Olivia Hussey, celebrated for her portrayal of Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, passed away on Friday at the age of 73. Her family confirmed the news in a heartfelt statement on her Instagram account, describing her as “a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and kindness touched everyone she met.”
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Hussey went to London when she was seven. The opera singer’s father and British legal secretary’s mother raised her. She attended acting school at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts and won the lead role in Oscar-winning Romeo and Juliet by age 15. For this portrayal, she won a Tony-like Golden Globe for Best New Star of the Year.
Olivia Hussey from Romeo and Juliet has a career with controversies
Although this part did not lack controversy, it made her an internationally recognized actress. In 2023, Hussey, along with co-star Leonard Whiting, had filed a lawsuit against the studio over a nude scene they were forced to shoot as minors.
Notably, he duo claimed this was child abuse, though the lawsuit was dismissed at the end of that year. Speaking of the same scene in an interview, which was published in 2018, Hussey said that Zeffirelli handled it with taste. “We were very aware of what we were doing and took the work seriously,” she said.
Moreover, Hussey’s career had a long span, ranging from cult classics like Black Christmas (1974). It also includes mystery thrillers like Death on the Nile (1978). Her legacy extended beyond her body of work to the friendships and warmth she shared with her peers and fans alike.
She leaves to survive her husband, musician David Eisley, and three children and one grandchild.
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