Elizabeth Taylor Ran HIV Drug Ring From Her Bel Air Home

Late actress Elizabeth Taylor reportedly ran a ‘Dallas Buyers Club’-style drug ring from her home in Bel Air, distributing medication to people with HIV in the early 1990s.

The revelation comes from an interview with model-turned-entrepreneur Kathy Ireland, a friend of the legendary Oscar-winner who was speaking to Entertainment Tonight.

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Support from the US government for those suffering from the virus was in short supply, so networks like Taylor’s and that seen in the Oscar-winning Matthew McConaughey film 'Dallas Buyers Club’ were set up to supply meds.

“It was a safe house,” said Ireland of Taylor’s Bel Air home. “A lot of the work that she did, it was illegal, but she was saving lives. She said her business associates pleaded with her, ‘Leave this thing alone.’

"She received death threats. Friends hung up on her when she asked for help. But something that I love about Elizabeth is her courage.”

Taylor was famously an advocate for fighting the disease, setting up The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation in 1991. Her campaigning was fuelled by the death of her close friend Rock Hudson, who died following a battle with HIV in 1985.

'Dallas Buyers Club’ is the most famous example of one such operation, focusing on the true story of Ron Woodroof - who operated during the 80s. Woodroof was played by McConaughey, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his role. He’s pictured above (right) with Jared Leto, who won the Best Supporting Actor prize for his role as Rayon.

Taylor passed away in March 2011 after complications arose following a heart failure.

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Picture Credits: MGM / Focus Features