As Laura Reynolds, a free-spirited artist raising her son away from convention, Taylor brought warmth and defiance to a gentle 1960s romance.
The Sandpiper (1965) pairs Laura with Richard Burton as an Episcopal priest who is drawn into her world on the Big Sur coast. The film is best remembered for its coastal beauty and for the song The Shadow of Your Smile, but Taylor’s performance gives it its emotional anchor.
It was a quieter entry in her filmography, and a reminder that she could carry a romance on charm and conviction alone.
Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.