It’s been 15 years since we lost Elizabeth Taylor, who died on March 23, 2011 at the age of 79, but in our minds, she’s still as timeless as ever.
The actress remains a prominent symbol of old Hollywood glamor, mixed with passionate performance chops, and an elegance and grace that has inspired countless others.
And that has been the case since a very young age, with Elizabeth getting her start as an actress at the tender age of nine when she was signed with Universal Pictures, and made her screen debut the following year in 1942’s There’s One Born Every Minute.
However, the journey to getting her there was littered with a mix of charmed members of her social circle, harrowing wartime stories, plus her parents who were already influential members of society.
Here’s all you need to know about the Suddenly, Last Summer star’s early life with her parents…
© Getty ImagesElizabeth’s mother, Sara Sothern
Sara Sothern was born Sara Viola Warmbrodt in 1895. As a teenager, Sara discovered a love for acting, and made her film debut in a 1914 production titled One of the Flames. She had several credits to her name before then making her move to the stage in the 1920s.
© Getty ImagesSara performed at several playhouses nationwide, making her Broadway debut with 1925’s The Dagger. She appeared in several more Broadway shows until 1926, when she married Francis and gave up acting entirely. She devoted her time then to motherhood, and was instrumental in managing her daughter Elizabeth’s early career. She died in 1994 at the age of 99.
© Getty ImagesJoseph P. Kennedy
Their social circle
Through Francis’ work in the world of arts, prominent artists of the time like Augustus John and Laura Knight were close friends with the Taylors. Through their lives in New York, because of Sara, the Taylors maintained connections with prominent members of American society as well.
The patriarch of the Kennedy family, Joseph Patrick Kennedy, was a key figure in influencing their return to the United States ahead of WWII, and their influence within the world of Hollywood then grew once Francis’ Beverly Hills art gallery was opened.
© Getty ImagesHedda Hopper
Elizabeth’s godfather, Victor Cazalet
Chief among their circle, however, was Victor Cazalet, a member of the British Parliament for 19 years. He met the Taylors through his interest in art after they moved to London, and introduced them to other members of his own circle. They became very close, and he was eventually named Elizabeth’s godfather, even gifting her a pony for her fifth birthday.
Victor also encouraged the Taylors to return to the United States before the war, and was key in the success of their American endeavors thanks to a letter he wrote to his friend, renowned industry columnist Hedda Hopper. Hedda helped Elizabeth get her start in acting at a young age, although Victor was tragically not around to see it blossom, losing his life in the 1943 Gibraltar B-24 crash at age 46.
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