Elizabeth Taylor on Richard Burton - His Importance As An Actor And Why He Must NEVER Be Forgotten

Taken from Taylor's 2002 interview with Barbara Walters which aired on ABC's 20/20 program.

[@marcleysens7716]

Despite her immense beauty, fame and success, she has a tremendous sense of realism about her within that knowledge.

[@samuelclemens1691]

He once said of Elizabeth........ "I can't live with her........ But I can't live without her"

[@LoveFlatfootin1]

Describes the relationships of so many people I know.

[@kathybarron4653]

Loveflatfootin, I agree completely.

[@sassycat6487]

@@lepetitchat123 it's also not perfect and every normal couple drives each other crazy sometimes.

[@francisbryanclavinclavain7203]

@@LoveFlatfootin1 you I

[@lepetitchat123]

He's better off dead then 😆

[@zbedfi]

it’s lovely how grateful she was for her extraordinary life; that it wasn’t wasted on someone who’d take it for granted!

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

A bit materialistic

[@lisacassar7040]

@@melisagalvalizi6982 Wow . wtb? these men chose to give these to her as a sign of love affection. 5 love languages

[@luxe_feed]

Amen, my love language used to be words of affection until I realized that a lot of men will tell you what you want to hear just to get in your pants....

[@Pentapus1024]

God I love that woman. And she and Burton were out of this world. So romantic.

[@ilhamounes150]

She had wonderful mind before a dame beauty

[@paultrevorbale2440]

She was wonderful as an actress a movie star and human being. Off screen she was humble and generous and incredibly grateful for what life had brought her.

[@yvonneplant9434]

I learned things in the latest, only authorized, bio about her. She used to help peope anonymously with money or other things they needed. She didn't want them to know the help came from her. She was kinder and more generous than I knew.

[@ms.sherlock]

She is so down to earth and relatable.

[@yvonneplant9434]

Yes, she was.

[@ronnie6902]

She was so beautiful, Her eyes were like jewels!!

[@yvonneplant9434]

Her dad said she was a Taylor. Did he mean that somewhere in Kansas( where her parents were from) there were and still are extended family who look like her ???

[@roybatty3194]

This wasn't excessive materialism, this was greatness! Why? Because this was the age of actual astounding genius and talent!! The world wasn't sucked dry by vacuous, no talent, reality TV bullshit.....it was replenished and made so much better by having these bright shining lights of screen and stage live upon it!! Forever.❤

[@nev7711]

Two years later and your words are more true than ever Roy.

[@fluffybunny7840]

Richard was an intense actor is aura was astounding! Liz fell for his charms on and off screen! A beautiful passionate relationship! So very sexy and beguiling! We all need love it’s fabulous !

[@MissDavids]

I would have too, Richard Burton was one gorgeous hunk of man. Elizabeth Taylor was so lucky she got to kiss him.

[@primus7776]

Admirable Man. Fabulous Actor. Mesmerizing voice.

[@cockatoosmom]

OMG it is stunning. A true Pisces I love her essence her beauty

[@AmethystDew]

In Astrology her Moon lay on top of his Sun - Scorpio. So she defined his dream woman and her emotional self was ignighted into passion by him. Powerful stuff!! 🥰❤‍🔥🥰

[@adismell]

This woman's great. "I'm so glad I had it." "Can you imagine ever having it again." "Oh God no!"

[@Claire-tn4xp]

I've had that kind of chemistry with a bf. It's the kind of connection you never get again. It's rare first time.

[@globalspiritualrevolutionmedia]

Richard Burton Was a Pure Genius! One of The Greatest Orators and Actors In Hollywood History. Mr. Burton's Poem "TO BE" (The Greatest Poem In The English Language) Is So Very Powerful.

[@baybenjamin]

RB was the most gifted actor of the generation, Liz too on film,Night of the iguana, taming of the shrew,...Virginia wolf. Shes right go rent it and compare to any other. The writing is paramount and it takes the finest actors to realize it. God rest both . Wolff gives me chills to this day. And Iguana.

