Turquoise waters, wild hair, a plunging white swimsuit. This image of Elizabeth Taylor in director Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s Southern Gothic psychological drama Suddenly, Last Summer is unforgettable. Depicted on the film’s poster, the actor’s white swimsuit was reportedly deemed so risqué as to be controversial at the time. Nonetheless, it helped sparked a style trend that continues to this day.
A stunning beauty—famed for her deep blue, violet eyes—Taylor stands as one of those magnetic yet mysterious icons of American cinema whose turbulent career remains inextricably linked to Hollywood’s Golden Age. From the white sands of Malibu to the turquoise waters of Ischia, here is look back at the icon’s most striking summer appearances.
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Courtesy Everett Collection
Elizabeth Taylor in 1947
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Courtesy Everett Collection
Jane Powell, Elizabeth Taylor posing at the beach, circa 1948
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Bettmann/Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor looking at a Rolliflex camera with her husband, Michael Wilding, by the pool.
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Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor wears a leopard-print swimsuit in the pool, circa 1955.
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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor poses for a portrait session on the beach on July 4, 1956 in Malibu, California.
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Suddenly Last Summer.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:”Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images”,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:441,”width”:320,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf0/master/w_320,c_limit/607399822″},{“height”:881,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf0/master/w_640,c_limit/607399822″}],”md”:[{“height”:881,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf0/master/w_640,c_limit/607399822″},{“height”:1762,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf0/master/w_1280,c_limit/607399822″}],”lg”:[{“height”:1410,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf0/master/w_1024,c_limit/607399822″},{“height”:2820,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf0/master/w_2048,c_limit/607399822″}],”xl”:[{“height”:1762,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf0/master/w_1280,c_limit/607399822″}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1762,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf0/master/w_1280,c_limit/607399822″}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor on the set of Suddenly Last Summer.
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Suddenly Last Summer, 1959.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:”FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images”,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:398,”width”:320,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfa/master/w_320,c_limit/1262789216″},{“height”:795,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfa/master/w_640,c_limit/1262789216″}],”md”:[{“height”:795,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfa/master/w_640,c_limit/1262789216″},{“height”:1591,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfa/master/w_1280,c_limit/1262789216″}],”lg”:[{“height”:1273,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfa/master/w_1024,c_limit/1262789216″},{“height”:2545,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfa/master/w_2048,c_limit/1262789216″}],”xl”:[{“height”:1591,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfa/master/w_1280,c_limit/1262789216″}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1591,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfa/master/w_1280,c_limit/1262789216″}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images
Suddenly Last Summer, 1959.
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Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
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Suddenly Last Summer, 1959.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:”API/GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images”,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:407,”width”:320,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfc/master/w_320,c_limit/109029225″},{“height”:814,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfc/master/w_640,c_limit/109029225″}],”md”:[{“height”:814,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfc/master/w_640,c_limit/109029225″},{“height”:1628,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfc/master/w_1280,c_limit/109029225″}],”lg”:[{“height”:1302,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfc/master/w_1024,c_limit/109029225″},{“height”:2604,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfc/master/w_2048,c_limit/109029225″}],”xl”:[{“height”:1628,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfc/master/w_1280,c_limit/109029225″}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1628,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfc/master/w_1280,c_limit/109029225″}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
API/GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Suddenly Last Summer, 1959.
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Suddenly Last Summer, 1959.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:”Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images”,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:438,”width”:320,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfd/master/w_320,c_limit/607393344″},{“height”:876,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfd/master/w_640,c_limit/607393344″}],”md”:[{“height”:876,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfd/master/w_640,c_limit/607393344″},{“height”:1752,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfd/master/w_1280,c_limit/607393344″}],”lg”:[{“height”:1401,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfd/master/w_1024,c_limit/607393344″},{“height”:2803,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfd/master/w_2048,c_limit/607393344″}],”xl”:[{“height”:1752,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfd/master/w_1280,c_limit/607393344″}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1752,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bfd/master/w_1280,c_limit/607393344″}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
Suddenly Last Summer, 1959.
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Bettmann/Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor and the singer Eddie Fisher on their honeymoon in Cannes, France, in 1959, with Taylor’s children from her previous marriage
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Europa Press Archive/Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher on vacation in Mallorca, Spain.
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Bettmann/Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher board their luxury yacht “Olinico” before setting sail for Italy.
