Elizabeth Taylor--1988 TV Interview

Elizabeth Taylor chats with Phil Donahue in this 1988 TV interview.

[@Okkkkkkk-ol5kz]

I actually love that she is so transparent about this topic. She is so real. She handles every question with wit, depth, and sincerity.

[@andygreen1a]

Beautiful lady inside and out. She was breathtakingly beautiful always, that face, those eyes. But she was even more beautiful inside as a person. She was extremely down to earth, she did so much charity work and her legacy continues to help people to this day. A true star in every way. We have nobody like this today. RIP beautiful lady.

[@karinaaguiar7154]

So true and she was one of the first celebs to adopt children and do charities before it was fashion in Hollywood

[@reginabarron4073]

Very, true!

[@dennesmoore8531]

I met her eldest son (who is one month older than I) Michael Jr.. I left a club around 3 in the morning and Michael was hitch-hiking at a bus stop. I was on my way to my apartment in Venice. I was leery! The top was down on my car and he "quietly" asked for a lift. He seemed "harmless" and the mist from the night was falling. I gave him a lift and we had a fantastic drive. Elizabeth Taylor reared at least one VERY REAL and kindly aware human being. We were both 23 years old.

[@andygreen1a]

@@dennesmoore8531 Thank you for sharing that.

[@raquell8927]

@@karinaaguiar7154 add

[@janeobrien4548]

She was so capable of expressing herself. I enjoy looking at her and most of all listening to her opinions and experiences in her life... I was hoping she would talk about her children, but Phil Donahue never asked about them. There is a lovely sincerity about her with elegance, calmness and understanding. My last comment is She's not at all self-centered.

[@bonham460]

Never in a billion years could you have been "just a wife". A mold was broken when you came into this world and shined your light and love on us.

[@amyburger8845]

I remembered the interviewer Phil Donahue had his own show, I believe when I was a child. Anyway, I can't believe how creepy his questions are to her, extremely sexist in my opinion. Elizabeth Taylor handles those gross questions with class and eloquence. She was a very beautiful and classy lady!

[@UltimoDogLover]

Definitely less offensive than Barbara Walters' questions. But for better or worse, they asked celebrities real and invasive and personal questions in the 1980s. It wasn't just puff pieces as vehicles to promote the current project.

[@Harry-fk5of]

Some of the questions simply wouldn't be asked these days and would be inappropriate like when he pointed out 'you were a virgin when you got married at 16' or commenting on her body. Having said that, I assume he got his information from her book which I assume she approved. Still very strange questions. Different times.

[@JXDMNN]

Your hate belongs to you. It sleeps in your bed. It eats at your table. It is YOUR hate.

[@karenokeane6461]

Agree, It's like of icky.

[@PianoPatterns123]

Look at the expression of her face when Donahue asks invasive questions. She has a look of contempt in her eyes toward Donahue. Even her vocal tones toward Donahue sound negative toward him, because of his arrogance.

[@seanm6215]

She never looked more glamorous as she did at this point in he life. This is hollywood glamor.

[@gilbydog7350]

I agree. She looked absolutely fantastic at 55.

[@charlottaw599]

Thank you for uploading these treasures 🙏🏼

[@jannepetersen4660]

I think she was the most beautiful actor, Hollywood ever had, and I think she was very kind and decent.......

[@cristinadalmeida12]

A beautiful woman inside and out. They often say she thought the world revolved around her, but I think she definitely humbled as she aged and she is so intelligent and articulate here.

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

She cinfused me because sometimes she was or seemed materialistic and then she woulfd help a lot of people.

[@TV-fu1ec]

She was so great. Love hearing her wisdom and strength

[@williamswendylee4574]

She is honest and beautiful 😍.

[@geewizlana]

She aged so good. 55? Looks 40 here. And had she not done the big trendy helmet hair, I would say 35.

[@piscesempress1978]

She looks at least 15 years younger.

[@kathreilly7050]

Beautiful lady Independent and strong

[@lancedukel3436]

Liz was one classy dame.

[@SuperJewelboy]

Wearing her "Night of the Iguana" brooch. A gift from Burton.

[@ME-bl3xg]

[@mukbangsareawesome6335]

Great lady. Truly an icon.

[@lindakahler4799]

Moms jeweler sold Richard the Krupp diamond ring. Mr. Pollack said it was the most gorgeous diamond he ever sold. I was there to buy a pendant for my niece and Sidney let me try on the emerald and diamond bracelet Forbes commissioned for Elizabeth. Gorgeous and worth $30k thirty years ago. What a thrill

[@wotan10950]

Taylor gave us so many memorable performances in some great movies. But if anyone isn’t convinced of her supreme abilities as an actress, just watch Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. She could portray anger, sadness, desperation, poignancy, humor, and even love, especially when she rhapsodizes about her “son” (no spoilers, in case you haven’t seen it). Truly one of the great film performances of all time.

