Over the weekend, a private memorial service was hosted by Colin Farrell for the late screen icon Elizabeth Taylor.
The 35-year-old actor, who mentioned that he was a close friend of the actress shortly after her passing in March this year, joined around 400 family and friends to honor the Oscar-winning star.
Michael Caine, another actor, also attended the service at the Steven J. Ross Theater located on the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, while Elton John delivered a performance of his popular song ‘Blue Eyes’.
During the service, Taylor’s son Michael Wilding addressed the crowd, expressing how meaningful it was to have so many friends gather to celebrate his mother’s spirit.
‘My mother was an extraordinary woman whose life touched many, most of whom we will never meet,’ stated Wilding.
‘Our entire family takes immense pride in her achievements and understands what a unique and special experience it has been to have her in our lives.
‘Being surrounded by such good friends today to celebrate her spirit, which will remain with us forever, was especially significant for us.’
A video message created by director Mike Nichols of Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf was shared during the heartfelt service for the violet-eyed beauty.
Taylor won an Academy Award for her performance in Nichols’ successful 1966 film.
During the 75-minute service, Taylor’s grandson Rhys Tivey performed a rendition of Amazing Grace on the trumpet.
Reports suggest that the memorial had been organized for seven months prior.
The two-time Academy Award winner passed away at the age of 79 on March 23, due to congestive heart failure in Los Angeles.
A funeral for the actress took place shortly after her death, adhering to her Jewish faith, which she adopted in 1959 and mandates a quick burial.
Taylor was laid to rest at the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries in Glendale, California, the same site where Michael Jackson, her close friend, was interred in 2009.
In a small private ceremony that began 15 minutes later than planned, the Hollywood icon was buried on a serene hillside outside Los Angeles.
Just a week after her passing, Colin shared insights into his close friendship with the Hollywood legend.
The two had developed such a bond that Colin was among the few outsiders permitted to attend her private funeral in March.
Colin mentioned to Access Hollywood, “I was just fortunate enough to become her friend in the last year and a half. I adore her… still.”
The Phone Booth star recounted how they first met, saying: “How did we become friends?
‘Well, it’s the classic tale of boy meets girl, and boy annoys girl with too many phone calls at odd hours of the night.’
The poem Colin was to read at her funeral was personally selected by Taylor herself.
On discussing the poem, The Leaden Echo and The Golden Echo by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Colin remarked: “Elizabeth chose it. It was a challenging poem as well. Even in her departure, she had me feeling the pressure.”
by Helena Bryanlith