Elizabeth Taylor Returns Home To London

Fans of the late, great Elizabeth Taylor, a superb actress and classy dame if there ever was one, might be surprised to hear that this quintessential American movie star was, in fact, born in England. She was born in the tony Hampstead neighborhood of north London in 1932 to affluent American parents, and moved to the United States just months before the outbreak of WWII in 1939. Well, Dame Elizabeth is making a posthumous return to the city of her birth, at least via her body of films. As a tribute to the Oscar-winning actress and glamour icon, the BFI Southbank is hosting a season of her finest films next month. Her stellar performances in such classic films as FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1950), A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951), GIANT (1956) and CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (1958) are included, as are her twin Oscar performances in BUTTERFIELD 8 (1960) and WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966). The latter film is a classic pairing with her great love Richard Burton and the series also included two rarely revived films in which the “Battling Burtons” co-starred, including : THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (1967) and BOOM! (1968). For more information on this and other programs, visit: www.bfi.org.uk

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