In the wake of writer Richard Merymans death in 2015, his wife Elizabeth was rummaging through their attic.
You very rarely have such a legendary figure speak so frankly from beyond the grave, she continues.
If she had been recorded on camera, it would have been a completely different vibe.
Photo: The Elizabeth Taylor Estate/HBO
[This format] makes them feel that much more authentic.
Where some wilted in the face of so much public scrutiny, however, Taylor soldiered bravely on.
Taylor and Richard Burton at Casa Kimberley in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at the end of 1963.
Taylor and Richard Burton at Casa Kimberley in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at the end of 1963.
The process turned Burstein into a veritable archeologist, combing through records that occasionally proved unsalvageable.
When film smells like vinegar you know its gone.
Certainly the level of fame she had, I didn’t realize it was on such a large scale.
Photo: Getty Images
It was on par with The Beatles and Princess Di.
So she did not have a childhood, yet was playing a mature woman on screen.
She was a strong-willed woman who was ahead of her time, says Burstein.
Photo: Frank Worth/HBO
She lived the life she wanted to live and dealt with the consequences.
Its extraordinary to be able to follow her through the film, says Tivey.
Its inspiring to see how she channeled so many of her experiences into her advocacy work later in life.
And that work continues even now.
