Elizabeth Taylor would take a bath after her makeup. But her attorney shares 1 habit of the Cleopatra actress that really tested everyone’s patience

Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor, celebrated for her breathtaking beauty and legendary roles in classics like Cleopatra, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, captivated millions worldwide with her magnetic screen presence and lavish lifestyle. Recently, her long-time attorney Barbara Berkowitz shared secrets about the late superstar. According to Berkowitz, although Elizabeth was deeply generous, fiercely loyal, and impeccably polished, she did have one frustrating habit that constantly tested her team's patience.

Elizabeth Taylor’s 1 frustrating habit

Barbara Berkowitz, in a conversation with People magazine, shared that Elizabeth Taylor had a notorious, uncompromising penchant for being fashionably late on film sets. She was also known to take a hot steam bath right after her makeup was done, as the actress thought that it was good for her skin.

According to Berkowitz, Elizabeth Taylor was remarkably detached from the kind of personal conflicts and trivial disputes that often surrounded Hollywood. The actress had little patience for gossip or backstabbing and was not someone who deliberately created drama. Her composed nature, however, did not mean that everyone working with her found the experience equally effortless.

Unusual secret behind Elizabeth Taylor’s glam routine

For Berkowitz, Elizabeth Taylor’s biggest source of frustration was her tendency to run late. Her delayed appearances were something people around her had noticed over the years, and the attorney admitted that keeping track of the actress’s schedule could be particularly stressful. Much of that lateness, however, was linked to Taylor’s elaborate beauty routine and the time she devoted to getting ready.

Her preparation process had an unusual final step. Elizabeth Taylor would have her hair and makeup completed before taking a bath, with the steam helping set her makeup. Once she emerged, very little remained to be done. She would quickly put on her clothes and jewellery before heading out, making the final stage of her preparation surprisingly swift.

More about Elizabeth Taylor’s beauty secrets

Berkowitz also recalled that while professional makeup artists worked with Taylor, the actress herself was exceptionally skilled at doing her own makeup. Her beauty routine reflected the same distinctive approach that became part of her signature image.

Details shared on Elizabeth Taylor’s official website offer further insight into the technique. Her post-makeup bath was intended to use steam to set her face, while her preference for a sheer base allowed her natural freckles to remain visible. She also favoured matte grey cake eyeliner, creating a subtle definition that bears similarities to what is now widely described as the ‘no-makeup makeup’ aesthetic.

The unconventional routine may have contributed to Elizabeth Taylor’s occasional delays, but it also highlighted how carefully the Hollywood icon approached her appearance.