[@Sperruzza90]

he was a great unrated actor!Theather actor at most,wonderful voice and a great writter.Drink was his problem exatly as Taylor was with pills and stuffs. Unfortunately,they could handle it in differents way and it s clear that Burton was more like autodistructive as Taylor was. :( (sorry for my English >.< )

[@goldHydrangeas]

@@Sperruzza90 the correct word you’re looking for is self-destructive , or self-sabotaging.

[@paultrevorbale2440]

@@ladyrose3285 not always. I worked on Divorce His Divorce Hers and one morning around 10 he was so drunk he couldn’t remember the name of the character Elizabeth was playing and fell ass over tit over the coffee table trying to reach her. They had to stop filming for the day!

[@angeladelvecchio7795]

RB was in Night of the Iguana with Ava Gardner, Elizabeth was not in the picture but always on set to keep an eye on Richard.

[@gardensofthegods]

​@@paultrevorbale2440wow what memories you must have ... please if you would tell us some more about what it was like ... I know I'd love to hear about you being on the set with people like Burton and any others you have worked with .

[@komalkaur1551]

She was an icon who set the screen on fire

[@cathykinn4516]

I Miss Elizabeth Taylor! She was Never Boring. So sad how her health broke down but we saw HER then, what a sweet nature she had.

[@meghanmisaliar]

She was never fake.

[@degsbabe]

To quote Richard ' When I appeared in Cleopatra I was acting - however Elizabeth WAS Cleopatra'. Imagine tho' wearing a jewel like that as you diminish into fragility.?

[@castalia60able]

Just remember "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" Believe me they are.

[@jomama5186]

She should never be forgotten either. I will ALWAYS love and adore this woman !!! It's terrible they couldn't be laid to rest together. That was really sad.

[@yvonneplant9434]

She won't be.

[@sandraduquesnel3648]

Anne of a thousand days is one of my favorite films. Richard Burton was gorgeous.,One of the finest actors of the twentieth century.

[@MissDavids]

Oh, definitely. Hope I meet a man as handsome as him, Sandra.

[@gardensofthegods]

​@@MissDavidsHe was also quite the intellectual and a voracious reader ... also an excellent storyteller . Have you ever seen the interview of him on Dick Cavett here talking about his family back home in Wales and what it's like to be a coal miner ... he had a way of telling stories to make any subject fascinating ... the audience was really hanging on to every word .

[@AmethystDew]

@@gardensofthegods He also spoke 5 - 6 languages. Richard was a VERY intelligant man.

[@Sperruzza90]

he was so handsome...

[@Dachshundlovr]

He was another fascinating drunk. The Sinatras said that when these two were at his parties, it was just like the Virginia Wooolf movie. Man those people really lived.

[@piustwelfth]

In 2011, Liz's children auctioned much of her jewelry. The Krupp diamond ring sold for almost $9 million (Richard Burton paid $307,000 at a 1968 auction). The Peregina pearl necklace sold for $12,000,000 (Burton paid $37,000 in 1969).

[@ziggypop8106]

Yeah, inflation is a bu**er isn't it?

[@PC4USE1]

They were the very definition of star crossed lovers.

[@plasticweapon]

that's not the definition of star crossed.

[@countdownda]

she was still stanning him; thats love

[@sb1866]

Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolfe? That was their best film together. Love this lady!! One of my favorite actors. Besides Joan Crawford & Betty Davis! I've I've several more favorite actors. My memory is going. It's tough getting old.

[@perverie]

She was an incredible woman …. Extremely intelligent and beautiful… she has done a lot about AIDS and helped many people and friends… I think she had a very full life despite her many illnesses… and she was an incredible actress… RIP dear Elizabeth… we miss your talent… and your generosity ….

[@davidsloan5730]

"was once owned by queen Mary Tudor of England" then they show a portrait of Elizabeth I.

[@Rumpole1000]

They'll never know in Arkansas.

[@sydneyalexander2067]

David Sloan Most people can't find England on a map, let alone notice that, lmao. Well, most people in America, smh.

[@gardensofthegods]

​@@sydneyalexander2067honestly I hate to agree... as an American but I guess I do agree as it is embarrassing how many Americans don't know basic history and geography

[@richardmbowman]

"...there was nothing ..there!" How melodramatic she was. And I love her so.

