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According to the Guiness Book of World Records, Elizabeth Taylor holds the record for the most costume changes in one film: 65 different costume changes in which 1963 film?

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CLEOPATRA - entertainment illustration
CLEOPATRA — entertainment

In the notoriously extravagant 1963 production of *Cleopatra*, Elizabeth Taylor's wardrobe was as epic as the film itself. She wore 65 different costumes, setting a Guinness World Record for the most costume changes in a single movie at the time. This remarkable feat was a testament to the film's immense and often troubled production, which famously almost bankrupted 20th Century Fox with its then-unprecedented $44 million budget. A significant portion of this, a record-breaking $194,800, was allocated just for Taylor's costumes.

The elaborate gowns were the work of a team of designers, including Irene Sharaff, who was responsible for Taylor's stunning looks. The costumes were so magnificent that they earned the film an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Among the many memorable outfits was a spectacular cape made from 24-carat gold cloth, designed to look like the wings of a phoenix. In one two-minute scene alone, Taylor appears in three different elaborate ensembles.

The influence of these costumes extended far beyond the screen, inspiring fashion trends of the 1960s, from "Cleopatra eye" makeup to jewelry and dresses. The sheer number of changes highlighted the queen's power and dramatic flair, cementing both the character's and the actress's legendary status. While Madonna later surpassed this record with 85 costume changes in the 1996 film *Evita*, Taylor's extensive and opulent wardrobe in *Cleopatra* remains a landmark achievement in cinematic history.