When thinking about iconic actresses of the Hollywood’s Golden Age, countless names might come to mind, however, Elizabeth Taylor will inevitably be one of them. The British-American actress dominated screens for over forty years in roles that have become ingrained in popular culture forever. Additionally, Taylor awed the world with her scandalous personal life, including her eight marriages to seven different men. Though Taylor starred in an abundance of important projects, and in a way, made them important just by starring in them, there are some Elizabeth Taylor films that are undoubtedly her best.
Elizabeth Taylor’s acting career began in the 1940s when the actress was only 12 years old. She was encouraged to audition for movies because of her eyes, which were a blue so deep that it looked almost violet, and were accentuated by double eyelashes. In 1944, Taylor earned her first starring role in National Velvet, and from there, her popularity only climbed. As she grew older, Taylor was able to tackle more challenging roles that forced her to truly act rather than be herself. In the late 1950s, Taylor’s talent was truly cemented by some of her most impressive films yet. She continued acting until the 1980s.
10 Raintree County
One of many period pieces that Elizabeth Taylor appeared in was a 1957 Civil War drama entitled Raintree County. The film stars Montgomery Clift as John Wickliff Shawnessey, a man who becomes seduced away from his high school sweetheart by Elizabeth Taylor’s rich and beautiful Susanna Drake. Amidst the gorgeous costumes of the 1860s and the creepy, mysterious atmsophere, Taylor gives an impressive performance in this movie that definitely makes it worth the watch. Though Raintree County is not the most critically acclaimed of Taylor’s films due to its weak screenplay, it did earn her first Academy Award nomination for best actress.
9 The V.I.P.s
The 1963 film The V.I.P.s is the closest thing audiences had to reality television at the time, as an ensemble of notable actors came together to play out some serious drama. Richard Burton, Maggie Smith, Rod Taylor, and Orson Welles acted alongside Elizabeth Taylor in this star-studded movie about the “very important people” who are stuck in an airport during a delay. Reviews were generally good for this film, praising it for its clever mix of drama, romance, comedy, and intrigue. Overall, it is an incredibly engaging movie that, nowadays, acts as a perfect snapshot of a much different time.
8 National Velvet
A list of Elizabeth Taylor’s best films would not be complete without the movie she first starred in, 1944’s National Velvet. In it, Taylor plays 12-year-old Velvet Brown, a horse-crazy girl that dreams of training her new gelding for the Grand Nation Steeplechase. While this film certainly stands out because it is Elizabeth Taylor’s first, it also boasts other iconic actors such as Mickey Rooney and Angela Lansbury. Plus, the movie won two Oscars and has a score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it a “family-friendly tearjerker.” Overall, it is an iconic sports movie that is worth watching.
7 Cleopatra
Even those with little to no knowledge of movies will likely recognize Elizabeth Taylor in her 1963 role as famous woman in history, Cleopatra. As expected, the film follows the historical figure and Egyptian Queen Cleopatra as she fights against the Romans’ imperial intentions. Cleopatra is one of 11 films that Taylor starred in alongside her husband Richard Burton. While the film became the highest-grossing movie in 1963, many critics felt that the cascading visuals and sets dwarfed the actors, and furthermore, that the movie lacked passion. Even Taylor noted that the project lacked heart. Despite this, Cleopatra has undoubtedly become one of her most recognizable roles.
6 Suddenly, Last Summer
During her expansive career, Elizabeth Taylor became known for her spot-on adaptations of Tennessee Williams’ plays, and 1959’s Suddenly, Last Summer is the second out of three. The film stars Taylor as Catherine Holly, a traumatized young woman being considered for a lobotomy at the insistence of her wealthy aunt after she witnessed her cousin’s death the summer before. Although critics felt that the play had been overstretched as a feature length film, Suddenly, Last Summer succeeded at the box office and earned Elizabeth Taylor a Golden Globe. With Taylor and Katharine Hepburn at the helm, this unexpected story has a mystery that will engage audiences to this day.
5 Giant
Elizabeth Taylor was often surrounded by other iconic actors in her films, but 1956’s Giant reached new heights for the time. In the film, Taylor plays Leslie Lynnton, a socialite who falls into a whirlwind romance with Rock Hudson’s Bick. After marrying, the two return to Bick’s Texas ranch, and Leslie discovers dark and interesting people including Bick’s resentful sister and his ranch hand Jett, played by James Dean. Giant earned incredible praise for its impactful story and deep dive into Texas scenery and culture. Additionally, the movie stood out as it was iconic actor James Dean’s last; the actor died before the film’s release. Overall, it is a highly respected film.
4 A Place In The Sun
One of Elizabeth Taylor’s first adult roles came in 1951 with A Place in the Sun. Based on a book entitled “An American Tragedy,” and a real-life 1906 murder, the film follows Montgomery Clift’s George Eastman as he begins working for his rich uncle and becomes entangled with an innocent factory worker and Elizabeth Taylor’s rich socialite, Angela Vickers. Nowadays, the film lacks the impact it had in the 1950s, however, it is still considered a cinematic classic. Furthermore, Taylor’s performance, along with her other cast members’, continues to earn praise to this day.
3 BUtterfield 8
The movie which earned Elizabeth Taylor her first Academy Award in a leading role was 1960’s BUtterfield 8. In it, Taylor plays a high-class prostitute that enters into a dangerous love affair with a married man, played by Laurence Harvey. This film could have easily bombed according to critics, however, Taylor’s performance as Gloria Wandrous was outstanding enough to save it. Ironically, Taylor and her husband at the time, Eddie Fisher, who also appeared in the film, hated BUtterfield 8 and believed it to be bad, referring to it as Butterball Four.
2 Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
The first of Tennessee Williams’ plays that Elizabeth Taylor brought to life was Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The 1958 film follows the strained marriage between Brick and Maggie, played by Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor respectively, as they visit Brick’s dysfunctional family in Mississippi for his father’s 65th birthday. Despite the fact that the film seriously toned down the original LGBTQ themes of the play, it earned high praise from critics, who felt that Taylor and Newman’s movie performances were both incredible. Although Taylor was steeped in personal drama at the time, her appearance in this film boosted her to serious fame.
1 Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?
Undoubtedly, Elizabeth Taylor’s best film is 1966’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Adapted from the play of the same name by Edward Albee, the movie follows Richard Burton’s college professor and his drunken wife Elizabeth Taylor as they spend a tense evening with another younger couple. The film itself did well with critics, but nothing was so outstanding as Elizabeth Taylor’s performance as Martha. In the film, she exudes emotion and walks the line between seductive and scary. She breathes life into the piece, and for that reason, this is her best film by far.
