Although the stage play's sexual proclivities were toned down somewhat for the film version of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958), Taylor's voluptuous performance as Maggie (which earned her an Oscar nomination) proved that she was perhaps the actress best suited to portray Tennessee Williams' particular flavor of troubled, assertive Southern women. It was during production when, having contracted a virus, Taylor cancelled plans to fly to New York with her husband Mike Todd. Todd's plane crashed, killing everyone on board.