Mira Sorvino

Backus is an aspiring actor, who has appeared on the television show Will & Grace, but the couple met when he took her order at the restaurant where he was working as a waiter. She has broken her back five times, has survived a brain tumor, and has faced life-threatening bouts with pneumonia twice. On June 11, 2004 she married Christopher Backus in a private ceremony; the marriage did not become public knowledge for more than two weeks. She suffers congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart pumps insufficient amounts of blood throughout the body. Sorvino dated Quentin Tarantino for several years and more recently French actor Olivier Martinez. As of January 2005, Elizabeth Taylor is in ailing health. Since then she has had offers for co-leading and supporting roles, some of them having become box-office hits, such as Romy and Michele's High School Reunion opposite Lisa Kudrow, and At First Sight with Val Kilmer. Elizabeth Taylor's hand and foot prints are immortalized in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theater and she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6336 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood.

The breakthrough role in Sorvino's early career was her portrayal of a squeaky-voiced, foul-mouthed prostitute in Woody Allen's 1995 movie Mighty Aphrodite, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In the early 1980s, she moved to 700 Nimes Road in Bel-Air, California, which is her current home. Reviews of her first film performance were positive, which opened her doors for her following parts. Though she was thrilled with this honor, Taylor cracked, "I've always been a broad, now I'm a dame.". Soon she was promoted to casting director and to assistant producer, and was finally offered the lead role in the movie. She received the title Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 1999, and may now be addressed as "Dame Elizabeth.". When the 1993 picture Amongst Friends entered pre-production, she was hired as third assistant director. And in 2002, she was a Kennedy Center Honoree.

One of her jobs was as production assistant in a film company. The following year, 1993, she received the AFI Life Achievement Award. Like so many other young actors, she worked at several jobs, waiting for an opportunity in show business. In 1992, she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. After graduating from college, she spent three years in New York trying to make a name for herself as an actress. By 1999, she had helped to raise an estimated $50,000,000 to fight the disease. She also speaks French. She also created her own AIDS foundation.

She is also a political activist affiliated with Amnesty International. She spent a year abroad in China, and speaks Mandarin Chinese. She helped start the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) (http://www.amfar.org/) after the death of her former co-star and friend, Rock Hudson. Her thesis was on anti-African sentiment in China (see Nanjing Anti-African protests). Taylor has devoted much time and energy to AIDS-related charities and fundraising. She was at Harvard University, where she graduated "summa cum laude" in East Asian Studies. She also launched two perfumes, "Passion" and "White Diamonds," that together earn an estimated $200,000,000 in annual sales. Nevertheless, Sorvino acted in theater productions while in high school and later in university. Taylor has also acted on stage in revivals of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes (1982) and Noel Coward's Private Lives (1983), the latter she starred in with former husband, Richard Burton.

She was raised in New Jersey and dedicated most of her childhood to academic studies rather than preparing for an acting career, as her father did not want his three children to become young movie stars. She has also appeared on a number of TV programs, including General Hospital, All My Children and The Simpsons (as the voice of Maggie). Sorvino was born in Tenafly, New Jersey, and is the daughter of veteran actor Paul Sorvino (whose credits include Goodfellas, Oliver Stone's Nixon, and TV's Law & Order). And in 2001, she played an agent in These Old Broads. Mira Sorvino (born September 28, 1967) is an Oscar-winning American actress, who has appeared in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion,At First Sight, Blue in the Face, Summer of Sam and Mighty Aphrodite. In 1985, she played movie columnist Louella Parsons in Malice in Wonderland and appeared in the mini-series North and South. Amongst Friends (1993). Elizabeth Taylor has also appeared a number of times on television, including the 1973 made-for-TV movie with then husband, Richard Burton, titled Divorce His - Divorce Hers.

