Elizabeth Taylor: Her Son Recalls Her Terrible Drug Addiction

In the final episode of 'Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar', which aired Oct. 11 on the BBC, the iconic actress' loved ones look back at her struggles with drugs and alcohol.

"She had physical ailments, especially bad back problems, for which the use of pain meds was a legitimate recourse," her son Christopher Wilding explains. "When she was little, we had all these miracle drugs and you took a pill. That was her approach — better living through science.”

Her family always knew she was "abusing alcohol and pain meds, including injectable ones." "We’d talk to her, but things got to the point where it was decided an intervention would be necessary," Wilding recalls. "We just wanted her to get help. Close family members flew in and boy, that was difficult.”

Elizabeth Taylor's public struggles with addiction were a significant aspect of her tumultuous life, reflecting the pressures of fame and personal turmoil. Throughout her career, which spanned several decades, Taylor faced multiple battles with substance abuse, particularly with alcohol and prescription drugs.

In the early years of her stardom, Taylor was often in the spotlight for her acting talent and beauty, but as her fame grew, so did the pressures associated with it. The constant scrutiny of Hollywood life, coupled with the emotional challenges she faced—including tumultuous relationships and personal losses—contributed to her reliance on alcohol.

In a recording, Taylor talks about the experience herself, sharing, "The family intervention stopped me so dead in my tracks. It leaves you totally speechless, and it’s so sincere and done with such love that you know it must be agony for them.”

Taylor's loved ones took turns sharing how her addiction had impacted them.

"We were all petrified. She was a formidable woman," Wilding remembers. In another recording, Taylor recalls, "It was like being slapped in the face with reality. And I thought, ‘My God, I thought I was a good mother. How have I allowed myself to do this to the people I love most in the world?’ "

In the 1960s and 1970s, Taylor's drinking became increasingly problematic. Reports suggested that she often drank to cope with the stress of her high-profile marriages and the loss of close friends, including fellow actors and peers. The Hollywood lifestyle of parties and late nights did little to help her situation. This period marked a downward spiral as her addiction began to affect her health and professional life.

Taylor’s struggles were not just confined to private battles; they frequently played out in the public eye. There were instances when she appeared intoxicated at events or missed work commitments due to her condition. This public behavior drew concern from fans and peers alike, leading to interventions from her family and friends.

In 1980, after a particularly concerning episode, Taylor's family organized a crucial intervention. They urged her to seek treatment for her addiction, reflecting a desperate need to confront her issues and provide her with support. This moment was pivotal, showcasing both the pain of her struggles and the love of her family who wanted to see her recover. In her time at the Betty Ford Clinic, Taylor "had to do a lot of things she never had to do in her adult life," Wilding points out. "She had to share a room with a stranger. Everyone was assigned kind of life, domestic chores.”

Ultimately, this family intervention became a crucial chapter in Taylor's life, illustrating the struggles that many families face when dealing with addiction. It also highlights the enduring love and support that can emerge in the face of such challenges, as her family rallied together in hopes of guiding her toward a healthier path.

Along with those tasks, she engaged in therapy and took it very seriously as she delved into pain stemming from her past. "I felt really for the first time in my life like I wasn't being exploited by anyone. I was being accepted for myself. I was forced to look at the honest truth of who I was," Taylor says in a recording.