[@darrenlloyd4835]

I'd loved to have met her... she was the most beautiful of all Hollywood legends.. I'd love to hear her talk about Marilyn Monroe.

[@okongift6364]

I love 💘 💗 you Elizabeth Taylor ❤ 😢 ♥ 💕

[@gretagarbeige]

I'm sick of all these journalists talking about her private life and not about her craft. Such a great actress as she was, I wish people would have asked her about her craft! Who gives a damn about her mother, really.

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

i agree

[@melissagarza2376]

She was promoting her book about her experience being obese at one point in her life and how she overcame it.

[@madelainelevy4520]

I loved her movies… all of them

[@jm7804]

I love that she had a second act in her 50s. Not a lot of women get that chance. And certainly not looking like she does here. It gave her the chance to create her perfume line, which is one of the most successful in history. She was worth hundreds of millions of dollars at the time of her death due to this second act. Otherwise, she would've had a modest retirement by comparison.

[@melissagarza2376]

Agree 💯 %

[@jomama5186]

This was such a treat. Thank you for sharing this :)

[@gabe-po9yi]

Virgin, virgin, virgin, virginity, busty. WTH, Phil. I think she came close to saying something to him, but stopped herself because that wasn’t done then with interviewers.

[@clarisedubond8793]

If looks could kill at certain points in the interview but she's smoothly tolerating him.

[@johnmason8968]

She had a great face!

[@ssam1820]

The entire interview was about her weight, a women with such an amazing life and all he could ask about was her weight and body. Millions of things could have been asked.

[@bettyprettyprincess]

Her book is about losing weight

[@karinaaguiar7154]

I believe it was because of her book ,it was all about weight loss and she was promoting the book at the time and doing interviews

[@lynnlobliner3933]

I watched 2 others today (I don't know how I got there) and that's all they ask. I can't stand Donahue's interview, almost as much as I can't stand Barbara Walters' interview style (although I enjoyed her on The View). I'm 16 minutes in and I can't watch any more.

[@xxxstar90dustxxxr]

And about her supposed "difficulty" in finding a man as a woman of her age. He was a bafoon! HAHAHHAHA!

[@ssam1820]

@@xxxstar90dustxxxr it's funny because Elizabeth had had relationships at every stage of her life even until her last days with Collin. Age never stopped her magnetism.

[@lindagrasse]

what a great lady she was. I would love to hear that sweet voice when she was screaming at Richard Burton. she isn't the first beautiful woman to fall in love with a raving alcoholic

[@Entertainm897]

Was she 54 years old in 1986? No doubt, her beauty was a reflexión of who she was inside. Minute 19:27 - 20:30

[@clarisedubond8793]

Whoa Phil's like a lusch in a bar. Cannot even watch this train wreck conversation. Liz does a nice job and seems happy here.

[@ritagam4514]

So much ahead of her time.. talking about fat shaming when people thought being "fat" was funny

[@davidlogan4329]

An incredible woman

[@goodcanadiangirl9664]

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗 Love Elizabeth Taylor💗💗 She holds her own being asked such garbage/outdated questions. I wonder what she was drinking.

[@jasonws1972]

Facinating!

[@gilbydog7350]

I suspect this interview was in fact in 1988 to promote the February 1988 release of her book "Elizabeth takes off".

[@renatoespinoza8792]

i cant stop looking her beautiful eyes

[@johnnaylor823]

Absolutely Beautiful Woman

[@tomfrost1997]

Oh my GOD I was loving everything Elizabeth was telling… so interesting! And at the same time saying SHUT UP damn Phil

[@xxxstar90dustxxxr]

YES HE WAS SO RUDE! OMG!

[@debra13]

I hate the way Phil talks (to her face) about her bust, her waist, etc. That would not happen now- one hopes. Liz wasn't an object.

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

She was known for those features and capitalized on them.

[@alejandrabonita8355]

Would still happen today who are you fooling...

[@CPR2839]

Get over yourself. He said bust. He didn’t say “titties, knockers, boobs, headlights, hooters, melons, cans.” That the trouble with women and other human beings today. Overly sensitive idiots.

[@gaylegardinerankerry12123]

THIS IS TRUE CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD

[@tinamo2836]

I absolutely Love ET. But Phil, here not so much. The questions he asked about her size and weight were horrible. We would not stand for it today. She kept her composure, her intelligence and grace under pressure.