[@Sheisneika0976]

I love that she still has that ring

[@paparazzi929]

1:01 "and a hunk!"

[@lenhummel5614]

They were truly a Romantic Riot❗passionate and even wreckless as well as brilliant and truly dazzling. *The greatest Celebrity Romance of all time.*

[@marial.rapaglia4041]

classic funny & witty Liz when she says "where's the camera!!"

[@marial.rapaglia4041]

What about Liz Taylors' importance as an actress with her beautiful violet eyes & black hair beauty-who doesn't know who Liz Taylor is? Everyone knows who she is.

[@christinaarcher3341]

The last true star.

[@maureencooper-turner8935]

they both really cared about the art; it was more important than anything else...of course they liked the money, but it was about the script, the story and importance of the story. Didn't they do a show or shows, something like ":About, His" and "About Hers".... I'm goiing to go look it up.

[@alesjamsek1199]

So beautiful Elizabeth soul !

[@glynisroberts5029]

Elizabeth Taylor was just so beautiful!

[@normathomas8276]

Love how she took her ring off there was no hesitation she wanted to share the joy of those beautiful things with others so glad she has the crupp diamond as she said a nice little Jewish girl we shall never see her like pass this way again

[@piustwelfth]

Liz was a convert.

[@sameenfatima143]

What generous soul

[@normathomas8276]

@@piustwelfth she was married to Eddie Fisher and her previous husband was Jewish

[@piustwelfth]

@@normathomas8276 Yes, but she was born into a Christian family in England. She later converted to Judaism at age 27.

[@maureenobrien9815]

@@piustwelfth For Mike Todd...

[@deannharris2424]

I love their love story. No matter what happened, they loved each other to the end. She was lucky to have had two great loves.

[@gracehannon6751]

Elizabeth n Richard were soo perfect for each other, shame they didn't have better times. together

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

Overexposion, recklessness and destructive behaviour killed their marriage.

[@gardensofthegods]

Yeah they both loved to drink and then they would fight ... really a pity when you think about it .

[@okongift6364]

We miss 😢 you Elizabeth ❤ 😢

[@m.a.gallardo2050]

"Can you ever imagine having it again?" "Oh God, no!" Once in a lifetime, don't squander your opportunity, if you are lucky enough to get it.

[@gardensofthegods]

Just think how great it would have been if they weren't fighting a lot ... yes they did squander a lot of their time together fighting .

[@PuertoVallartaVideos]

​@@gardensofthegods They seemed to enjoy fighting, so it seems pointless for us to consider it squandering time.

[@gardensofthegods]

@@PuertoVallartaVideos doesn't really make sense when you think about it though because it's usually at one point the fighting that causes people to break up ... and enjoying fighting with one's partner also just sounds horrible .

[@PuertoVallartaVideos]

@gardensofthegods we can't judge people by our standards or what we like. Every mind is a different world.

[@zyxquark]

It's odd that if you're rich and famous and you have an extra-marital affair it's a great romance; if you're ordinary you're a shameful piece of crap that everybody despises. Just noticing. I love Richard burton. His diaries are great.

[@castalia60able]

zyxquark - Gosh Almighty... boy are you so right! LOL If you are rich and famous everyone expect you to have affairs and they forgive you but if you are poor and a no body.. shame on you! LOL

[@Shecklerisababe]

the difference is that it wasn't just a random affair, they really fell in love and couldn't help the way they felt about eachother

[@castalia60able]

I know what it is to feel affection and strong urges but we are not animals but must contain our feelings after all we are not sub-humans but intelligent creation that must be rational to avoid hurting others in the long run..

[@Shecklerisababe]

Catherine Lopez who cares they wanted to be with each other and didn't hide it, what were they suppose to do? live an unfulfilling life with someone they don't love?

[@castalia60able]

I'm not trying to be the conscience of people but when you have an affair but there are other people that get hurt by those having an affair. So if you can avoid it - do avoid that mistake.

[@donaldkoelper5807]

I prefer to remember Richard Burton for his final onscreen appearance as the torturer O'Brien in director Michael Radford's cinematic adaptation of George Orwell's dystopian nightmare "Nineteen Eighty-Four." Because he died during postproduction, his portrait of O'Brien as a world-weary soul rather than a caricature of evil proved to be a magnificent valedictory performance, and the producers subsequently dedicated the film to him in its credits.