Barcelona (1994). She and Todd had one daughter, Elizabeth Frances Todd, called "Liza," (born August 6, 1957). And in 1964, she and Fisher started adoption proceedings for a daughter, who Burton later adopted, Maria Burton (born August 1, 1961). Quiz Show (1994). Taylor and Wilding had two sons, Michael Howard Wilding (born January 6, 1953) and Christopher Edward Wilding (born February 27, 1955). The Dutch Master (1994). Taylor has been married eight times to seven husbands: hotel heir Nicky Hilton (married May 6, 1950-divorced January 29, 1951); actor Michael Wilding (married February 21, 1952-divorced January 26, 1957); producer Mike Todd (married February 2, 1957-his death March 22, 1958); singer Eddie Fisher (married May 12, 1959-divorced March 6, 1964); actor Richard Burton (married March 15, 1964-divorced June 26, 1974); actor Richard Burton (2nd Marriage) (married October 10, 1975-divorced July 29, 1976); senator John Warner (married December 4, 1976-divorced November 7, 1982); and teamster construction-equipment operator Larry Fortensky (married October 6, 1991-divorced October 31, 1996). Mighty Aphrodite (1995). And it was during the filming of that movie that she worked for the first time with future husband, Richard Burton, who played Mark Antony.

Blue in the Face (1995). In 1963, Taylor became the highest paid movie star up until that time when she accepted $1,000,000 to play the title role in the lavish production of Cleopatra for 20th Century Fox. Beautiful Girls (1996). She was nominated for Raintree County (1957), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959). Tarantella (1996). Elizabeth Taylor won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performances in BUtterfield 8 (1960) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966). Sweet Nothing (1996). Considered one of the most beautiful women in the world, she also gained great respect as an accomplished actress.

Tales of Erotica (1996). Taylor is famous for her beauty, violet eyes and raven hair. New York Cop (1996). She attended school on the MGM lot and University High School in Los Angeles, where she received her diploma on January 26, 1950. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997). National Velvet was a big hit, grossing over $4,000,000 at the box-office, and she was signed to a long term contract. Mimic (1997). After a couple more movies, the second on loan-out to 20th Century Fox, she appeared in her first leading role and achieved child star status playing Velvet Brown, a young girl who trains a horse to win the Grand National in Clarence Brown's movie National Velvet (1944) with Mickey Rooney.

The Replacement Killers (1998). This drew favorable attention. Too Tired to Die (1998). Her first movie with that studio was Lassie Come Home (1943). Lulu on the Bridge (1998). They let her contract drop and she was signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Free Money (1998). Taylor appeared in her first motion picture at the age of nine for Universal.

At First Sight (1999). They settled in Los Angeles, California, where Sara's family, the Warmbrodts, were then living. Summer of Sam (1999). Her mother took the children first, while her father remained in London to wrap up matters in the art business. The Triumph of Love (2001). After England entered World War II, her parents decided to return to the United States to avoid hostilities. The Grey Zone (2001). At the age of three, Elizabeth began taking ballet lessons.

The Great Gatsby (2001). Sara retired from the stage when she and Francis Taylor married in 1926 in New York. Wisegirls (2002). Her father was an art dealer and her mother a former actress whose stage name was Sara Sothern. Semana Santa (2002). Her American parents were both originally from Arkansas City, Kansas. Between Strangers (2002). Taylor was born with dual British and American citizenship.

Gods and Generals (2003). She prefers her given name to be pronounced Eee-lizabeth. Her given and middle names were in honor of her paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Taylor, who was born Elizabeth Mary Rosemond. Though sometimes referred to as "Liz," she is not fond of that name. She was born Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor in Hampstead, London, England, the second child of Francis Lenn Taylor (December 28, 1897-November 20, 1968) and Sara Viola Warmbrodt (August 21, 1896-September 11, 1994). Her older brother is Howard Taylor (born 1929). Elizabeth Taylor (born February 27, 1932) is an English-born Academy Award winning actress.

