Recently, the American Film Institute recognized Elizabeth Taylor as one of the top 10 actresses of all time on their list of the Top 10 Actresses of All Time. Elizabeth rose to prominence at a young age and went on to win a plethora of awards and accolades in her field. She rose to prominence with roles in films such as “Butterfield 8,” for which she was honored with an Academy Award in the category of Best Actress.
When Elizabeth was only a child, she drew the attention of the production corporation MGM, and by the time she was 12, she had already appeared in five movies. By the 1960s, she had established herself as one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, and she was renowned for her work as an outstanding leading woman.
In the year 1985, Elizabeth offered her voice to the effort to raise awareness about AIDS. At the inaugural Commitment to Life event, which was a fundraiser for AIDS Project Los Angeles, Elizabeth was one of numerous well-known actresses and artists who gave speeches. A sizable number of well-known public figures made their voices heard publicly for the first time in support of AIDS sufferers.
After a number of years had passed after the first major fundraising event, a new endeavor has emerged. The documentary “Commitment to Life,” which was produced by a team of filmmakers in 2021 and examines the early stages of the anti-HIV/AIDS movement, was released in that year. Laela Wilding, Elizabeth’s granddaughter, is another person who is a huge supporter of her grandmother’s efforts to raise awareness.
The Relationship Between Laela Wilding, Elizabeth Taylor’s First Granddaughter, and Her Grandmother
The eldest of Elizabeth’s grandchildren is her granddaughter Laela. Her mother’s name is Johanna Lykke-Dahn, and her father’s name is Micheal Wilding Jr. As was the case with his mother, Laela’s father had a successful career in the entertainment industry. He is most remembered for his performances in the television shows “Dallas,” “Deadly Illusion,” and “Guiding Light.” In 1971, Michael and Johanna presented Elizabeth with the gift of her very first grandchild.
As a youngster, Laela and her grandma have a very special relationship. She made sure to pay Elizabeth a visit on each and every holiday, and on many Sundays as well. Elizabeth made an indelible mark on Laela when she was growing up as a result of the amount of time the two of them spent together throughout Laela’s childhood. The actress imparted priceless knowledge to her granddaughter during their time together.
During her reminiscences, Laela said that Elizabeth had often helped her with her cosmetics when they were younger. In addition, she taught Laela how to be self-assured when cutting and styling her hair. Laela lauded her grandma as a wonderful example to follow and a someone who “didn’t play favorites.”
Since Elizabeth’s granddaughter Laela chose to carry on her grandmother’s commitment to helping others and now works for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, it is clear that Elizabeth left an indelible mark on her granddaughter. Laela made the observation that, to her family, Elizabeth was not a movie star but rather a caring mother figure. Laela believed that this to be the case.
The similarities between Laela and Elizabeth include both a shared struggle against social stigma as well as a physical resemblance.
The grandkids of Elizabeth do not remember her when she was a famous person. When the grandchildren hear their grandmother’s name, the first thing that comes to their minds is the work that she did as a philanthropist and the efforts that she made to educate people about the impacts of the AIDS virus at a time when no one else was talking about it. Laela was able to recall:
“We never got to see her in the role of a movie star. She developed a fervent interest in political engagement, and I can’t think of anything that is more motivating than the love and drive that our grandma showed for other people.”
Elizabeth, in addition to being a very successful and well-paid actress, has made a significant contribution to the fight against AIDS by her tireless activism and innovative initiatives to increase public awareness. She even started the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation using the money she made from selling images from one of her marriages. The foundation’s mission was to assist those who were currently coping with HIV and AIDS.
Laela is now carrying on the legacy of her grandmother. Not only does she work closely with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation to ensure that her grandmother’s legacy lives on, but she also proudly wears her hair gray, just like her grandmother did when she was in her latter years. This is one way that she is carrying on her grandmother’s legacy. Laela let it slip that Elizabeth was the one who gave her the courage to let her hair grow out naturally.
The Wilding Family and Other Aspects of Laela’s Personal Life
Elizabeth has a large family from the beginning, and it continues to grow with each passing year. The actress in question had a total of four children, and those children together produced 10 grandchildren for their grandmother. Elizabeth now has the role of great-grandmother since her grandchildren are grown and starting families of their own. Laela is the oldest of all of her grandfather and grandmother’s grandkids.
The elated granddaughter lives in Portland, Oregon, where she works as a graphic designer to support herself and her family. She has been married for a very long time, and the two children she and her husband have together are called Finn and Vivian McMurray. She volunteers her time to assist her grandmother’s charity in organizing events and combating the stigma that is connected with AIDS when she is not otherwise engaged.
The grandchild who most resembles Elizabeth is not the only one of the grandchildren to have inherited their grandmother’s stunning mantle. The majority of Elizabeth’s grandkids have been active members of her organization at one point or another. Laela devotes a significant amount of time and effort, along with the assistance of her cousin Quinn Tivey, to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in order to ensure its success.
In his commentary, Quinn said that his grandma and the results of her effort pushed him to become engaged with his cousin. The fact that Elizabeth’s activism has impacted so many people sparked the desire among her grandchildren to continue carrying the torch and helping others who are in need. Quinn said that he had come to the conclusion that it was up to her family to continue performing her job.
In addition to Laela and Quinn, other cousins who have been active with Elizabeth’s work include Naomi deLuce Wilding, Tarquin Wilding, and Lowell Wilding; however, all of the grandchildren have helped in some kind or another throughout the course of the years. Naomi was candid about her connection with her grandmother and said the following about it:
“Just because someone is a celebrity does not mean that they can’t also be a lovely, squishy, wonderful grandmother who was constantly inviting us in,” the speaker said. “Just because somebody is a superstar does not mean that somebody can’t be both.”
Elizabeth now has a total of four great-grandchildren in addition to the large number of grandchildren she already has. Vivian and Finn are Laela’s children, while Naomi and her husband, Anthony Cran, have a boy together whom they name Declan Cran. Laela also has a child of her own. One of the more youthful grandchildren, Eliza Carson, also has a son by the name of Christian Carson.
