Elizabeth Taylor Movie Quotes
Actress Elizabeth Taylor was more famous for her violet eyes and many husbands than she was for her Oscars. She was married 8 times to 7 men. She once named Mike Todd, husband No. 3, and Richard Burton, husband no. 5 and 6, as two of her great loves.
Her third great love was jewelry. She was nominated for Best Actress 5 times, winning twice for “BUtterfield 8” (1960) and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe” (1966). As of this date, only 11 other actresses have won 2 Oscars. Showing total nominations in parentheses, those actresses are : Ingrid Bergman (6), Bette Davis (10), Olivia de Havilland (4), Sally Field (2), Jane Fonda (6), Jodie Foster (3), Glenda Jackson (4), Vivien Leigh (2), Luise Rainer (2), Meryl Streep (15), and Hilary Swank (2).
Here are quotes from Elizabeth Taylor’s Oscar-nominated roles:
As Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe (1966) – won Best Actress Oscar
“I hope that was an empty bottle, George! You can’t afford to waste good liquor, not on YOUR salary!”
“You’re all flops. I am the Earth Mother, and you are all flops.”
“I’m loud and I’m vulgar, and I wear the pants in the house because somebody’s got to, but I am not a monster. I’m not.”
“Whaddya want?”
As Gloria Wandrous in BUtterfield 8 (1960) – won Best Actress Oscar
“Command performances leave me quite cold. I’ve had more fun in the back seat of a ’39 Ford than I could “Terrible, isn’t it, Steve? I say “yes” too much when I shouldn’t and you say “no” too much when you shouldn’t.”
“Mama, face it: I was the slut of all time.”
As Catherine Holly in Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) – Katharine Hepburn was also nominated for Best Actress for her role as Taylor’s aunt in this film. They both lost to Simone Signoret in Room at the Top (1959)
“There’s only ONE little operation performed here, Mama, it’s on the brain! It’s called a lobotomy! You may have heard of it, or read about it, I know I have! They bore HOLES into your skull!”
“Is that what love is? Using people? And maybe that’s what hate is – not being able to use people.”
“Cut the truth out of my brain… is that what you want Aunt Vi ? Well you can’t. Not even God can change the truth that we were nothing but a pair of-”
As Margaret “Maggie” Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) – Lost to Susan Hayward in “I Want to Live” (1958)
“Maggie the cat is alive. I’m alive.”
“You shut up about my husband!”
“Stop that, ya little no-neck monster!”
“I’m not living with you! We occupy the same cage, that’s all.”
“Not only will I spit on you, I’ll claw your eyes out.”
As Susanna Drake in Raintree County (1957) – Lost to Joanne Woodward in The Three Faces of Eve (1957)
“Johnny, I had to come back. I’m going to have a baby.”
“I knew that you’d understand it, which is more than most Yankees do. Now, that’s something I don’t understand. ‘Cause all you have to do is go South once and you LOVE it!”
“Cousin Sam, John doesn’t like slavery.”
Didnt Meryl Streep win 3 Oscars?
Kramer vs. Kramer
Sophie’s Choice
The Iron Lady
Funny, my two favorite Liz Taylor films are Father of the Bride and Life With Father, although she wasn’t prevalent in either, really.
Well, what about National Velvet?! [Didn’t see it either. Go figure.]
Kinda weird to think that Mickey Rooney (co-star in said flick) was married to Ava Gardner back in the day. How does THAT happen?! [Ava was another major babe ala Liz Taylor, in her day.]
Lol. I think those were the only two that I ever saw (parts of Cleopatra).
I find the whole Rooney thing baffling as well.
P.S. thought I wrote this already, sorry I if I double-posted.
Although I haven’t seen a ton of Liz’s films, I would venture that, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe?”, is her pinnacle performance. That movie was so well acted by all involved it felt like voyeurism into a real life story –a fractured and disturbing one.
Hey vj, I think you would be fascinated by the bio info on Katharine Hepburn if you can spare the time. Here’s a choice snippet from the wiki entry:
Alongside a series of unpopular films, problems arose from Hepburn’s attitude. She had a difficult relationship with the press, with whom she could be rude and provocative. When asked if she had any children, she snapped back, “Yes I have five: two white and three colored.” She would not give interviews and denied requests for autographs, which earned her the nickname “Katharine of Arrogance”. The public was also baffled by her boyish behavior and fashion choices, and she became a largely unpopular figure.
End quote.
I knew that I respected Katharine Hepburn before –from bits of what I’d known– but her story is richer and more intriguing than I might have guessed.
Sure, Bill. I will do a Hepburn post next.
I agree with you on Virginia Woolfe. Loved Liz in that. Always liked George Segal too. Not that I didn’t like Burton and Dennis, just wouldn’t go out of my way to watch one of their films, although I will go out of my way to hear Burton recite anything.
Taylor was also great in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
I started my older kids watching classics in comedy when they were teens. It started with Monroe because they had heard a lot about her but didn’t really know who she was. It was a good thing since they have watched many classics on their own volition since then. One holiday, we all watched Duck Soup at the same time in different locations.
That’s a very cool connection that you share with your kids. I rented “Modern Times” not too long ago and showed it to my sister and one of my nephews in the hopes of sparking their interest in some of the old movie greats. They liked it a lot.
Katherine got her 4th Oscar in On Golden Pond which I thought was good.
Henry Fonda was hilarious. Looking at family photos: “who the hell are these people”. When I was helping my Mother go through her old scrapbooks, we couldn’t help but use that line.
Elizabeth Taylor was unmatched in her day when it came to beauty.
I thought she was quite beautiful in “A Place in the Sun” and that was in B&W! Interestly, she admitted that working with Montgomery Clift in that film was a turning point for her in that she learned much from Clift in the art, profession, and (in particular) hard work required of top quality acting.
loved that movie — do you think he really did Shelley in or did he change his mind and she died by accident?
Shelley ended up in the drink in Night of the Hunter, too!
If it makes you feel better, he probably changed his mind and “Shelley” died by accident! I mean, seriously, how could such a sweet boy do such a horrible thing?
And “Night of the Hunter” is a real gem. I happened to catch that one during a Chris Isaak guest host evening on TCM. He also featured “Gods Little Acre” with Robert Ryan and Tina Louise…another largely unknown beaut!
Based on that last one, Ginger beats Mary Ann…comfortably.
😉
Well, Montgomery Clift played anything but a sweet boy in The Heiress.
Funny story, Clift always looked like he had a big head to me. I mean literally. Big head, small body. I worked on a website about 7 years ago for an author who knew him and I asked him if it was true. He said no… he was just very slender but in person, his head didn’t look out of proportion.
Geraldo Rivera is like that too. Very skinny guy. I went to one of his shows and was sitting right behind him. In fact you couldn’t see me unless he turned sideways.
Personally, every time Grace Kelly would come on screen, my eyes were glued.