The Debbie Reynolds Rivalry
The story begins with Elizabeth Taylor's profound grief following the tragic death of her third husband, film producer Michael Todd, in a plane crash in 1958. At the time, Taylor was close friends with Todd's best friend, actor Eddie Fisher, who was married to America's sweetheart Debbie Reynolds. As Taylor struggled with her loss, Fisher stepped in to comfort her, and their relationship quickly turned romantic.
Taylor's affair with Fisher was considered one of the biggest Hollywood scandals of the era. She was seen as the "homewrecker" who stole Reynolds' husband, and the public backlash was intense. Taylor was vilified in the media, with many fans turning against her. The situation was complicated by the fact that Taylor and Reynolds had been friendly before the affair, even appearing together in the film "Bundle of Joy."
What made Taylor particularly jealous was how the public and media portrayed Reynolds as the innocent, wronged wife while painting Taylor as the villainous seductress. Despite being the one who initiated the affair, Taylor reportedly felt deeply insecure about Reynolds' popularity and the sympathy she received. This jealousy manifested in various ways, including Taylor's refusal to work with Reynolds professionally and her discomfort whenever Reynolds' name came up in interviews.
The Aftermath of the Affair
Taylor and Fisher married in 1959, but their relationship was built on the foundation of Fisher's betrayal of Reynolds. The marriage lasted only five years, ending in divorce in 1964. Throughout this period, Taylor's jealousy of Reynolds never fully subsided, even though she had "won" Fisher from his wife.
The rivalry between Taylor and Reynolds became so notorious that it defined a significant portion of Taylor's public image during this era. Hollywood insiders noted that Taylor would become visibly uncomfortable whenever Reynolds was mentioned, and she went to great lengths to avoid any professional overlap with her former friend.
Other Sources of Jealousy in Taylor's Life
While the Reynolds situation was the most public display of Taylor's jealousy, it wasn't the only source. Throughout her career, Taylor experienced professional jealousy toward other actresses who achieved success or critical acclaim that she desired for herself.
One notable example was her relationship with Audrey Hepburn. Though they maintained a cordial public relationship, industry insiders have suggested that Taylor harbored professional jealousy toward Hepburn, particularly after Hepburn's success in "My Fair Lady" (1964), a role Taylor had desperately wanted. Taylor had lobbied hard for the part of Eliza Doolittle, but the studio ultimately chose Hepburn, who wasn't known for her singing abilities. This decision reportedly stung Taylor deeply and contributed to a subtle but persistent professional rivalry between the two actresses.
Competition with Marilyn Monroe
Taylor's relationship with Marilyn Monroe was complex and often marked by professional jealousy. Both actresses were at the height of their fame in the 1950s and early 1960s, and they represented different aspects of Hollywood glamour. While Monroe was known for her breathy voice and comedic timing, Taylor was celebrated for her dramatic abilities and striking beauty.
Industry sources have suggested that Taylor felt competitive with Monroe, particularly regarding their respective abilities to command attention and secure high-profile roles. When Monroe's film "The Seven Year Itch" featured the iconic subway grate scene in 1955, Taylor reportedly felt a twinge of jealousy at the massive publicity and public fascination Monroe generated. This competitive dynamic continued until Monroe's tragic death in 1962, after which Taylor reportedly felt a mix of relief and guilt about her past feelings.
Jealousy in Taylor's Personal Relationships
Beyond professional rivalries, Taylor's personal relationships were often characterized by jealousy and possessiveness. Her marriages, particularly to Richard Burton, were marked by intense emotional highs and lows, with jealousy playing a significant role in their dynamic.
Taylor's relationship with Burton began on the set of "Cleopatra" in 1962, where both were married to other people. Their affair mirrored the scandal of her relationship with Eddie Fisher, and Taylor seemed to have learned little from her previous experience. She was notoriously jealous of Burton's interactions with other women, including his co-stars and even casual acquaintances.
The Burton Years
The Taylor-Burton relationship was characterized by passionate arguments, public displays of affection, and mutual jealousy. Both were heavy drinkers and had explosive tempers, which often led to confrontations fueled by jealousy. Taylor was particularly sensitive to Burton's relationships with other actresses, and she would frequently demand his attention and loyalty in ways that bordered on obsessive.
Interestingly, Burton also experienced jealousy regarding Taylor's fame and success. He once famously said that he fell in love with Taylor's money and her fame, suggesting a complex dynamic where both partners experienced jealousy over different aspects of their relationship and careers.
The Evolution of Taylor's Jealousy
As Taylor matured and her career evolved, her expressions of jealousy changed. In her later years, she became more philosophical about competition and rivalry, though traces of her former jealous tendencies occasionally surfaced in interviews and memoirs.
Her friendship with Debbie Reynolds, which began as a bitter rivalry, eventually transformed into a genuine reconciliation. The two women appeared together on a 2001 television special called "These Old Broads," written by Carrie Fisher (Eddie and Debbie's daughter). This collaboration suggested that Taylor had moved beyond her earlier jealous feelings toward Reynolds.
