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Taylor's Oscar-Winning Role: A 'Piece of Sh*t' Film?
15 Mar
Summary
- Elizabeth Taylor despised making 'Butterfield 8,' calling it 'a piece of shit'.
- Despite her disdain, the film earned Taylor her first Academy Award.
- The movie was MGM's biggest hit of 1960, grossing $9 million domestically.
Elizabeth Taylor's first Academy Award win for "Butterfield 8" was marred by her intense dislike for the film. Taylor, who was under contract with MGM and aiming for a higher salary with 20th Century Fox for "Cleopatra," saw "Butterfield 8" as her final project for MGM, acting under duress. She found her role as Gloria Wandrous, a model involved with a married man, "too unsavory" and the dialogue "diabolical."
Despite her significant dissatisfaction, Taylor channeled her anger into her performance, which was described as "bravura" by contemporary reviews. The film, released on November 2, 1960, became MGM's top-grossing movie of the year, earning $9 million domestically. Taylor's powerful portrayal led to her winning the Best Actress Oscar, a success that somewhat overshadowed her deep-seated contempt for the project, which she famously equated to a "piece of shit."
