As a Woman of a Certain Age for some time, Elizabeth Taylor deserves her propers. Here's my contribution to the media frenzy.
My girlfriend's mother, Grace, was a hairdresser at MGM back in the early Fifties. Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor were close friends and often came in at the same time for hair and makeup. Grace said they were always in safety pins, pinning together their raggedy outfits, hair in curlers and whatnot. She said Elizabeth Taylor was the most beautiful star on the lot, really did have violet eyes and a double row of eyelashes. Grace said the two of them could really cut up and Ms. Taylor had "a mouth like a sailor".
Elizabeth Taylor by Roddy McDowall
Everyone knew she had violet eyes but I'd never heard about her lashes til Grace told the story. I was about 16. She sounded pretty interesting to me!
At some point during the Sixties, I saw this photograph taken of Ms. Taylor by her childhood friend, Roddy McDowall. It was published in either the Ladies Home Journal or McCalls. (My mother subscribed to both so not sure but leaning towards LHJ) It is supposedly a photo of her without makeup. With or without, it remains my favorite.
