Elizabeth Taylor’s notorious affair with Cleopatra co-star Richard Burton ensued a century of scandal! Among the many individuals who scrutinized their relationship was Elizabeth’s father, Francis Taylor. In her newly unearthed previous interviews, featured in Nanette Burstein’s documentary Elizabeth Taylor: The Misplaced Tapes, the actress revealed her father’s dislike of her relationship.
“My father referred to as me a w****,” she mentioned in one of many tape conversations recorded from 1964 by way of 1965. When she determined to go away her fourth husband, Eddie Fisher, as a result of she fell in love with Burton, folks had been fast to lash out. “I met such opposition from everybody,” she mentioned on the tapes.
The duo met whereas engaged on Cleopatra, the place she performed the title position, and he performed Mark Antony once they had been each in separate marriages—Elizabeth with Fisher and Burton with Sybil Christopher. In 1962, the primary press protection of their love affair broke out, and unprecedented public criticism adopted.
“The Vatican newspaper had come out with an merchandise saying that I used to be so despicable. Elizabeth mentioned on the tapes. “My very own kids must be taken away from me, an assault that actually — effectively, it made me vomit.” The actress additionally revealed that she revealed threats of violence and recalled it as a “horrendous week.”
When she was requested whether or not she felt responsible about leaving Fisher for Burton and inflicting Mayhem, she replied affirmatively. “Oh, sure. Particularly about Richard’s kids. We each do, having inflicted such terrible ache,” she mentioned.
Burton shared two daughters, Kate and Jessica, with ex-wife Christopher. Elizabeth additionally shared sons, Michael Howard and Christopher Edward, along with her second husband, Michael Wilding, plus a daughter, Liza Frances, along with her third husband, Mike Todd. Elizabeth and Burton collectively adopted Maria McKeown.
When journalist Richard Meryman requested her whether or not she’s fearful in regards to the divine retribution of her actions, she mentioned they’d do their penance on earth by the order of the universe.
Elizabeth Taylor: The Misplaced Tapes premiered on the Cannes Movie Competition and is now streaming on Max and HBO.
