Born in Britain, Taylor and her American parents moved to Los Angeles at the age of seven, and became a bona fide star by age 12, with her starring role in the classic 1944 film "National Velvet," one of a whopping 50 movies she'd appear in over the next four decades.
Though the actress was praised for her beauty and acting prowess, and landed two Academy Awards over the course of her career, as well as an honorary Oscar in 1993, in later years she was better known for her tumultuous personal life thanks to her string of fiery romances and mostly failed marriages. Her first one to Conrad Hilton at age 18 seemed to set the stage for the rest. It ended after just one year, in 1951, well before divorce was casually accepted. Just one year later, Taylor wed English actor Mike Wilding, with whom she would have two sons.
Taylor would have eight marriages over her lifetime, but none as controversial as her fourth to singer Eddie Fisher in 1959. Her third husband, producer Mike Todd -- who was 25 years her senior -- had died in a plane crash just a year prior. Not only had Fisher and Todd been close friends, but Fisher was married to fellow actress -- and Elizabeth's own pal -- Debbie Reynolds, and the couple had two young children together (one of which was "Star Wars" actress Carrie Fisher) at the time he started up his affair with Taylor.
Said Taylor of the romance: "[Eddie] and Mike had been good friends and it seemed natural we should try to comfort each other for our loss ... In hindsight, I know I wasn't thinking straight. At the time I thought he needed me and I needed him. The press made much of Eddie's leaving his wife, Debbie Reynolds, but Eddie and Debbie's marriage was in trouble long before I hit the scene.