Kim Kardashian has long admired Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor, a fascination that led her to interview the star for Harper’s Bazaar in 2011, just before Taylor’s death. The interview, which included a Cleopatra-inspired photoshoot, was intended to culminate in a tea meeting at Taylor’s home, but plans changed when the actress fell ill. Instead, the pair connected over the phone, where Taylor’s wisdom and powerful personality left a lasting impression on Kardashian.
Kardashian, now an executive producer on the new BBC documentary series Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar, shares how the iconic actress has inspired her throughout her life. “She understood her power and beauty,” Kardashian says, noting Taylor’s strength in fighting for the voiceless, particularly her trailblazing efforts in AIDS activism during a time when few celebrities were willing to take a stand.
“What really moved me is how she fought for people who had no voice,” Kardashian explains, citing Taylor’s role in founding the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985 and her relentless campaigning for awareness, even persuading President Reagan to address the topic publicly.
The series explores Taylor’s life, from her early success with National Velvet at age 12, to her historic million-dollar contract for Cleopatra, and her tumultuous love life, including her much-publicized marriages to Richard Burton. “She loved love,” Kardashian says of Taylor’s eight marriages, adding that the actress’s honesty about her relationships fascinated the public.
Kardashian credits Taylor for shaping her own activism, particularly in prison reform. Reflecting on her advocacy for the release of Alice Johnson and her meetings with U.S. leaders like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Kardashian says she finds strength in Taylor’s unapologetic approach to controversial issues. “When I do prison reform work and people think it’s a crazy topic, I just think of her.”
In addition to their shared passion for activism, Kardashian and Taylor also have personal connections. Kardashian once dated Michael Jackson’s nephew and recalls seeing portraits of Taylor in Jackson’s home. Taylor even gifted Kardashian a bottle of her iconic White Diamonds perfume, a memory she treasures.
Taylor’s famous jewelry collection also left a mark on Kardashian, particularly the pieces named after her relationships, such as the Mike Todd tiara and the Taylor-Burton diamond. “I just thought that was so fun and inspiring,” Kardashian says. “She was so unapologetically herself.”
As she gears up for the release of Rebel Superstar, Kardashian is eager for younger generations to learn more about Taylor’s multifaceted life. “I want people to understand that she was everything: the glamorous actress, the activist, and the person going through hard times. She was all of it.”
The documentary series promises to shine a light on the extraordinary life and lasting legacy of Elizabeth Taylor, a woman who influenced countless generations, including Kim Kardashian herself.
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