[@maryannyost8089]

I agree with Liz.....he was a hunk. Also a great actor.!!!!

[@nitacruise9993]

Beauty is in the eye of the holder and yes he was a hunk😜

[@theedesertmermaid]

Yes he was a hunk!

[@Calliegrl03]

Actually he was in good shape in his prime so...

[@julietspaghetti]

He was a super star

[@debrasaunders7200]

How beautiful she was and such a love between them ❤

[@meghanmisaliar]

Imo they were both incredibly good looking.

[@laurabarzaghi1770]

Li adoravo e li adoro ancora❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@dlpimm]

Oh, I sure do remember this.

[@ChloeDust]

Aw, shes beautiful, that jewellery is gorgeous aswell, wow!

[@hairyscotman]

...the world is a less beautiful place without her.....

[@TheTourmaline57]

Dame Elizabeth was everywoman.Regal and bawdy. Ethereal and earthy.She was both earth mother and heaven's queen.Her radiant being still shines in her legacy.

[@normadesmond6017]

He was a great actor.... but he also threw it away for the big bucks to support his lifestyle and Elizabeth. He made some wonderful, wonderful movies, but most of them, towards the end of his life surely, were pure for money. When you look back at the career of Burton, you do see that he loved two thing more then acting: Elizabeth and booze. And that's a tragedy, considering his talent. He could have made a lot more good movies if his heart would have still been in to it.

[@lenhummel5614]

Very true observation.👍👍

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

Are You blaming elizabeth?

[@normadesmond6017]

@@melisagalvalizi6982 not at all. He played in crap movies for the money, he drank himself to death, he wasted his talent. He made that decision.

[@sxnico]

shes perfect

[@greatmusicfan57]

Rent The Spy Who Came in From the Cold! Rent the Night Of the Iguana! Elizabeth was right about Richard. Too bad they could not have ended their life together. Hell, she kept his friggin' ring, That should tell ya all you need to know about who her "True Love" was. Along with her kids and her jewels!

[@maryloueveritt7033]

April Black ,’8

[@shelby8364]

Lol I was literally just saying that too, those are two more of his best films!

[@bellavia5]

NIGHT OF THE IGUANA. The night that fiction and reality intersected in my night. It was truly bizaare. The cast of offbeat characters in the movie were a mirror to the ones I was meeting at an artists house for several months.

[@Lundahlium]

What can you say ? The man really loved her

[@annaelvis3138]

WONDERFUL ELISABET HER EYES WAS DIAMANT.Great great actor and Richard Burton too.God bless he in heaven togheter.

[@richardconner15]

SO BURTON FOUND A WAY TO TAYLOR,S HEART, EXPENSIVE JEWELRY. HIS BEST MOVIE, THE ROBE.

[@polo_ixn7746]

The Robe is magnificent.

[@carefulconsumer8682]

There are no living actors as stunning as Burton, Olivier, Charles Laughton.

[@carolynjones5142]

Those eyes

[@barbarahourigan8462]

❤️❤️

[@stephengriffin9992]

You’d think they’d take the precious jewels with them on to the next world to enjoy in the afterlife. Alas no, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” and yet the diamonds outlive the two of them. Poetic justice I suppose.

[@8888-9]

God gave her great beauty Generosity of spirit And the most shrill laugh!!!

[@edurnelopez7712]

bueno fui su admiradora. me gustaria que hablaran ESPAÑOL GRACIAS !!!!

[@paulmiller5228]

I had the chance to drive her somewhere twice back in the 80's. I guess that it was too bad for me.

[@jules1728]

She’s such a sweet woman

[@robclark4507]

I would of loved him to play bond when he was younger

[@meghanmisaliar]

Yes! He would've been an amazing Bond in his prime.

[@yvonneplant9434]

There was actually some talk about that years ago.

[@BoulderMamacita]

Oh, please....I met a WELSH Yale School of Drama student several years-ago. I told her that she must have been proud to hail from whence the great Richard Burton emerged. SHE STARED AT ME LIKE I HAD TWO HEADS. Yup, NEVER HEARD OF HIM. Wow, really?