[@arielnunez2332]

Hermosa y Muy Inteligente.

[@karenokeane6461]

I'd forgotten Phil's style of interviewing. It's almost jarring today. LOL

[@jomama5186]

This is beauty. The kind that comes from the inside out. The kind that requires no plastic surgery. You are born this say or you aren't. Most of her life was spent in front of a camera, she did it her way, cameras be d@mned. Gotta get her book and The Richard Burton Diaries. He had to compliment her or he'd pi$$ her off! She lived on her own terms. Led her life with her heart. And yes, she was a great beauty. National Treasure. She sure had to have a tough skin. She did good :) I hope I get to meet her someday when it's my turn.

[@margaretdunphy4207]

She is not happy with these questions.

[@bob5188]

Her mother was born in 1895, so this interview would have been in 1986.

[@tomfrost1997]

17:00 the shade at PHIL 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@justthink5854]

great woman. great survivor.

[@ib1581]

I've never disliked an interviewer as much as Donahue. So insulting to keep turning the focus on her weight. Ridiculous, odious pleb. I much preferred Dick Cavett's style and professionalism, and attention to detail.

[@earlybird32]

Some of those silly questions would not be tolerated now.

[@kevinmalone3210]

She was 54 when she did this interview. She looked like she was in her late 30s.

[@ramizday2248]

Elizabeth Taylor died 79 years old. I like her Eyes and lashes. İf she lives I love this. But RIP I upset 😭😭😭😭😭She is magnificent... Really magnificent...How take this Eyes and lashes??? Strong woman...Really magnificent woman...I love Liz... Good Liz...Really her Eyes purple. Hahahaha 😂😂😂😂😂Mutant woman... She not a noble...Village but Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful...She's my pride... 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘Alice Wonderful World...She is a miracle...Maybe not a real... She loves party...

[@lisaackland690]

I recognise my bedroom wallpaper even though you’ve tried to blur the camera lens, Neil, uh.

[@January.]

I never liked Joan Rivers' humor. I miss Elizabeth...I think she's extremely intelligent, kind, and a good actress, but she shouldn't have hurt the wives of Eddie Fisher and Richard Burton if they weren't separated from their wives.

[@debra13]

My goodness, all he talks about is her body. I mean I know her book goes into the process emotionally and physically of her journey, but he is just not that respectful - doesn't go inward. She does. I know Phil probably didn't mean to come off that way, but I have seen him focus on the superficial instead of going deeper many times.

[@melissagarza2376]

She was promoting her book on overcoming obesity.

[@lisaroberts7926]

I thought Liz looked kind of angry. Phil came across as a letch!

[@TheRavenal]

He sure did!

[@elgeneralxx]

This is 80s because of the theme song if it was 1991 you would have the theme song with Phil walking across the screen

[@elizabethclayton2587]

I love the theme tune !

[@barbarahourigan8462]

❤️

[@waynealexander1615]

I think he is a charming man but I never was impressed with him as an Interviewer. He talks too much and makes leading comments. Elizabeth seemed a bit annoyed with his interview approach.

[@chriswhiteauditions]

I agree with you about Elizabeth seeming annoyed (I would've been in this situation). There are a few moments where her eyes looked like she was either silently cussing him out or wondering when the interview would finally be done. To her credit, she kept herself polished and professional.

[@carlact5587]

At that time she was 54 years old she looks like 35

[@micheldilly8531]

Pourquoi pas 16 n'importe quoi !

[@mr.k1503]

He spoke 75% of the interview-Elizabeth spoke 25% ---typical interviewers in love with the sound of their voices---She was a class act

[@littlericky46]

Back in the '70s, I loved Phil Donahue's in-depth interviews. But watching today, his overbearing interview style really doesn't wear well, does it?

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

Well everyone is so sensitive today.

[@littlericky46]

@@MiamiPush2theLimit Maybe, but Phil just keeps asking AND answering the same questions repeatedly...

[@lbbk6]

it's kind of exhausting listening to him, plus, you hear him talking just as much as Ms. Taylor. Thinking about it.. I think he uses too many ad-ons to his questions. there is such a thing as too much elaboration. Also, he uses a style that sounds like he's telling his subject about themselves which I find weird and awkward.

[@user-mc5pl8js9h]

He's awful

[@elizabethclayton2587]

This was a great piece of interview history thanks luv ❤️ were do the current mk ultra celebs go when they get fat these day's at least Elizabeth went out fat! Hollywood greats!

[@ronniekrupa7578]

He KEEPS going back to her weight.

