By John Abayomi, Deputy Online Editor

Hollywood legend, Elizabeth Taylor, described by the Associated Press, as the  violet-eyed film goddess is dead. She died Wednesday, at age 79.

According to reports, she was surrounded by her four children when she died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

She had been hospitalised for about six weeks.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elton John, a long time friend of Taylor said; “We have just lost a Hollywood giant. “More importantly, we have lost an incredible human being.”

Taylor was a child star at age 12 and grew up to become one of the film industry’s legend. But she was afflicted by ill health and failed romances (eight marriages, seven husbands).

She starred in over 50 films and had several Academy Award nominations but won two Oscars. In her later years, her philanthropy became legendary, particularly  her advocacy for AIDS research.

Some of her films are;  National Velvet, Father of the Bride, A Place in the Sun, Raintree  County, Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,  Suddenly,  Last Summer,  Butterfield 8 and Cleopatra (a $44 million budget film,  said to the most expensive movie ever made) among others.

She is survived by Maria Burton-Carson and Liza Todd-Tivey, (daughters); Christopher and Michael Wilding, (sons);  10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In one of her famous comments, Taylor said, “I don’t entirely approve of some of the things I have done, or am, or have been. But I’m me. God knows, I’m me,”.