Elizabeth Taylor: Portrait of a Hollywood Icon Through Rare Photos

British-born actor Elizabeth Taylor kneels on a bed and wears a sheer white nightgown and robe, circa 1950s. — Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Elizabeth Taylor began her career as a child actress during the 1940s. And, through the decades afterward, Elizabeth Taylor became renowned as an actress for the ages, bringing her charismatic presence — and her mesmerizing violet eyes — to a wide collection of productions.

Born in London on Feb. 27, 1932, Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was drawn to the silver screen when her parents returned to the United States in 1939. After briefly living in Pasadena and Pacific Palisades, her family ultimately settled down in Beverly Hills, Calif. Taylor soon began auditioning for film roles and was signed to a short-lived contract with Universal Pictures in 1941, then to another contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer the following year. After a string of minor roles, the 12-year-old Taylor landed her first starring stint, alongside a young and already famous Mickey Rooney, in 1944’s National Velvet and the rest is history.

From her first screen appearance in 1942 to her final acting role in the 2001 TV movie These Old Broads, Taylor was never far from our eye and was always watched in rapt fascination. Seven husbands, two Oscars, and a multitude of movies later, Elizabeth Taylor passed away from congestive heart failure on March 23, 2011. In honor of the 15-year anniversary of her death, here are some scenes from her life, proving Taylor was more brilliant than the diamonds she loved to wear.

Young actress Elizabeth Taylor stands with her brother Howard and their pets in a garden, circa 1938.

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Elizabeth Taylor on horseback in 1945.

circa 1945: British born American actress, Elizabeth Taylor on horseback.

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Taylor pictured on the deck of the Queen Mary holding her pet French poodle Teeny, September 1947.

Actress Elizabeth Taylor pictured on the deck of the 'SS Queen Mary' holding her pet French Poodle 'Teeny', at Southampton, September 4th 1947.

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Elizabeth Taylor on the set of the 1949 film Conspirator with Victor Saville directing.

Elizabeth Taylor on the set of the film 'Conspirator' with Victor Saville (1895 - 1979) directing.

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Elizabeth Taylor and her first husband, Conrad “Nicky” Hilton of the hotelier family, on their May 6, 1950, wedding day.

US film star Elizabeth Taylor and her first husband Nick Hilton, of the hotelier family, on their wedding day.

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Elizabeth Taylor (left) with Ava Gardner, Jack Russell and Carole Richards, posing for a group photo after their annual charity softball game in Hollywood raising money for youth welfare.

Actors Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner (1922 - 1990), Jack Russell and Carole Richards pose for a group photo after their annual charity softball game in Hollywood to raise money for the youth welfare fund.

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Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor share a relaxed moment on the set of the 1951 melodrama A Place in the Sun, directed by George Stevens for Paramount Pictures.

1951: Montgomery Clift (1920-1966) and Elizabeth Taylor share a relaxed moment on the set of the melodrama 'A Place In The Sun', directed by George Stevens for Paramount Pictures.

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Elizabeth Taylor holding her son Michael in August 1953.

Actress Elizabeth Taylor holding her son Michael in her arms at an airport, August 25th 1953.

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Posing in a red evening dress with her sons Michael (L) and Christopher Wilding in the mid-1950s.

British-born actor Elizabeth Taylor sits in a red evening dress with her sons Michael (L) and Christopher Wilding on her lap, mid 1950's.

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Taylor married her fourth husband, Eddie Fisher, in 1961.

Actress Elizabeth Taylor, wearing a fur coat, and her husband, singer Eddie Fisher, January 5th 1961.

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Taylor and Richard Burton chat on the set of Cleopatra, Rome, May 1962.

Actors and spouses Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor chatting on the set of the film 'Cleopatra', Rome, May 1962.

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Richard Burton goes swimming in the sea with Elizabeth Taylor and her daughter Liza Todd during filming of The Night of the Iguana in Mexico in 1963.

6th October 1963: Richard Burton (1925-1984) goes swimming in the sea with Elizabeth Taylor and her daughter Liza Todd, during filming of 'Night of the Iguana' in Mexico.

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Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal, Richard Burton and Sandy Dennis in Mike Nichols’ 1966 film of the Edward Albee play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

1966: Actors (from left to right) Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal, Richard Burton (1925 - 1984) and Sandy Dennis in Mike Nichols' film of the Edward Albee play 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf'.

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Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor kneel in a scene from the film The Taming of the Shrew, 1967, in Italy.

Actors Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton kneel in a scene from the film "The Taming of the Shrew" 1973 in Italy. The film, based on Shakespeare's play of the same name, tells the story of two sisters and their family's struggle to find husbands for them.

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Elizabeth Taylor (center) wearing a $30,000 pearl that belonged to Mary Tudor. She is with Liza Minnelli (right) and Baroness Guy de Rothschild at a 1971 show given on behalf of the United and Social Jewish Fund.

8th December 1971: Film star Elizabeth Taylor (centre) wearing a £15,000 pearl which belonged to Mary Tudor. She is with dancer, film star and singer Liza Minnelli (right) and Baroness Guy De Rothschild at a show given on behalf of the United and Social Jewish Fund.

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Elizabeth Taylor laughs as she remarks that she was upstaged by streaker Robert Opel before presenting the Oscar for Best Picture at the 46th Annual Academy Awards ceremony, Los Angeles, April 2, 1974.

British-born actress Elizabeth Taylor laughs as she remarks that she was upstaged by streaker Robert Opal before presenting the Oscar for Best Picture at the 46th Annual Academy Awards ceremony, Los Angeles, California, April 2, 1974. At right, Opal darts across the stage naked just as David Niven was introducing Taylor.

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Elizabeth Taylor and her sixth husband, the American politician John Warner, at a disco in New York in 1978.

1st November 1978: American actress Elizabeth Taylor and her husband, the American politician John Warner at a disco in New York.

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Elizabeth Taylor and her seventh and last husband, Larry Fortensky, in 1994.

1994 Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky.

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Known for her love of jewelry, here she attends a 2007 event for House of Taylor Jewelry.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Dame Elizabeth Taylor arrives to promote her House Of Taylor Jewelry Inc at Geary's on November 10, 2007 in Beverly Hills, California.

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