Kim Kardashian: How a Hollywood legend inspired me

Kim Kardashian, a well-known media personality, has expressed her admiration for the legendary actresses of old Hollywood, particularly Elizabeth Taylor. In a recent interview, Kim shared her deep respect for Taylor, who was the last person to be interviewed before her passing in 2011. This interview took place for Harper's Bazaar magazine and included a photoshoot that paid homage to Taylor's iconic role in the 1963 film Cleopatra. Kim recalls that they had planned to meet for tea at Taylor's home, but due to Taylor's illness, they ended up speaking over the phone instead. During their conversation, Kim was struck by Taylor's perspective on life. She noted, 'We were talking about fighting for people,' highlighting how Taylor recognized her own power and beauty. The life of Elizabeth Taylor, filled with Oscar wins and seven marriages, is the subject of a new BBC documentary series. Kim Kardashian, who gained fame through the reality TV show Keeping Up With the Kardashians and now boasts over 360 million followers on Instagram, serves as an executive producer for this series. She is passionate about ensuring that Taylor's legacy is remembered and shared with younger generations. Kim stated, 'There's so many young people I want to remind or even teach them about who she is. ' Elizabeth Taylor, born in 1932, was a prominent figure in the entertainment industry for most of her life. She moved from England to Beverly Hills at the age of seven and starred in her first major film, National Velvet, when she was just 12 years old. Taylor made history by becoming the first actress to sign a million-dollar contract for a single film, which was for Cleopatra. Her romantic life, particularly her tumultuous relationship with co-star Richard Burton, attracted significant media attention. Kim remarked, 'She was very honest about her love life and she would obviously fall in and out of love,' emphasizing Taylor's openness about her relationships. Taylor's eight marriages, including two to Richard Burton, were widely covered in the press. In the 1980s, she used her celebrity status to advocate for AIDS patients, a cause that Kim finds particularly inspiring. Kim said, 'What really moved me [is] how she would fight for people that were voiceless, and how she was so passionate about it. ' In 1985, Taylor co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) shortly before the death of her close friend Rock Hudson from an AIDS-related illness. She played a crucial role in encouraging President Ronald Reagan to address the AIDS crisis, which he had largely ignored until then. Kim noted, 'The main thing is that she just did not care,' referring to Taylor's willingness to face scrutiny for the sake of helping others. Kim sees Taylor as a role model in her own advocacy work, particularly in prison reform. In 2018, she met with Donald Trump to discuss this issue and has also engaged with Kamala Harris regarding pardons issued by President Joe Biden. Kim stated, 'I know that when I do prison reform work and people think it's too, maybe, crazy of a topic to really get involved in, you just think of her. ' Kim has personal connections to Elizabeth Taylor as well. She once dated a nephew of Michael Jackson and recalls seeing beautiful paintings of Taylor in Jackson's home, as the two were close friends. Additionally, Kim fondly remembers receiving a bottle of Taylor's signature White Diamonds perfume, saying, 'I will cherish that forever. ' Kim believes that Elizabeth Taylor's desire to do the right thing has inspired her own actions. She expressed her excitement for the upcoming documentary series, stating, 'My sisters want to watch it, my mom and my grandma. So that makes me really proud. ' Kim hopes that viewers will come to understand the multifaceted nature of Elizabeth Taylor, who was not only a glamorous actress but also faced personal challenges and emerged as a powerful activist. The documentary, titled Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar, is available for viewing on BBC iPlayer.