Which actress starred as Cleopatra in the 1963 film Cleopatra?

Elizabeth Taylor starred as Cleopatra in the 1963 film Cleopatra. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the lavish historical epic portrays Cleopatra VII’s relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

Taylor was already one of Hollywood’s most famous actors when production began, and the film became closely associated with her screen image. Richard Burton played Mark Antony, while Rex Harrison portrayed Julius Caesar. Taylor and Burton’s off-screen relationship also attracted enormous publicity during filming.

The production became notorious for its scale and cost. Originally planned at Fox’s London studios, it moved to Rome after production difficulties, and illness and reshoots contributed to major delays. The finished film runs for more than four hours in many releases and was among the most expensive films ever made at the time.

The movie takes substantial dramatic liberties with chronology and politics. It should not be treated as a documentary biography, but its spectacular sets, costumes, and performances helped make Taylor’s Cleopatra one of the best-known portrayals of the ancient queen.