, Liz Taylor got a scope of performing in the film There’s Born Every Minute, at an age of nine years. In 1941, she signed a six month’s contract with Universal Pictures.

Her notable films during young age included National Velvet, Life with Father (1947), A Date with Judy (1948). With short time she got adult roles and stormed Hollywood with her matured performances. Her journey in the 50s started with romantic comedy Father of the Bride. In 1954 she acted in the film Rhapsody, opposite Vittoria Gasman. Her following films included blockbusters like Giant (1956) opposite Rock Hudson, Raintree County (1957) opposite Montgomery Clift, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) opposite Paul Newman. In 1963, she acted in the epic film Cleopatra opposite her husband Richard Burton who played the role of Mark Anthony. She became the highest paid Hollywood actress of all times. Taylor won the academy award for best actress for her performance in the film Butterfield 8, in 1960, where her husband Eddie Fisher acted opposite her. She married a number of times, but the marriage with Richard Burton created the greatest gossip of all times.

She acted opposite Burton in other films like The VIPs (1963), The Sandpiper (1965), The Comedians, etc. She also acted opposite superstar Marlon Brando in the film Reflections in a Golden Eye. After The Only Game In Town, in 1970, she reduced her performances in Hollywood films. With eight husbands, some having died, while the other divorced, Liz Taylor was in the media even after she left acting in films. Critics argue that apart from her beauty, Liz Taylor can be considered one of the best five actresses that Hollywood had ever produced. Her films should be preserved.

Kate Winslet - a sensational actress.

Kate Winslet – a sensational actress.

Kate Winslet had been a sensational actress of Hollywood films. She is one of the other actresses who was born in England and dominated Hollywood films after Elizabeth Taylor. Kate Elizabeth Winslet was born on 5th October, 1975 in Reading, Berkshire, UK. Her father Rodger John Winslet and Sally Ann were jobbing actors. Kate joined Redroofe Theatre School at the age of 11 years.

Kate acted in children’s fiction serial Dark Season in BBC in 1991. She acted in the film Heavenly Creatures in 1992 under Peter Jackson and won Empire Award and London Critics Circle Film Award for her brilliant performance. In 1996, she acted in the films Jude and Hamlet. She played the role of a young woman involved with suffragette leanings who loved her cousin. Kate won the second Empire award for her performance in the film Hamlet.

In 1997, Kate acted in James Cameron’s epic film Titanic opposite Leonardo Decaprio. She made the viewers all over the world spellbound with her majestic performance. The film became the greatest hit ever after doing a business worth $ 1.8 billion. Kate became one of the most popular stars all across the world.

In 2001, she acted in the successful film Enigma opposite Dougray Scott in the role of a warrior of Second World War. In 2004 she acted opposite Jim Carrey in the successful film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. She played the role of a neurotic woman whose previous memories relating to affairs with her friends were erased.

Her husband Sam Mendes directed the film Revolutionary Road and she acted opposite Leonardo Decaprio once again in 2008. She received Golden Globe Award for best actress for her performance in the film.

In the following year she won the academy award for the best actress for the brilliant performance in the film The Reader. She won 6 nominations for such award which was a unique record for any actress. She had transformed herself into one of all time greatest actresses like Elizabeth Taylor or Audrey Hepburn.

The viewers expect her to explore herself further in challenging roles in future and amaze them as ever.

Was Cleopatra as beautiful as Elizabeth Taylor?

Was Cleopatra as beautiful as Elizabeth Taylor?

In the early 60s, Elizabeth Taylor’s classic Hollywood film Cleopatra created history with its pomp, grandeur and outstanding acting of the leading characters. Elizabeth Taylor was considered as one of the most beautiful Hollywood actresses of all times and Cleopatra raised her box-office popularity a lot. Besides, Richard Burton impressed the viewers with his manly performance in the role of Anthony.

The viewers associated Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen with Elizabeth Taylor and thought that she looked like Liz Taylor. A lot of curiosity was created with Cleopatra as she mesmerized both Julio Ceaser and Mark Anthony with her heavenly beauty. But eminent Egyptian historian Sally An Ashton at Cambridge University had given a different account of the features of Cleopatra.

The research showed that Cleopatra’s complexion was brownish, as opposed the reddish complexion of Elizabeth Taylor. She had both Greek and Egyptian features. Even her forehead was broader and cheeks were more pointed than Liz Taylor. Different descriptions of Cleopatra had been given by William Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw and others.

The research of Sally An Ashton was based on gold ornaments, Egyptian statues, rings carrying the image of Cleopatra. Some of the ornaments were two thousand years old. The research is still going on. But it was disclosed before the media that other than the nose of Elizabeth Taylor there was hardly any similarity between Cleopatra.

Even if viewers accept the fact that Cleopatra had different features than Elizabeth Taylor, her epic performance still haunts viewers of Hollywood films. She had been considered as one of the princess who had lot of self-respect and the brilliant communication skills impressed both Julius Ceaser and Mark Anthony. In the Shakespearean play Julius Ceaser, he was killed by Brutus, Cassious and other conspirators of Rome who never wanted him to be the emperor. Mark Anthony was very loyal to Ceaser and after his death created public awareness about the brutal killing of Julius Ceaser.

Whenever Ceaser and Anthony went to Egypt they fell in love with Cleopatra, the Egyption queen. History apart, the film Cleopatra had exotic locations, romantic performance of the actors, actresses and colourful locations.

If the research is accepted worldwide, in that case a new Hollywood film should be made on the new description of Cleopatra given by Historian Sally An Ashton.