Article Stars pay tribute to Elizabeth Taylor‎

[George Michael]

Stars around the world have paid tribute to screen legend Elizabeth Taylor after her death at the age of 79.

Singer Sir Elton John said of his friend: “We have just lost a Hollywood giant. More importantly we have lost an incredible human being.”

Actor Sir Michael Caine said: “So sad to hear about my beautiful friend Elizabeth Taylor. She was a great human being.”

Singer George Michael added: “Elizabeth Taylor was the last of the Hollywood greats.”

Taylor died of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles after being admitted to hospital last month. The epitome of glamour and wealth, Taylor was the ultimate Hollywood film star.

She won two Oscars; one for Butterfield 8 in 1961 and another for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1967. She married eight times – twice to the same man, Richard Burton, who she met on the set of 1963’s Cleopatra.

In her prime she was arguably one of the world’s greatest actresses – and most beautiful women. But her life was tempestuous, strewn with tragedy and, in later years, dogged by ill-health.

Her health conditions included a benign brain tumour, and a lifetime of back problems after falling from a horse while filming National Velvet at the age of 12.

A rare strain of pneumonia almost killed her in 1961 and she also battled addictions to alcohol and painkillers.

She endured two hip replacements and another near-fatal bout of pneumonia.

In 2004, it was revealed that she was suffering from congestive heart failure and scoliosis, which twisted her spine.

A private family funeral will be held later this week.