[@maureenobrien9815]

Geeze.....not surprised, though.

[@carolynstewart8465]

Whatta Dame!

[@klauda7346]

He was a modern Marcus Antonius.

[@laurabarzaghi1770]

Per favore vorrei avere videi Con i sottotitoli in italiano Grazie

[@musorgskylisztprokofievlis4712]

I can't live without watching Cat On A Hot Tin Roof on Netflix or on my Twitter. I meant birdsong outside. Just Leave Me Alone ❤!

[@jimmy27paul]

Imagine if Barbara threw the ring at the wall for a laugh?...They would be cleaning up her blood for hours.

[@josephkearny5874]

She looks like Stockard Channing here.

[@greeneyeswideopen774]

Whats a video?

[@kathyeverhardt5412]

NOW THAT 'S A MAN KATHY EBERHARDT

[@cymro6537]

Richard Burton: One of Wales' greatest sons with one of the most mellifluous voices ever - like a lion's purr. Cysga'n dawel Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Cwsg mewn hedd Elizabeth.

[@luxe_feed]

My sister looks the spitting image of her but when she was young without the violet eyes and double row of lashes my sister has grey eyes but still her lashes are still nice...

[@henriettahenson]

Yer rent "anne of a thousand days " like she said "shame on you ..".although i would think anyone watching this are taylor @burton fans...

[@micahbriggs2314]

Did they say Queen Mary Tudor of the UK with a picture of Queen Elizabeth?

[@taffyducks544]

Both were from British (Welsh) Ancestry.

[@clivechiam]

0:41 should be a meme

[@atalaykabasakal7637]

Atalay onu çok seviyor hemde çok aşırı derecede canım benim o ❤️

[@audreydaleski1067]

He was as charismatic on screen as she.

[@1000lautner]

Queen Mary Tudor....except it’s a portrait of Elizabeth I. 🤭

[@paularivera9355]

Elizabeth Taylor what's a beautiful woman but butternut a good actress

[@WilliamViets]

Is that really Liz Taylor or is that Rosanne?

[@garymoyles1798]

Luvie loves Luvie. Nothing changes plastic people being plastic...

[@mrpual49]

Liz couldn't believe that people don't remember him but he was at his best playing the sweaty, compromised clerics he portrayed in Night of the Iguana and the Sandpiper. Great roles but not roles that would play well now.

[@angelvalle9963]

He was the man on and off the silver screen he was the rat pack by himself.

[@janiceleighton7348]

There would of been find a in that pearl

[@paulsontag9233]

“Don’t get your finger marks on it”.

[@yuyuhawai5466]

LA SRA. TAYLOR... UNA DAMA BELLÍSIMA. LA ENTREVISTADORA... FATAL. ESTABA O YA ERA HORRIBLEEEEEEEE.

[@Lee-Darin]

Hey Baba Wawa Richard Burton was Welsh

[@TheXMenBeyond242]

Holy shit, I didn't realize I relate to Liz and Dick's relationship

[@suesimmonds2649]

Did she ever stop acting?

[@elza1830]

Even she herself couldn't tell the difference, like Sartre's waiter playing a waiter, she was playing ET on and off screen

[@artymorty13]

Her eyes? Her ears too

[@Sereme18]

Liz was not born jewish.

[@deb310red]

She converted for Mike Todd.

[@disneyfan81]

deb310red But she didn't convert until after she married Eddie Fisher.

[@JamesVaughan]

+Rachel Sahar She was originally Christian Scientist, in reality "a nice WASP girl."

[@Sereme18]

Yes.

[@deborahfritz9823]

Eddie was Italian

[@AlphonsodeBarbo]

When people receive too much...

[@SRSM198]

Liz Taylor was beautiful inside and out, but dare I say her voice was not of the best for her profession.

[@paultynan8705]

My Girlfriends Deceased husband was Liz And Richards private chef. Pierre Bitterer. Also In one of Burtons interviews he says my name Edgar Tynan speaking about a well known Critique. That was a thrill to hear your name with that voice!

[@MarcosArandia1]

So I guess Dick was no Larry Fortensky