British actor Rachel Weisz is set to portray the one and only Elizabeth Taylor in an upcoming biopic about the late icon.
A Special Relationship, to be written by Slumdog Millionaire‘s Simon Beaufoy, delves into Taylor’s relationship with her assistant Roger Wall as she moves from screen actor to influential activist.
Taylor’s relationship with Wall, a gay man from the southern United States, has been noted as the stimulus for the icon’s vocal activism in support of people living with HIV and the fight against the AIDS epidemic.
Taylor raised millions of dollars for AIDS projects in the 1980s and 90s, brought HIV-related issues to Congress, and convinced President Ronald Reagan to acknowledge AIDS in 1987 after years of silence.
Taylor also founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991, and since her passing her estate has continued to donate 25% of royalties from use of her image and likeness to the foundation.
“Audiences are clearly fascinated by the private lives of iconic Hollywood stars,” See-Saw Films’ Iain Canning and Emile Sherman said of the film.
“There is no one more iconic than Elizabeth Taylor, and Simon Beaufot has written a role that shines a light on Elizabeth’s humour and humanity, which will be beautifully brought to life through the extraordinary Rachel Weisz.”
OIP Staff
