RIP Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor died early this morning of congestive heart failure at the age of 79. The two time Oscar winner was perhaps as well known for her multiple marriages and AIDS activism as she was for the remarkable range of roles she played during her six-decades-long acting career. And who can forget those violet eyes?

Elizabeth Taylor’s reign as queen of Hollywood saw many milestones; she became the highest paid actress with her million dollar contract to play the lead role in Cleopatra, she also paved the way for AIDS activists and the press’ breathless coverage ushered in a new era of celebrity journalism. Her beauty was legendary, Richard Burton wrote upon meeting her. With eight marriages and multiple problems with drinking and health, she was arguable the first mega celebrity, garnering breathless and relentless coverage of her career and life for several decades.

RIP Elizabeth Taylor