Taylor Swift’s album, The Life of a Showgirl, is a glittering glimpse into her life as an international superstar, but one song, specifically, looks back to old Hollywood for its roots: “Elizabeth Taylor.” The thumping rock-numbered song is a straight tribute to the iconic English-American actress Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011). But who was she, and what makes her relate to Taylor Swift’s contemporary “showgirl” story?
Who Was Elizabeth Taylor?
Elizabeth Taylor was among the best-known and most compelling film stars of the 20th century. As a child actress, she matured in the public eye, famous not only for her striking violet eyes and phenomenal screen acting talent in such films as Cleopatra and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? but also for her melodramatic private life as well.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Uncountable Marriage
Elizabeth married eight times to seven men, most notably actor Richard Burton, whom she married and divorced twice. Her affair, her dazzling array of jewels (and signature white diamonds), and her high-publicity life and frequent scandal made her a ubiquitous presence in the tabloids. She was the ultimate “showgirl” a glamorous star whose private life was as renowned as her public work.
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The Collective Gaze of Mega-Fame
Taylor Swift has long toyed with the concept of being a woman of mega-fame whose every move is scrutinized. By titling a song “Elizabeth Taylor,” Swift makes a comparison between her own existence and the rigorous gaze the Hollywood legend endured way back when.
The lyrics in the song by Swift establish this connection, reflecting the pressure both of these artists experienced to work and stay at the top of their form. One especially revealing line is, “You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby.” This conveys the competitive nature of the entertainment industry, where a woman’s worth often hangs on her current achievement.
Dropping Names: Luxury and Legendary Love
The track is full of affluent information that resonates with Taylor’s celebrity relationships and globe-trotting lifestyle. A line referring to “That view of Portofino was on my mind / When you called me at the Plaza Athénée” alludes to the type of extravagant, upper-class existence Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were famous for. They were renowned for indulging in the world’s most exotic places, such as the Plaza Athénée hotel in Paris.
“All my white diamonds and lovers are forever.” This is a direct tie to the late actress’s most iconic scent, “White Diamonds,” released in 1991. It bridges Elizabeth Taylor’s enduring brand a combination of romance and luxury to Swift’s own path.
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The Theme of the Eternal Showgirl
In the end, “Elizabeth Taylor” is about more than one celebrity; it’s about a kind of iconic female superstar who lives a spectacular life in the spotlight.