Pearl Slaghoople. The Flintstones (1994) (Universal) .. Nadina Bulichoff. Il Giovane Toscanini (1988) (RAI) ..

Marina Rudd. The Mirror Crack'd (1980) (Associated Film Distribution) .. Lola Comante (uncredited). Winter Kills (1979) (Avco Embassy Pictures) ..

Desiree Armfelt. A Little Night Music (1977) (New World Pictures) .. Queen of Light. The Blue Bird (1976) (20th Century Fox) ..

Lise. The Driver's Seat (1974) (Rizzoli Film S.p.a.) .. Barbara Sawyer. Ash Wednesday (1973) (Paramount) ..

Ellen Wheeler. Night Watch (1973) (Avco Embassy Pictures) .. Jimmie Jean Jackson. Hammersmith Is Out (1972) (Cinerama Releasing Corporation) ..

Rosie Probert. Under Milk Wood (1973) (Altura Films International) .. aka X, Y and Zee. Zee Blakeley ..

Zee and Co. (1972) (Columbia) .. Fran Walker. The Only Game in Town (1970) (20th Century Fox) .. Courtesan (uncredited).

Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) (Universal) .. Secret Ceremony (1968) (Universal) Leonora. Flora Goforth. Boom (1968) (Universal) ..

Martha Pineda. The Comedians (1967) (MGM) .. Leonora Penderton. Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) (Warner Bros.) ..

Helen of Troy. Doctor Faustus (1967) (Columbia) .. Katharina. The Taming of the Shrew (1967) (Columbia) ..

Martha. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) (Warner Bros.) .. Laura Reynolds. The Sandpiper (1965) (MGM) ..

Frances Andros. The V.I.P.s (1963) (MGM) .. Cleopatra. Cleopatra (1963) (20th Century Fox) ..

Gloria Wandrous. BUtterfield 8 (1960) (MGM) .. the real Sally Kennedy (uncredited). Scent of Mystery (1960) (Michael Todd Company) ..

Catherine Holly. Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) (Columbia) .. Maggie "The Cat" Pollitt. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) (MGM) ..

Susanna Drake. Raintree County (1957) (MGM) .. Leslie Lynnton Benedict. Giant (1956) (Warner Bros.) ..

Helen Ellswirth/Wills. The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954) (MGM) .. Lady Patricia. Beau Brummell (1954) (MGM) ..

Ruth Wiley. Elephant Walk (1954) (Paramount) .. Louise Durant. Rhapsody (1954) (MGM) ..

Jean Latimer. The Girl Who Had Everything (1953) (MGM) .. Rebecca. Ivanhoe (1952) (MGM) ..

Anastacia "Stacie" Macaboy. Love Is Better Than Ever (1952) (MGM) .. Angela Vickers. A Place in the Sun (1951) (Paramount) ..

Kay "Kitten" Dunston. Father's Little Dividend (1951) (MGM) .. Christian prisoner in arena (uncredited). Quo Vadis? (1951) (MGM) ..

Kay Banks. Father of the Bride (1950) (MGM) .. Mary Belney. The Big Hangover (1950) (MGM) ..

Melinda Greyton. Conspirator (1949) (MGM) .. Amy March. Little Women (1949) (MGM) ..

Susan Packett. Julia Misbehaves (1948) (MGM) .. Carol Pringle. A Date with Judy (1948) (MGM) ..

Cynthia Bishop. Cynthia (1947) (MGM) .. Mary. Life with Father (1947) (MGM) ..

Kathie Merrick. Courage of Lassie (1946) (MGM) .. Velvet Brown. National Velvet (1944) (MGM) ..

Helen Burns (uncredited). Jane Eyre (1944) (20th Century Fox) .. Betsy at 10 (uncredited). The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) (MGM) ..

Priscilla. Lassie Come Home (1943) (MGM) .. Gloria Twine. There's One Born Every Minute (1942) (Universal) ..