As the legendary Judy Garland once said, "I don't know why, but a child can bring you to believe in yourself again." Perhaps it's the way they look at you with unwavering trust and admiration that makes all the difference. That's exactly how Liza Minnelli felt about her mother. Even after 55 years, Liza still carries her mother's essence with her every day. At 78, she reflects fondly on their incredible bond. "We became incredibly close as I grew up," Liza shares. "She was my best friend and confidante. We laughed and talked endlessly, whether we were in the same room or miles apart."
Being the daughter of an icon like Judy Garland wasn't easy, but it came with its own unique set of joys. Liza, born into fame, remembers her early days vividly. In the new documentary Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, it's revealed that Frank Sinatra was the third person to hold her after she was born. "She came from one of the most talented women of the 20th century, Judy Garland, and one of the most talented men, Vincente Minnelli," director Bruce David Klein tells Closer. "She was taught to tap-dance by none other than Gene Kelly."
Some of Liza's happiest memories revolve around dancing for her parents. As a young girl, she'd perform for them, creating moments filled with laughter and joy. "When I was older, around 11, she'd sing 'Swanee' and make me dance to it," Liza recalls. "She got such a kick out of it. It was like, 'Look what I made.' And I was so happy whenever she was happy."
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Mother and Daughter United by Unwavering Love
In 1959, Judy was hospitalized with acute hepatitis, a result of years of prescription medications that began during her teenage years in Hollywood. Judy once confided in biographer Paul Donnelley, "They'd give me and Mickey Rooney pills to keep us on our feet long after we were exhausted. Then they'd take us to the studio hospital and knock us out with sleeping pills. After four hours, they'd wake us up and give us the pep pills again so we could work 72 hours in a row. It was a way of life for us." Despite the challenges, Liza remained unaware of her mother's struggles early on, but she admired Judy's determination to perform no matter what.
Liza describes her mother as someone with immense drive, resilience, and a wonderful sense of humor. "She had huge ambition and guts," Liza says. "I like to think she passed those three traits on to me." As her half-siblings Lorna and Joey joined the family during Judy's marriage to Sid Luft, Liza found herself stepping into the role of a confidante and helper. "It was as though Liza had become the mom and Judy the child," says Mike Selsman, who worked as a press agent for Judy in the 1960s. "It was sweet to watch, but also a little unsettling."
These circumstances forced Liza to grow up quickly. "Liza would often help her mother to bed and try to talk her out of taking pills, but it was futile," an insider reveals. "Meanwhile, Judy would tell her that they only had each other to rely on. That's a lot of pressure for a young adult." Judy's inability to fully meet the demands of motherhood broke her heart. "If only she could have given them as much care as she did love," author Anne Edwards tells Closer. "She wanted more than anything else to be a good mother."
Children, however, often have a remarkable ability to adapt. The difficulties the family faced were just part of their everyday reality. "There were no in-betweens, no times when I was just tranquil," Liza admits. "I was used to either screaming attacks or excessive love, rivers of money or no money at all, seeing my mother constantly or not seeing her for weeks at a time."
Liza Finds Her Own Spotlight
Liza's decision to enter the entertainment world was entirely her own. "Mother doesn't give me any advice," she said in 1968. "She doesn't believe in it. She says she trusts me. That's a good feeling." Despite witnessing her parents' struggles with fame, fluctuating finances, and lack of privacy, Liza always knew she wanted to be a performer.
She made her Broadway debut in 1965 at just 19 years old in Flora the Red Menace. On opening night, Judy proudly cheered her on from the audience. "The hardest part was getting to be known as myself rather than someone's daughter," Liza admits. But she achieved that and so much more.
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