At the height of her fame, Elizabeth Taylor had a minor role in the 1969 film The Thousand Days of Anne, a biopic about Anne Boleyn , starring her then-husband Richard Burton as Henry VIII . A cameo as a masked courtesan may seem like an interesting choice of role for one of the world's most famous actresses, but it was this episode that gave Taylor the opportunity to immortalize her ” Wandering Pearl” ( Spanish : La Peregrina ) on the big screen.
The pearl, which Taylor received as a gift from Burton, belonged to the Spanish royal family for more than 250 years, was part of Mary Tudor's collection, and eventually ended up in the actress's jewelry box after it was sold at auction in 1969.
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However, this wasn't the first time Taylor gave her jewelry a starring role – she often added her own pieces to her characters' wardrobes. Her Bulgari flower brooch, given to her by her fourth husband Eddie Fisher, appeared in several films, and her penchant for large diamonds became so well-known that it eventually influenced the films she appeared in. Here are 12 great scenes that prove Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry was her best partner on set.
“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, 1958
As Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Elizabeth wore an elaborate heart-shaped diamond pendant given to her by her third husband, Mike Todd, shortly before his death in a plane crash in March 1958. She also wore the piece in Suddenly, Last Summer (1959).
“Very Important People”, 1963
In this film, the actress shares the screen with Richard Burton, Maggie Smith and Orson Welles, but none of her co-stars dazzled audiences as much as her vintage sapphire and diamond brooch, a gift from Richard Burton that she wore on their wedding day. The Burmese stone sold for £ 1.3 million in 2011.
“Cleopatra”, 1963
For her main role as Cleopatra, the actress wore clothes that emphasized the queen's fascination with snake details. Taylor later received her own collection of Bulgari Serpenti pieces. In particular, a diamond and emerald watch given to her on the set of “Cleopatra” by her partner and future husband Richard Burton.
“Boom!”, 1968
“Boom!” in 1968 was a great opportunity for Taylor to show off her eponymous treasure. Once known as the Krupp Diamond, the Usher -cut stone was renamed the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond when Burton bought it for his wife for $307,000. In 2011, it was sold at auction by Taylor's estate for $ 8.8 million.
In another scene in the film, Taylor pinned her emerald and diamond Bulgari branch brooch to her costume so it would shine alongside her diamond ring.
“Night Watch”, 1973
Taylor wore her Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and oval-cut diamond ring for her role in the thriller The Night Watch. It was a Christmas gift from then-husband Richard Burton in 1968. The ring sold for $4.2 million at Christie's in 2011.
“Day of Repentance”, 1973
Taylor wore a pair of her own natural pearl drop earrings for her role in “Atonement Day.” The Bulgari earrings, which feature two pearls joined by a ring and marquise-cut diamonds, were a gift to the actress from her attorney, Aaron Frosh.
In another scene, the actress wore her Van Cleef & Arpels ruby ring, a pearl strand and matching bracelet, and diamond hoop earrings.
“Here's Lucy”, 1974
In the TV series “Here's Lucy,” Taylor and Burton appear as themselves in a scene where Elizabeth Taylor's diamond ring gets stuck on the finger of the show's lead actress, Lucille Ball.
“Very Important People”, 1963
When Elizabeth Taylor played the role of movie star Frances Andros in the film “Very Important People,” she wore her emerald set. Among the jewelry worn in the film was a pair of Bulgari earrings, as well as a Bulgari brooch, given to the actress by her fourth husband, Eddie Fisher, which she wore in her hair. In this photo, Elizabeth is wearing a pink dress and a yellow gold bracelet.
“The Mirror Cracked”, 1980
In the film “The Mirror Has Cracked,” Elizabeth Taylor plays the role of movie star Marina Rudd. The actress wears a circular-cut coral, amethyst, and diamond pendant, which she also wore as a brooch on her left shoulder. The Van Cleef & Arpels piece could also be worn as a statement necklace. It was a gift from her husband, Richard Burton.
“Little Serenade”, 1977
Elizabeth Taylor wore the legendary La Peregrina pearl in a Cartier necklace in the film “A Little Serenade.” The actress commissioned the piece when she played the role of Desiree Armfeldt in the film.
Based on materials from vogue.fr