Elizabeth Taylor reportedly ran a "safe house" for people with HIV.
Kathy Ireland
Her friend Kathy Ireland claims the legendary actress had a secret network to help get experimental HIV drugs to patients, similar to the story on which 'Dallas Buyers Club' is based.
She told Entertainment Tonight: "Talk about fearless in her home in Bel-Air. It was a safe house. A lot of the work that she did, it was illegal, but she was saving lives. It was in a time when it was not something to do.
"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 her is her courage."
Elizabeth - who died in 2011 aged 79 - was keen to raise awareness of the disease and set up The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation to help those who were suffering.
Their mission statement reads: "Elizabeth Taylor established The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in 1991 to support organisations delivering direct care and services to people living with HIV and AIDS, often to the most marginalised populations.
"Today, ETAF also provides funding for HIV prevention education and advocacy programs throughout the world, including existing organisations creating new and innovative techniques that help spread awareness of HIV prevention and treatment to targeted communities."
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