The film's script, adapted from Albee's play by Ernest Lehman, broke new ground for its raw language and harsh depiction of marriage. So immersed had the Burtons become in the roles of George and Martha over the months of shooting that, after it was wrapped up, he and Taylor found it difficult not to be George and Martha, "I feel rather lost." Later the couple would state that the film took its toll on their relationship, and that Taylor was "tired of playing Martha" in real life. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? garnered critical acclaim, with film critic Stanley Kauffmann of The New York Times calling it "one of the most scathingly honest American films ever made". Kaufman observed Burton to be "utterly convincing as a man with a great lake of nausea in him, on which he sails with regret and compulsive amusement", and Taylor "does the best work of her career, sustained and urgent". In her review for The New York Daily News, Kate Cameron thought Taylor "nothing less than brilliant as the shrewish, slovenly. blasphemous, frustrated, slightly wacky, alcoholic wife" while noting that the film gave Burton "a chance to display his disciplined art in the role of the victim of a wife's vituperative tongue". However, Andrew Sarris of The Village Voice criticised Taylor, believing her performance "lack[ed] genuine warmth" but his review of Burton was more favourable, noting that he gave "a performance of electrifying charm". Although all four actors received Academy Award nominations for their roles in the film, which received a total of thirteen nominations, only Taylor and Dennis went on to win. Both Burton and Taylor won their first BAFTA Awards for Best British Actor and Best British Actress respectively; the former also for his role in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
the Film'S sCRiPt, aDAptEd from albee'S play by ernest leHman, broKe NEw Ground for Its raW LaNgUagE And harsh dePiction of mARriAgE. so ImMeRsed had tHE BuRtoNs beCoME iN thE ROLeS of GEorge and mARThA over the monthS oF shootiNg tHAT, afTer it WAs wraPpEd uP, he aNd tayLoR founD it diffiCult not to bE gEorGe aNd marThA, "i feel Rather lOst." lAter the CouPle WOuld state thAT The FilM tOok its tOlL on ThEir Relationship, AND THat tayLor WaS "tIrED of PlAYing mArtHa" IN real LiFe. WHo's afRaid of vIrGiNia Woolf? garnEred cRiTical aCCLAim, wITH fILm CRiTiC Stanley KaUfFmAnn of The new yorK tiMeS callINg it "one of The MOst scathiNgLy HOnest amerIcaN fIlms evEr mAde". kaUfmaN OBServed burtoN to be "UtterlY convinciNg aS a man with a grEaT LaKe Of NaUSea In hIm, on whICh he SaIlS wITh RegrEt aND CompUlSive amUsEment", and TayLor "doEs the best worK Of Her CarEEr, sUsTAINeD and uRGenT". in hER reViEw FoR The NeW yORk daily NeWs, kaTe cameroN ThougHT taYLoR "NOthing LesS ThaN brIlliant as the sHrewish, SLOvENlY. blaspHemOUs, FrustRateD, sLIghtly WAcky, aLCOHoLic wife" while Noting thAt thE filM gave bURtoN "a chanCe To dispLay hIS dIScIPLINed ARt In the role of tHe viCTim of a Wife's VItupeRative tongue". HoWeVer, andrEw SarriS OF tHe vIllAgE voice cRitIciseD tAYlOr, beLiEVinG heR PerFOrMaNCe "lACk[ed] GEnuInE waRmTh" BUt his ReviEw of burtON Was MoRe favOurable, Noting ThAt he gavE "A performaNce OF eLecTrifyIng Charm". ALthougH alL four ACtOrs reCeiveD acaDemy aWArD nominaTIONS for thEir roles in ThE FiLm, whiCh rEceIVeD A TOtal Of tHiRteEn NoMInAtIoNs, onLy tayloR AnD Dennis went on to Win. bOTh BuRToN anD TayloR won thEir first baFtA aWaRds for best briTiSH actOr and best britisH actReSs respecTively; the forMer Also FoR His Role in the spy Who CaME in frOM the colD.