Elizabeth Taylor’s Eyes Shown in 18 Rare and Stunning Photos

Elizabeth Taylor's eyes were legendary — and once you catch a glimpse of them, it's easy to see why. With her pale skin and dark hair, her stunning eyes stood out even more.

But were her famous peepers blue, or are they purple? Sometimes her eyes looked a vibrant cobalt blue, especially when paired with bright red lips.

But much of the time, they looked to be a clear purple — and Taylor was certainly known for having violet-hued eyes.

The classic, old-Hollywood star even had a fragrance — Elizabeth Taylor Violet Eyes — named after her in 2010.

The real answer: They were not purple at all, but a vibrant dark blue. Her eyes merely appeared to be purple when exposed to certain lighting, makeup, or clothing (and plenty of retouching of her images, we're sure!).

Taylor also had a rare genetic defect that resulted in her having two layers of eyelashes, which really helped give her colorful eyes that dramatic pop. Here she is speaking to reporters in 1968.

Purple-colored clothes and accessories — like her headband in this 1945 photo — helped make her eyes look much more violet.

True purple eyes are extremely rare, and almost always occur in people with albinism. We love how striking hers looked in this mid-1960s snap.

Taylor — who got her big break in 1944 when she starred in National Velvet — was frequently photographed in colorful outfits, which helped give her stunning eyes that extra sparkle.

The actress would later win Best Actress Oscars for Butterfield 8 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Even when photographed in black and white, her captivating peepers still manage to shine through. The light catches them in such a way that they appear almost translucent. Wow!

This had-to-be-retouched 1955 photo shows the British-born actress donning a green gown that made her eyes look bright green. (We're not going crazy, right?!)

This emerald green dress really makes the starlet's eyes pop! The rich jewel tones contrast with Taylor's classic red lipstick, creating a look so striking it's hard to turn away.

Hair short or long, it didn't matter: Her eyes were always her most telltale feature.

In 1963, Taylor starred in the famous historical drama Cleopatra as the Egyptian queen herself. (Notably, the set of the film fostered the saucy affair between the stunning actress and Hollywood icon Richard Burton.) Just check out that dramatic eye makeup!

Is it any wonder the actress had a famously long list of husbands over the years? One look in those eyes, and we'd be hooked, too!

Seen here with short locks, Taylor shows off her demure expression and scintillating eyes.

Even as she got older, her unmistakable gleaming eyes still dazzled. Sadly, Taylor passed away in 2011 after suffering congestive heart failure. She was 79.

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