Professional Growth and Maturity
Taylor's later career showed signs of professional maturity and reduced jealousy toward her peers. She became an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991, channeling her energy into philanthropy rather than professional rivalry.
However, interviews with those close to Taylor in her later years suggest that some competitive feelings never entirely disappeared. She remained sensitive to criticism and continued to care deeply about her legacy and how she was perceived in comparison to other actresses of her generation.
The Psychology of Taylor's Jealousy
Understanding Taylor's jealousy requires examining her background and the Hollywood culture that shaped her. Born into privilege but thrust into the spotlight at a young age, Taylor experienced both the benefits and pitfalls of early fame. Her violet eyes and natural beauty made her a child star, but this early success came with intense scrutiny and pressure.
Psychologists who have studied Taylor's life note that her jealousy may have stemmed from deep-seated insecurities about her worth beyond her physical appearance and acting ability. Despite her immense talent and success, Taylor reportedly struggled with feelings of inadequacy that manifested as jealousy toward those she perceived as threats to her status or relationships.
The Impact of Hollywood Culture
The competitive nature of Hollywood during Taylor's era cannot be understated. The studio system created an environment where actresses were often pitted against each other for roles, publicity, and public favor. This system likely exacerbated Taylor's natural tendencies toward jealousy and possessiveness.
Additionally, Taylor's personal life was constantly scrutinized by the media, creating additional pressure and insecurity. Every relationship, every affair, every marriage was analyzed and criticized, which likely contributed to her defensive and sometimes jealous behavior.
Legacy of Jealousy
Elizabeth Taylor's legacy includes not just her groundbreaking acting career and her beauty, but also her reputation for passionate, sometimes volatile relationships characterized by jealousy and possessiveness. This aspect of her personality has been both criticized and romanticized in various biographies and documentaries about her life.
What's perhaps most interesting about Taylor's jealousy is how it coexisted with her capacity for deep love and loyalty. She was capable of extraordinary generosity and kindness, particularly in her later philanthropic work. Her jealousy, while sometimes destructive, was also a manifestation of her intense emotional nature and her unwillingness to accept anything less than complete devotion from those she loved.
Understanding the Complete Picture
To fully understand Elizabeth Taylor's jealousy, we must view it within the context of her entire life and personality. She was a woman of extreme emotions, capable of both great love and great anger. Her jealousy was not simply a character flaw but rather an expression of her passionate nature and her deep-seated need for security and validation.
Taylor's jealousy, particularly toward figures like Debbie Reynolds, tells us as much about the Hollywood culture of her era as it does about her personal psychology. It reflects the intense competition, the public scrutiny, and the emotional toll of living life in the spotlight that characterized the experiences of many actresses of her generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Elizabeth Taylor's jealousy primarily professional or personal?
Elizabeth Taylor's jealousy manifested in both professional and personal spheres, though the personal aspects were often more publicly visible. Her professional jealousy toward actresses like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe was real but typically less volatile than her personal jealousies, particularly regarding her romantic relationships with figures like Eddie Fisher and Richard Burton.
How did Debbie Reynolds respond to Taylor's jealousy?
Debbie Reynolds initially responded to Taylor's actions with public hurt and anger, as evidenced by her candid interviews about the affair with Eddie Fisher. However, over time, Reynolds demonstrated remarkable grace and eventually reconciled with Taylor. Their later collaboration on "These Old Broads" showed that Reynolds had moved beyond the initial hurt, though the relationship between the two women remained complex throughout their lives.
Did Elizabeth Taylor's jealousy affect her career opportunities?
Yes, Taylor's jealousy and the resulting public scandals occasionally affected her career. The Fisher affair led to negative publicity that temporarily damaged her public image. Additionally, her intense desire for certain roles and her reactions to not getting them sometimes created professional tensions. However, her undeniable talent and box office appeal meant that these issues rarely resulted in long-term career damage.
The Bottom Line
Elizabeth Taylor's jealousy, particularly toward Debbie Reynolds, represents one of the most fascinating aspects of her complex personality. This jealousy was born from personal insecurity, professional competition, and the intense emotional nature that defined much of her life and career. While it sometimes led to destructive behavior and public scandals, it was also inextricably linked to the passionate, all-consuming approach to life that made Taylor one of Hollywood's most unforgettable stars.
Understanding Taylor's jealousy helps us appreciate the complete picture of this legendary actress - not just as a beautiful face on the screen, but as a deeply human person grappling with the same insecurities, desires, and emotional complexities that affect us all. Her story reminds us that even the most glamorous public figures struggle with feelings of inadequacy and the fear of losing what they value most.
In the end, Taylor's journey from jealous rival to reconciled friend with Debbie Reynolds suggests a capacity for growth and change that adds another dimension to her already multifaceted legacy. It's a reminder that even the most intense jealousies can evolve, and that personal growth is possible even for those living under the harshest public scrutiny.