Written in the Stars: Elizabeth Taylor’s Astrological Birth Chart

Behind Elizabeth Taylor’s activism, prolific acting career, and her pattern of jumping head first into love, is a complex system of stars and planets in unique alignment. A snapshot of the sky on February 27, 1939, at 2:30AM in London, England, shows Elizabeth’s natal birth chart, providing a special glimpse into her inner world and the celestial forces that guide her.

The Big Picture

With a chart ruled by fire signs, it is no surprise that Elizabeth approached life with unparalleled passion. The element of fire is endowed with intuition, energy, courage, self-confidence, and enthusiasm. The natural-born leaders of the zodiac, those ruled by this element are driven to fight for what they want and believe in, and Elizabeth was never one to take no for an answer. From challenging unfair studio contracts as a child actor to standing in front of Congress in her fight against HIV/AIDS, Elizabeth embodied the influence of fire in her chart, leading with confidence to assert herself and her values.

Water placements also make up a significant portion of Elizabeth’s chart. Known for high sensitivity and emotional intelligence, water signs let their hearts guide them. Elizabeth is a perfect example of this as her personal relationships took top priority in her life, and her empathetic lens lent an intensity to her acting performances which set her apart.

Elizabeth is also ruled by mutable energy, which indicates a flexible and mobile behavior. Those under mutable influence are endlessly curious and intelligent, constantly looking for new experiences to expand their horizons. They often end up working in fields that offer new opportunities and projects (such as acting), as well as enjoy frequent travel, which Elizabeth was fond of. Stagnation and boredom are dirty words for these types, and they are constantly working to challenge themselves.

Major Placements

These “big” placements in astrology - Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Mercury, Venus, and Mars - are often seen as the most important in a person’s chart. While many other planets and aspects are just as important - and better understood within the complex web of houses, conjunctions, and degrees that influence them - the simplified “big six” do paint a solid picture of a person’s character and inclinations. To round out the image, the Midheaven is also a useful tool in analyzing an individual’s purpose.

Sun, Mercury, and Mars in Pisces

The last sign of the zodiac - and the most dreamy - is Pisces. Elizabeth’s Sun, Mercury, and Mars reside in this sign, making her highly intuitive and spiritual nature a large part of who she is. Said to have an “otherworldly” presence due to their tie to Neptune (the planet of shared dreams, mysticism, and spiritual love), Pisces Suns lead with a compassionate heart, which can be both a blessing and a curse. They are often vulnerable to those who wish to control them, especially in love, which they are prone to falling into quickly. With the sign’s influence over Mercury, the planet of communication, Elizabeth was able to hone in on the communications of her emotional world, which was particularly important in her acting career where all emotions had to be communicated convincingly and authentically. It may have also led emotions to override logic in her communication style, which in combination with her Mars in Pisces, could explain heated exchanges and tumultuous relationships. Mars, being the planet of conflict and ego, finding a home in such a reactive sign may lead to fights, however it also lends intense compassion and understanding.

Moon in Scorpio

The plutonian sign of Scorpio is associated with intensity, secrecy, and emotional depth. When the Moon, which dominates the inner emotional landscape, is placed in Scorpio, the individual has the ability to understand what isn’t obvious to the rest of the world. Their consuming need for transformation and rebirth can manifest itself in the lives of Lunar Scorpios in different ways. Many seem to attract emotional upheaval, and their lives appear to consist of many dramatic ups and downs. In Elizabeth’s life, this manifested in her deep connections to others, especially those who maintained a level of intensity in their own lives, such as her dear friend Rock Hudson. This may also explain Elizabeth’s relationship with Richard Burton (amongst many other lovers), which was often challenging and yet filled with passion. Elizabeth was known to fall into many scandals throughout her life, particularly regarding matters of the heart, in true lunar Scorpio fashion.

Ascendant in Sagittarius

The ascendant sign is not associated with a planet, but rather the constellation that was rising over the horizon at the time of birth and is said to describe one’s outward persona. For Elizabeth, this is in the sign of Sagittarius. The socialites of the zodiac, those with this placement are somewhat restless and active people. They are direct and assertive, yet they are likable and friendly, so their bluntness is often forgiven. They are often very opinionated and wear their hearts on their sleeves, never afraid to show the world who they are. Elizabeth shared in all of these traits, always on the move and speaking her mind no matter how it was perceived by others. Her love of travel and exploring new places is also a classic example of a Sagittarius rising who looks to expand their horizons, literally and metaphorically.

Venus in Aries

Venus, the planet of love and attraction, finds its home in the sign of Aries in Elizabeth’s chart. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, often likened to child-like qualities, and in collaboration with Venus, it inspires a naive and adventurous approach to love. They may also be driven by their own needs and desire to be prioritized. This was likely not an issue for Elizabeth who was always deeply adored by her romantic suitors.

Midheaven in Libra

The Midheaven is an important angle within the natal chart, representing life's purpose and how one is meant to leave a mark on the world. Libra, represented by the scales, is representative of justice and fairness, and those with their midheaven in Libra often find paths surrounding social justice to be most fulfilling. Those with this placement are charming, diplomatic, clever, intelligent, kind, and easy-going. They act as a bridge between people, cultures, and modes of thought, making them perfectly suited for the role of an activist. Elizabeth stepped into this placement when she dedicated her life to ending HIV/AIDS, its social stigma, and its legalized discrimination.