Was Elizabeth Taylor’s First Oscar A Sympathy Oscar? Here’s The Crazy Story

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Elizabeth Taylor is widely considered one of the most iconic actors and movie stars ever, particularly during her peak in the 1950s and 60s. Throughout her career, she received five Academy Award nominations, including four years in a row from 1958 to 1961. She finally won an Oscar for her role in the 1960 film Butterfield 8, which is now available to stream with a YouTube TV subscription. The circumstances surrounding that win are a little strange, and there’s potentially more to the story than meets the eye.

After Three Losses, Taylor Finally Won For BUtterfield 8

Elizabeth Taylor was incredibly popular in the late 1950s. After being overlooked for an award for her performance in the 1956 film Giant, alongside James Dean, she starred in a string of successful movies – Raintree County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Suddenly, Last Summer – receiving an Academy Award nomination for each. In 1959, she appeared with her husband, Eddie Fisher, in Butterfield 8, which I consider one of her less impressive films, but it finally earned her the Best Actress Oscar.

Taylor famously won her second Oscar for the 1966 film, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? But considering her incredible career, it’s surprising her first Oscar came from a movie that isn’t as well-known or highly regarded as some of her other work. The reason? In early 1960, while the Academy was voting, Taylor was filming Cleopatra and almost died from pneumonia while in London.

The Notorious Production Of Cleopatra Almost Killed Elizabeth Taylor, But Might Have Won Her An Oscar

The 1963 film Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor as the Egyptian queen and Richard Burton as Mark Antony, was famous for its difficult and costly production. It went significantly over budget, becoming the most expensive movie ever made at the time, and took two and a half years to complete. A major factor in both the long filming schedule and the high cost—reportedly $44 million in 1960 dollars—was Taylor’s health.

In March 1961, while people were voting for the Academy Awards (to be presented in April), Elizabeth Taylor was seriously ill with pneumonia in London. She was so sick that she needed a ventilator, was fed through an IV, and had a tracheotomy to help her breathe. There were even reports at the time that the 29-year-old actress had passed away.

When news of the incident spread globally, the Academy announced its vote, and many believed Taylor’s long-awaited Oscar win was motivated by sympathy for her and the frightening ordeal she had recently experienced.

While Elizabeth Taylor is a legend who deserved an Oscar, Butterfield 8 isn’t her strongest film. It’s easily forgettable, and although her acting is good, it doesn’t quite reach the level of her other, more acclaimed performances. Sometimes, factors beyond the acting itself influence an Oscar win, and everyone agrees Taylor’s iconic status meant she was worthy of recognition at some point in her career.

Lola Albright’s role in Butterfield 8 came about partly because she was recovering from a serious illness. Fortunately, she made a full recovery and went on to deliver many more memorable performances throughout her career.

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2026-01-12 23:08