Elizabeth Taylor Hospitalized for Heart Failure

Iconic actress and recent Kardashian interview subject has suffered from congestive heart failure for several years; rep asks for privacy

By Natalie Finn Feb 12, 2011 4:20 AMTags
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We hope Elizabeth Taylor's white diamonds continue to bring her luck.

The 78-year-old icon is currently hospitalized with symptoms caused by congestive heart failure, which she also had surgery for in 2009.

"This issue is being addressed," her rep said in a statement Friday. "She is currently being kept in the hospital for monitoring. Her family and close friends are appreciative of the warm support and interest of her loyal fans but have asked that people respect her privacy and allow her medical team the time and space to focus on restoring her back to health."

The much-married jewelry lover already made headlines this week for reasons much more up her alley...

"My interview in Bazaar with Kim Kardashian came out!!!" Taylor tweeted Wednesday, heralding the arrival of Harper's Bazaar's March issue, in which Kardashian interviewed Taylor (her "idol," she said) and paid homage to Cleopatra, one of La Liz's most iconic roles.

"The real Cleopatra had an incredibly complicated life, and she had to be very, very canny to survive as long as she did," Taylor said. "For me, the most interesting thing about her was her passion. The things that are important to me—being a mother, a businesswoman, an activist—are all things that were born out of great passion."

The brunette beauties also talked about a love they have in common—Twitter!

"But sometimes I think we know too much about our idols and that spoils the dream," Taylor said. "So, like all things, it is to be used with care!"

While Taylor tweeted before and after her surgery in 2009, she hasn't yet provided any personal updates from the hospital this time.

(Originally published Feb. 11, 2011, at 4:40 p.m. PT)