Everything She Wants

We recently saw a screening of " Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom ," the Nelson Mandela biopic starring Idris Elba as the beloved "Madiba" and Naomie Harris as his wife and partner in revolution, Winnie. The film is a riveting testament to the irrepressible spirit of Mr. Mandela, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1964 because of his "terrorist" involvement with the anti-apartheid organization, the African National Congress (ANC). Mr. Mandela served 27 years of that sentence, mostly in a tiny cell on Robben Island. When he was released in 1990, he got even not by urging his supporters to wage war against his white oppressors, but by becoming South Africa's first black president in 1994. Idris Elba and Naomie Harris as Nelson and Winnie Mandela in "Long Walk to Freedom,."/Photos courtesy of the film. His is an impossibly true story, and one that is particularly poignant since the human rights activist passed away yesterday at age 95...

"She was the prettiest ever," my Mom told me over the phone as she spoke about the death of her childhood icon,  Elizabeth Taylor . Those violet eyes.  That raven hair.  Yes, Liz was a real beauty.  Inside and out.  The Hollywood heroine was an actress full of moxie; a humanitarian full of heart; a style icon who dared to flaunt her sexuality; and a woman full of passion.  Liz embodied the tortured, temptress role of Maggie the Cat in the screen adaptation of Tennessee Williams's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."  Although the Academy Award-winning actress wasn't exactly a historically accurate representation of queen Cleopatra, she sure knew how to walk like an Egyptian and rock the regal braids and embellished eye makeup.  And let's not forget her decidedly decadent floral scent.  In the '80s, my Mom always kept a bottle of  White Diamonds  ( a girl's best friend ) handy. Liz was a great lady and legend. She will b...