[@angerjane]

"Oh? You think you went beyond 180?"

[@janebraun4482]

She's 55 here, and no jowls whatsoever! How did she do it?

[@Tracey..H]

Plastic surgery

[@piscesempress1978]

She was a gorgeous woman, and maybe she had a nip tuck but it worked!!! She looked much younger than 55! and NOT all women have jowls at 55 my mom never did.

[@dafinker3443]

Ha ha ha Donaspew we love it 😃😀😅

[@leila7524]

He's obsessed with talking about her weight! What a waste of interview time with such a fascinating brilliant woman :(

[@melissagarza2376]

She was promoting her book on how she overcame obesity.

[@elgeneralxx]

This is before 1991

[@elizabethclayton2587]

86

[@ELLIEARKETMANIFESTS]

He is RUDE. Inappropriate. She’s a Legend 😡

[@dafinker3443]

Donahue is too much aw shucks all the time zzzzzzz

[@denisferrara5298]

1988...

[@lisaackland690]

Geezus %-) xxx…

[@dafinker3443]

We are sick at this ordinary peasant’ s questions donaspew

[@debjh8983]

Phil Donohue was a terrible interviewer. Chauvinistic and demeaning questions.

[@dafinker3443]

Phil the DILL

[@erinmarie99]

He comes across as the creepiest interviewer here!

[@lisaackland690]

In my room.

[@robertk4898]

Can anyone that sees this tell me what su-it is? I keep trying to spell it but it just comes out as suit which is something you wear. What is "a bowl of suit" mean? It sounds like something we fed our hogs when I was a kid. She said her eyes were "buried in a bowl of suit" (20:58) what does "suit" mean and how do you spell it? (Su-it). Suet maybe? But that's something you prepare with meat or suet for birds. Please let me know if you know what it is. 🙏 Is she speaking about her hair? Anyway... I love Elizabeth. I hope she's living it up in heaven or wherever we go or she gets to come back and be the first woman president of the USA or something grand. 😊 RIP Elizabeth Taylor. 🙏❤

[@TheRavenal]

suet

[@christinarice1722]

He seemed creepy to me in this interview

[@katiecousineau2412]

ughh...Phil comes across as a real creep in this interview..."you were a virgin, you have a tiny waist and are really busty, etc. etc"...ughugh

[@devong7124]

She ought to tell him in her sweet voice, " Go to Hell".

[@marissar.359]

Especially since they were talking about how she looked at 16 years old. Yuck.

[@melissakalloway1916]

His questions are beyond ignorant!

[@dafinker3443]

Oh his hair 🤡

[@lisaackland8342]

You can come into my flat and room anytime Nana xxx…

[@eleigh5351]

Donahue is pissing me off. He covered the weight. Move on....

[@MrS98VAC]

53:00

[@lisaackland8342]

You just wanted a little change of scenery, didn’t you? ~ xxx…

[@unpocodetodo33]

He was so rude

[@Nan-ly8zb]

He’s so disgustingly inappropriate and she handled it like the complete class act that she was.

[@stardusth2o]

God, Phil was SUCH a lousy interviewer and talk show host.

[@user-zv3yo2st3u]

Does anyone else think that his questions are a bit inappropriate!? Like this would never fly today. Jerk!

[@SueProv]

Phil is for the ERA but harps on her weight? Interesting. Never saw a man asked what he had for breakfast except Richard Simmons. I get talking about it but he was an ass with the obsession of it. Misogynistic.

[@ssam1820]

"Most of the attractive men are married like you Phill how inconsiderate of you," she was planning on stealing him too lol.

[@mikieanthony777]

Phil sounds more creepy than usual. 15 minutes in, more than enough. Bye 👋

[@shaunreilly774]

Phil did not do a good interview, he seemed to be obsessed with her weight, he should have talked about the work she had been doing for AIDS, etc. And for goodness' sake enough about John Warner and that farm.

[@dafinker3443]

He is so painful so corny 🤮

[@FirstLast-dy4gt]

She’s impeccable… he’s gross

[@lisaackland690]

Distortion doesn’t ccconfyewzzz me Gran.

[@user-ke8st8jc1v]

Donahue is so annoying,I never liked his style of interviewing

[@caribeandude1]

I never could understand what the big deal about Phil Donahue was. I don't think he was a great interviewer or talk show host. He's no Oprah that's for sure.

[@BLTKellys]

He’s so pompous.

[@judithryle2113]

Oprah and Larry king are terrible also

[@robertmesk6310]

Oprah is a terrible interviewer. It's all about her, not the guest!

[@neelyohara88]

what an ass phil donahue was.