Elizabeth Taylor kept within the faith she adopted, even at the end of her life. The actress, who died on Wednesday at the age of 79, was buried the next day in accordance with Jewish tradition.

The service was presided over by Rabbi Jerry Cutler, who also presided over the funerals of Shelley Winters and Walter Matthau.

Although born Christian, she converted to Judaism in 1959. Two of her seven husbands, Mike Todd and Eddie Fisher, were Jewish.

She was also a supporter of Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, visiting the campus in 1983.

The glamorous star was known throughout her life for being able to make an entrance and her funeral, a quiet ceremony in Glendale, California, was no different.

It was due to begin at 2pm, but Dame Elizabeth had left instructions for it to begin 15 minutes after, so that she could even “be late for her own funeral”.