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Suddenly Last Summer, 1959.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:”Columbia Pictures Corporation / Horizon Pictures”,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:403,”width”:320,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf1/master/w_320,c_limit/afp.com-20180801-partners-076-CHL_114152-highres.jpg”},{“height”:806,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf1/master/w_640,c_limit/afp.com-20180801-partners-076-CHL_114152-highres.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:806,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf1/master/w_640,c_limit/afp.com-20180801-partners-076-CHL_114152-highres.jpg”},{“height”:1611,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf1/master/w_1280,c_limit/afp.com-20180801-partners-076-CHL_114152-highres.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:1289,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf1/master/w_1024,c_limit/afp.com-20180801-partners-076-CHL_114152-highres.jpg”},{“height”:2578,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf1/master/w_2048,c_limit/afp.com-20180801-partners-076-CHL_114152-highres.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:1611,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf1/master/w_1280,c_limit/afp.com-20180801-partners-076-CHL_114152-highres.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1611,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509bf1/master/w_1280,c_limit/afp.com-20180801-partners-076-CHL_114152-highres.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Columbia Pictures Corporation / Horizon Pictures
Suddenly Last Summer, 1959.
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Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
Taylor and Fisher visiting the Parthenon in the 1960s, in Athens, Greece.
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Cleopatra in Rome.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:”Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images”,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:239,”width”:320,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c02/master/w_320,c_limit/81277806″},{“height”:479,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c02/master/w_640,c_limit/81277806″}],”md”:[{“height”:479,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c02/master/w_640,c_limit/81277806″},{“height”:957,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c02/master/w_1280,c_limit/81277806″}],”lg”:[{“height”:766,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c02/master/w_1024,c_limit/81277806″},{“height”:1531,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c02/master/w_2048,c_limit/81277806″}],”xl”:[{“height”:957,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c02/master/w_1280,c_limit/81277806″}],”xxl”:[{“height”:957,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c02/master/w_1280,c_limit/81277806″}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton recline on the deck of a speedboat during a holiday in Ischia, 18th June 1962, after filming Cleopatra in Rome.
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The Sandpiper 1965.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:”Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images”,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:256,”width”:320,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c03/master/w_320,c_limit/1024996994″},{“height”:512,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c03/master/w_640,c_limit/1024996994″}],”md”:[{“height”:512,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c03/master/w_640,c_limit/1024996994″},{“height”:1024,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c03/master/w_1280,c_limit/1024996994″}],”lg”:[{“height”:819,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c03/master/w_1024,c_limit/1024996994″},{“height”:1638,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c03/master/w_2048,c_limit/1024996994″}],”xl”:[{“height”:1024,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c03/master/w_1280,c_limit/1024996994″}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1024,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c03/master/w_1280,c_limit/1024996994″}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
Taylor wearing a white robe during the filming of The Sandpiper 1965.
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Reflections in a Golden Eye, 1967.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:”Courtesy Everett Collection”,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:249,”width”:320,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c04/master/w_320,c_limit/MBDREIN_EC081.jpg”},{“height”:497,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c04/master/w_640,c_limit/MBDREIN_EC081.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:497,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c04/master/w_640,c_limit/MBDREIN_EC081.jpg”},{“height”:994,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c04/master/w_1280,c_limit/MBDREIN_EC081.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:795,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c04/master/w_1024,c_limit/MBDREIN_EC081.jpg”},{“height”:1591,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c04/master/w_2048,c_limit/MBDREIN_EC081.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:994,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c04/master/w_1280,c_limit/MBDREIN_EC081.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:994,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c04/master/w_1280,c_limit/MBDREIN_EC081.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Courtesy Everett Collection
Reflections in a Golden Eye, 1967.
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Hammersmith is Out. From left, Beau Bridges, Elizabeth Taylor, 1972.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:”Courtesy Everett Collection”,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:393,”width”:320,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c05/master/w_320,c_limit/MBDHAIS_EC036.jpg”},{“height”:785,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c05/master/w_640,c_limit/MBDHAIS_EC036.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:785,”width”:640,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c05/master/w_640,c_limit/MBDHAIS_EC036.jpg”},{“height”:1571,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c05/master/w_1280,c_limit/MBDHAIS_EC036.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:1256,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c05/master/w_1024,c_limit/MBDHAIS_EC036.jpg”},{“height”:2513,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c05/master/w_2048,c_limit/MBDHAIS_EC036.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:1571,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c05/master/w_1280,c_limit/MBDHAIS_EC036.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1571,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://assets.vogue.com/photos/6a4fcf206c7715fa12509c05/master/w_1280,c_limit/MBDHAIS_EC036.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Courtesy Everett Collection
Hammersmith is Out. From left, Beau Bridges, Elizabeth Taylor, 1972.
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William KAREL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Israel in 1975.
