Olivia Hussey, star of 1968 “Romeo and Juliet,” dies at 73
Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet within the 1968 movie “Romeo and Juliet,” has died, her household mentioned on social media Saturday. She was 73.
Hussey died on Friday, “peacefully at dwelling surrounded by her family members,” a press release posted to her Instagram account mentioned.
Marc Huestis, a pal of Hussey’s since 2008, informed CBS Information that the actress had most cancers.
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Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli forged her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy after recognizing her onstage within the play “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” which additionally starred Vanessa Redgrave.
“Romeo and Juliet” received two Oscars and Hussey received a Golden Globe for greatest new actress for her half as Juliet, reverse British actor Leonard Whiting, who was 16 on the time.
A long time later Hussey and Whiting introduced a lawsuit in opposition to Paramount Footage alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud over nude scenes within the movie.
They alleged that they have been initially informed they’d put on flesh-colored undergarments in a bed room scene, however on the day of the shoot, Zeffirelli informed the pair they’d put on solely physique make-up and that the digital camera can be positioned in a manner that may not present nudity. They alleged they have been filmed within the nude with out their information.
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The case was dismissed by a Los Angeles County decide in 2023, who discovered their depiction couldn’t be thought of baby pornography and the pair filed their declare too late.
Whiting was amongst these paying tribute to Hussey on Saturday. “Relaxation now my stunning Juliet no injustices can damage you now. And the world will keep in mind your magnificence in and out endlessly,” he wrote.
Hussey was born on April 17, 1951, in Bueno Aires, Argentina, and moved to London as a baby. She studied on the Italia Conti Academy drama college.
She additionally starred as Mary, the mom of Jesus, within the 1977 tv collection “Jesus of Nazareth,” in addition to the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Demise on the Nile” and horror films “Black Christmas” and “Psycho IV: The Starting.”
She is survived by her husband, David Glen Eisley, her three youngsters and a grandson.
