Elizabeth Taylor’s ‘The Nanny’ Appearance Included No Eye Contact and Tiffany Gift, Niles Actor Shares

Elizabeth Taylor, an icon of Hollywood, was known for her legendary status, and her late-career television appearances were treated as major events. Her striking violet eyes were a significant part of her allure. When she guest-starred on a sitcom in the 1990s, it was clear to producers that they had secured a guest star like no other.

‘The Nanny’ featured a long line of celebrity cameos during its CBS run from 1993 to 1999. The show centered around Fran Fine, portrayed by Fran Drescher, a cosmetics saleswoman from Queens who inadvertently becomes the nanny for the affluent Sheffield family. Daniel Davis played Niles, the witty butler, throughout the series.

Recently, Davis opened up about his experience with Taylor on set during a panel at 90s Con in Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Oct. 17. The 80-year-old actor referred to Taylor as the biggest guest star the show ever had and shared some of the unique demands that accompanied her visit.

Taylor’s appearance in February 1996 was part of a broader promotional effort for her fragrance Black Pearls, which included appearances on all four of CBS’s Monday-night sitcoms, a campaign dubbed Taylor-Made Monday.

On ‘The Nanny’, her episode was titled ‘Where’s the Pearls?’ and aired on Feb. 26, 1996. In this episode, Fran misplaces Taylor’s string of black pearls after being tasked with delivering them. The storyline intersected with ‘Can’t Hurry Love’, ‘Murphy Brown’, and ‘High Society’.

Davis made a point to distinguish Taylor from her entourage, describing her as gracious, charming, and lovely, while noting that her team had some demanding requests. He emphasized that these conditions were imposed by those around her rather than Taylor herself.

This distinction is crucial, as the list of demands was extensive. According to Davis, Taylor’s contract included several stipulations, one of which required a Tiffany & Co. gift valued at no less than $5,000 to be placed on her dressing table. This was quite an extravagant request, even by Hollywood standards. Interestingly, Davis mentioned that Taylor never actually saw the gift.

This detail adds a poignant twist to the story. While the demand was fulfilled, the intended recipient never got to appreciate it, highlighting that the requests stemmed from her entourage rather than Taylor herself.

Perhaps the most surprising requirement involved the crew. Davis revealed that Taylor’s contract specified that cast members were not allowed to make eye contact with her. In an industry where eye contact is a fundamental part of acting, this was an unusual stipulation.

This request is fitting, considering how famous her eyes were. Davis noted that she indeed had lavender eyes. Whether this rule was meant to safeguard her privacy or simply reflected her entourage’s approach, it certainly left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Davis also recounted asking if he could take a photo with Taylor, only to be informed that the picture would need to be retouched according to her specifications to ensure she looked her best. He later paid $150 for a hard copy of the photo.

He still cherishes that photo, which hangs on his wall. This detail transforms the narrative from a mere list of demands into a cherished memory, despite its cost. It illustrates how meticulously Taylor’s image was curated, even on a half-hour sitcom.

90s Con, organized by That’s 4 Entertainment, welcomed over 50 celebrity guests and thousands of fans to Hartford. Davis appeared alongside his ‘Nanny’ co-star Charles Shaughnessy, celebrating the decade’s pop culture. Panels like this provide actors with the opportunity to share behind-the-scenes stories that often go untold.

For fans of the series, the anecdote about Taylor serves as a reminder of the impressive roster of guest stars that graced the show. It also highlights how the legendary actress, who passed away on March 23, 2011, continued to captivate audiences long after her prime. A single episode from 1996 still sparks interest three decades later.

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