Olivia Hussey was an actress best known for her starring performance as Juliet in filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
- Died: December 27, 2024 (Who else died on December 27?)
- Details of death: Died at her home in Los Angeles of breast cancer at the age of 73.
- We invite you to share condolences for Olivia Hussey in our Guest Book.
Olivia Hussey’s legacy
Born in Buenos Aires, Hussey moved to London with her mother and brother as a girl. She began acting from a young age, studying at the Italia Conti Academy and taking on her first professional stage role at 13. Two years later, she was cast in her breakout role as Juliet opposite Leonard Whiting. The teenagers represented an influential new way of staging “Romeo and Juliet,” with actors cast close to the intended ages of the star-crossed lovers in William Shakespeare’s play. Previous movie versions had starred adults in the title roles, and the young stars of the 1968 version captivated viewers and reviewers.
Hussey’s age complicated the production of “Romeo and Juliet” for one reason: Zeffirelli’s controversial decision to include a nude scene. The brief scene of the lovers in bed together was a key part of the film’s great success; it was even featured on the poster. At the time, and for some years after the movie’s release, Hussey defended the scene as necessary and tasteful, but in 2022, she and Whiting filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures claiming sexual exploitation. The suit was later dismissed.
Hussey’s later career included sporadic success, but none of her subsequent roles rose to the height of “Romeo and Juliet.” She became a scream queen in the cult classic 1974 slasher “Black Christmas,” and in 1978, she was among the star-studded ensemble cast of “Death on the Nile.” On TV, Hussey had roles in several miniseries, including “Jesus of Nazareth” and “It,” plus she made appearances on such shows as “Murder, She Wrote,” “Lonesome Dove: The Series,” and “Boy Meets World.” She was also a voice actress in “Pinky and the Brain,” “Superman: The Animated Series,” “Batman Beyond,” and three “Star Wars” video games.
Notable quote
“I loved playing Juliet. The only part I didn’t like was all the PR. It was exhausting, and I was this wild little thing.” — from a 2018 interview for The Guardian
Tributes to Olivia Hussey
Full obituary: The New York Times
