Elizabeth Taylor's striking looks launched her screen career at a very young age. Her first screen appearance was in There's One Born Every Minute, and then she starred in Lassie Come Home with Roddy McDowall.

It was her role in National Velvet that really saw her stock increase, though. 12-year old Taylor played a girl who takes on a past-it horse and trains it for the grand national.

Taylor held her own opposite Mickey Rooney, and plays Velvet with an endearing innocence. A fall from a horse while filming caused health problems that would have repercussions throughout the rest of her life.