Elizabeth Taylor was one of the most iconic actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Known for films like Cleopatra, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Taylor dazzled audiences with her acting skills, glamour, and famously violet eyes.
Genetics Behind Elizabeth Taylor’s Eye Color
So what made Elizabeth Taylor’s eyes such a brilliant shade of violet? The answer lies in her genetics.
Eye color is determined by the amount and quality of melanin pigments in the iris. Brown eyes have a lot of melanin, blue eyes have very little, and green eyes fall somewhere in between. Taylor’s eyes were a mix of blue, green, and brown – but what made them appear violet was the special way her eyes reflected light.
This unique quality is called light scattering. Taylor had a rare genetic mutation that caused her eyes to produce structurally abnormal melanin. These irregular pigment chunks scattered light so that her eyes appeared violet under certain conditions.
How Lighting Impacted Taylor’s Eye Color
The vivid violet hue of Taylor’s eyes was not always constant. Her eye color could shift between gray, blue, violet and even dark brown depending on the lighting conditions.
Bright sunlight could make Taylor’s eyes appear a cool violet-blue. Cloudy days often made her eyes look a deeper blue-gray. And under warm artificial light, her eyes could transform into an intense violet. The effect was so striking that Taylor’s director and co-workers would adjust studio lighting to enhance the violet tone of her eyes for films.
Makeup also played a role. By using specific colors of eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara, Taylor’s makeup artists could intensify the violet color of her eyes under studio lighting conditions.
Why Violet Eyes Are Rare
Only 2% of the world’s population has violet or purple eyes. So why are Elizabeth Taylor’s violet eyes so rare?
For violet eye color to occur, a person needs to have a combination of the correct genetics and lighting conditions. First, a person must inherit the gene for blue/green eyes. But they also need a second rare mutation – like the structural melanin abnormality that Taylor had – to allow their eyes to scatter light and appear violet.
Here are some of the key genetic factors needed for violet eye color:
- A low concentration of melanin
- Melanin that is abnormal or unevenly distributed in the iris
- A clear stroma that allows light to reflect and scatter
- A relatively transparent iris that does not absorb excess light
Without this precise combination of genetics, it is extremely unlikely for someone to have violet eyes. That’s why Elizabeth Taylor’s eye color was so rare and special.
Historical References to Taylor’s Eyes
The unique beauty of Elizabeth Taylor’s violet eyes was noted even early in her career. Here are some historical quotes about her eye color over the years:
“Young Elizabeth Taylor has these thaloid eyes which seem to have an enormous number of flecks in them. They are pronounceably violet, literal violet, which is a difficult color to find any analogy for, except the mauve shades of orchids.” – Time Magazine, 1949
“Her dark hair is a perfect frame for her fair complexion and deep violet eyes.” – Life Magazine, 1950
“She is an incomparable beauty. Her eyes are the most incredible shade of violet.” – Herald American, 1951
“Frontal lighting is used to emphasize Miss Taylor’s famous violet eyes.” – Richard Brooks , Director, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1958
Clearly Taylor’s violet eyes made a strong impression throughout her career. Their unique color and brightness was unlike any other celebrity at the time.
How Unusual Was Taylor’s Eye Color?
To understand just how unusual Taylor’s violet eye color was, it helps to look at some statistics:
| Eye Color | Population % |
|---|---|
| Brown | 79% |
| Blue | 8% |
| Green | 2% |
| Gray | 1% |
| Violet/Purple | 2% |
As this data shows, only an estimated 2% of people worldwide have violet eyes like Elizabeth Taylor. By far the most common eye colors are shades of brown, with blue eyes also moderately common. But violet and purple are extremely rare.
Additionally, variations in lighting conditions can make someone’s eye color difficult to definitively classify. Taylor’s eyes could shift between blue, gray, and violet, which made them even more intriguing and exotic.
The Cultural Impact of Taylor’s Eyes
Elizabeth Taylor’s distinctive violet eyes left a lasting cultural impact and influence:
- Inspired poetic tributes – Like the song “Violet Eyes” written for Taylor by her husband Eddie Fisher in 1960.
- Changed beauty ideals – Helped shift the fashion for eye color from blue to more exotic colors like green and violet.
- Popularized colored contact lenses – Created demand for people wishing to mimic Taylor’s eye color with tinted lenses.
- Associated violet eyes with Hollywood glamour – Linked the rare eye color with Taylor’s fame and celebrity.
Even today, Elizabeth Taylor remains the poster child for what stunning violet eyes can look like. She helped popularize the concept that eyes could be an alluring feature and beautiful statement piece. While exotic eye colors had not been much valued earlier, Taylor’s example helped change that.
Could Violet Eyes Become More Common?
Since violet eye color depends on rare genetic mutations, it seems unlikely that the percentage of people with violet eyes will increase significantly any time soon. However, some speculate that in the far future, genetic engineering could allow parents to select violet eyes for their children.
Gene editing technologies like CRISPR offer the potential to directly edit eye color genes. However, safely and ethically modifying the human germline raises enormous scientific, moral and regulatory hurdles. The risks of unintended consequences are also high.
So while genetic modification may one day offer the possibility of more violet eyes, extreme caution is warranted. Currently, the only way to have violet eyes is to be born with the incredibly rare right genetic combination – like Elizabeth Taylor was.
Taylor’s Legacy of Rare Beauty
Elizabeth Taylor’s passing in 2011 marked the loss of one of Hollywood’s great screen legends. But the memory of her extraordinary violet eyes lives on.
Taylor’s eyes were a perfect example of how small genetic quirks can sometimes produce breathtaking results. While eye color is a relatively trivial trait, Taylor’s violet gaze captivated millions. It was a testament to her rare beauty both inside and out.
So while most people will never have violet eyes without color contacts, we can still admire their beauty and mystique. Taylor’s violet eyes remind us that sometimes the rarest gifts of genetics are the most awe-inspiring.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic violet eyes were the result of rare genetic mutations that allowed her eyes to reflect and scatter light. Only about 2% of people worldwide have violet eyes naturally, which made Taylor’s eye color incredibly unique. The lighting conditions also impacted her eye color, causing it to shift between blue, violet and purple hues. Taylor’s distinctive violet gaze left a lasting cultural impact and helped popularize exotic eye colors in fashion and beauty. While unlikely to become common, Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic violet eyes remain one of the most celebrated examples of rare genetic beauty.
