Stan culture, even the internet itself, there was elizabeth taylor. the actress who redefined 20th century fame and who remains eve fr after death one of the most iconic women in the world. her 56 films made her a star as did eight marriages to seven different men. it was on the set of cleopatra where the legendary story of elizabeth taylor and richard burton began. let s just say the world, but especially celebrity gossip were never the same again. a new book delves into this phenomenal life, going far beyond the movies and those magnificent jewels. noting how elizabeth devoted decades of her life to fighting hiv and aids, and that it was she who pressured president ronald reagan into making his first speech devoted exclusively to the aids pandemic in 1987, six years after the first cases were reported in the united states. hollywood took note.