Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar – Kim Kardashian, Sharon Stone, Dame Joan Collins and contributors reflect on the new series and the legacy of Elizabeth Taylor.

Kim Kardashian is one of the most recognisable and influential faces on the planet.

She was the last person to interview Elizabeth – for a profile in Harper’s Bazaar in 2011 – when the pair swapped stories about falling in and out of love under the press glare, their shared love for jewellery and the importance of family.

As a media personality, entrepreneur, activist and actress, there are few women better placed to understand what it’s like to be famous the world over – and to have your personal and professional life scrutinised daily – than Kim. She is an Executive Producer on Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar and was also interviewed for the series.

Tell us about interviewing Elizabeth Taylor, which would be her last interview…

“I was doing a shoot for Harper’s Bazaar and they said they’d love it to have a Cleopatra-themed cover, and that I could interview Elizabeth for the cover story. Everyone knew how much I loved her and I was so excited.

Interviewing her felt surreal, I was so nervous. Just to know we had a good time doing it. Elizabeth would laugh and say, “I can’t believe you know so much. I can’t believe you know more about my jewellery than I even remember.”

Do you remember when you first became aware of Elizabeth?

I first heard of Elizabeth Taylor in high school. My dad used to make us watch a black and white film on the weekends. Then we watched one with Elizabeth Taylor and I remember just wanting to know more about her. And then learning more and more and just falling in love.

Why did you want to be involved with this series?

“I just want people, especially young people, to know what a fighter she was, how she really didn’t care: she was going to help who she wanted to help, whether it was a good look or not, and whether whole teams and studios were telling her not to.

“She was such a fighter, a freedom fighter. And obviously that mixed in with the glitz and glam and the jewels …and everything that came along with her – I just think she’s fascinating.”

How has Elizabeth inspired your life?

She always stood for what she felt was the right thing and she was unapologetically herself – she was one of the first examples I saw of that. And she set the tone: she showed people that you could reinvent yourself.

She’s definitely had an effect on my life, she’s always been on my mood board. She’s the blueprint.

You are involved in law reform and activism as Elizabeth was. How has she inspired you?

I’ve always looked to her to motivate me. It doesn’t matter what’s acceptable to other people if you believe in it and that’s what you want to fight for. And you fight for those people who don’t have voices, to be their voice.

I think if you have a platform that you can use to talk about the issues that are really wrong with this world, then you’re shedding a light for so many people that otherwise they might not even know about.

Elizabeth has been such an inspiration to me. She was a huge driving force in paving the way for anyone in my position today. It’s not easy to be first, you know? And I love that there’s someone like her to look up to.

You and Elizabeth share a love of jewellery – tell us about that.

My cousin Cici, who is obsessed with all things pop culture and fashion, she would always talk to me about Elizabeth’s jewellery and would say, ‘when she was married to Richard he bought her this and she wore it here’. Just so many stories over the years of all of these amazing pieces that she acquired.

I just love how she loved jewellery.

How would you describe Elizabeth?

If there was one word to describe her it would be strength. She recognized that all the glamour the stuff and the life is secondary to who you are as a person.

She knew her power, and she used it to help other people.

Actor, feminist, business mogul, activist: Elizabeth Taylor broke the mould and re-wrote the rules of celebrity.

In BBC Arts’ new 3-part series we hear first-hand testimony from those closest to Elizabeth, from family members to her inner circle of friends and those she inspired – revealing Taylor not only as a great actress, but a free spirit, entrepreneur and groundbreaking activist.

With access to never-before-heard audio tapes, interviews and unseen TV footage of Elizabeth herself.

Watch Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two on Friday 27 September at 9pm.