Cecil Beaton Not Much of a Liz Taylor Fan
Posted by David Ozanich — 24 Mar 2011
Everyone is rightfully mourning the passing of Elizabeth Taylor. Loving tributes abound everywhere, but I came across this deliciously bitchy quote from the royal photographer Cecil Beaton (who was clearly not a fan) and just had to share:
"I have always loathed the Burtons for their vulgarity, commonness and crass bad taste, she combining the worst of US and English taste, he as butch and coarse as only a Welshman can be. She wanted compliments. She got none. I felt I must be professional and continued, but not without loathing at this monster. Her breasts, hanging and huge, were like those of a peasant woman suckling her young in Peru. They were seen in their full shape, blotched and mauve, plum. Round her neck was a velvet ribbon with the biggest diamond in the world pinned on it. On her fat, coarse hands more of the biggest diamonds and emeralds, her head a ridiculous mass of diamond necklaces, sewn together, with a snood of blue and black pom-poms and black aisprey aigrettes. Sausage curls! Alexandre, the hairdresser, had done his worst. And this was the world's biggest draw! In comparison everyone else looked ladylike." - via The Unexpurgated Beaton Diaries, 1970-1980
Both La Liz portraits in this post are from Beaton's shoot. Below, the legend with husband Richard Burton. Via World of Wonder.
