Elizabeth Taylor’s 10 Grandkids Are All Grown Up, She Felt ‘Responsible for Raising’ Them

Dec 15, 2021 by apost team

When it comes to classic Hollywood royalty, Elizabeth Taylor is one of those names at the top of the list. The British-American actress was known for her stunningly unique features, violet eyes and charisma on the big screen, making her one of the most sought-after actresses during her lifetime. 

She first found fame as a teenager before really making a name for herself during her adult years. Some of Taylor’s most popular film performances were in “Cleopatra” in 1961, “The Taming of the Shrew” in 1967 and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” in 1966, all alongside her partner at the time, Richard Burton.

On top of a highly successful professional life, Taylor also had a very public personal life. Taylor was married a total of eight times during her life, two of which were to Burton. There were some controversies surrounding her dating life, but ultimately Taylor got the family she had always wanted. She went on to have four children and is now survived by them along with her 10 grandchildren. 

Nowadays, all 10 of Taylor’s grandchildren are grown up and have shared fond memories of their late grandmother and what she was really like. Taylor’s grandchildren include Naomi Wilding, Laela Wilding, Caleb Wilding, Andrew Wilding, Tarquin Wilding, Lowell Wilding, Quinn Tivey, Rhys Tivey, Eliza Carson and Richard McKeown.

It turns out that Taylor was actually responsible for helping raise her grandkids and always wanted to be seen by them as their loving, supportive grandmother rather than a notable celebrity. Read on to find out more about one of Taylor’s most important roles of being a grandmother.

While Taylor was most famous for her beauty, career, activism and relationships, it was her role as a grandmother that truly meant the most to her. According to Town and Country, Taylor had 10 grandchildren, all of whom are now grown. Naomi is a 45-year-old gallerist, and her sister, Laela, is a 50-year-old graphic designer.

Speaking with TODAY in March 2021, the sisters opened up about what their grandma was really like behind the scenes and how she has continued to inspire women all over the world. They have also found themselves engaging in humanitarian work, carrying on Taylor’s publicized passions.

“Just because somebody is a superstar doesn’t also mean that they can’t be a loving, squishy, delicious grandma who was always welcoming us in,” Naomi said. It was a role that meant a lot to Taylor, and she took it upon herself to really immerse herself in helping to raise her 10 grandchildren. “She had an idea that she was responsible for raising the younger generations in the family, you know,” Naomi said. “It was important to her that she instilled those values in us, too.”

While spreading love and kindness to her grandchildren was crucial for Taylor, she also wanted to share a similar message of hope with the rest of the world and participated in many forms of activism. “I think that she very early on felt touched by the AIDS crisis,” Laela said. “She felt like people weren’t recognizing the urgency of need. So she put herself front and center in a very sincere way.” 

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According to TODAY, Taylor co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985 and founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991. Quinn is 35 and runs the latter foundation. His brother, Rhys, spoke about Taylor’s passion for activism with Town and Country in 2017. “She always wanted to do the hardest and most unlikely thing first,” he said.

Taylor’s work ethic, dedication to her craft and passion have gone on to inspire not only her fans but also her own family, including Laela. “... I have a teenage daughter, and she inspires my daughter (with) the self-confidence she presents,” she said about her late grandmother.

Laela added, “She was the person who saw injustice, and started talking about it and never stopped talking about it. Who she was is very relevant, and it might not be in the ways that a person might really think of when they think of her.”

The foundation is something the whole family has worked to involve themselves in, as carrying on Taylor’s legacy and dedication to activism is what’s important to them. “We’re more effective as a group,” Naomi said. “By following her course, we have power as a family.” 

Her brother Tarquin, a filmmaker, talked about how Taylor’s kind heart has continued to live on through her foundation and her family. “I often think about how lucky I am to have been born into a group of such wacky, caring, sensitive people,” he said. “We admire my grandmother for her boundless generosity, and I believe that we all feel grateful to be able to honor and continue her legacy. Especially together.”

What do you think about Elizabeth Taylor’s life as an actress, activist and grandmother? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too.