Olivia Hussey, known for her iconic role as a young Juliet in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” has passed away at the age of 73, her family announced via social media on Saturday. According to a statement shared on her Instagram, Hussey died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on Friday.
At just 15 years old, Hussey caught the attention of director Franco Zeffirelli during a stage performance in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” a play that also featured Vanessa Redgrave. This led to her casting in the classic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragic tale. “Romeo and Juliet” received two Academy Awards, and Hussey was honored with a Golden Globe for Best New Actress for her role alongside Leonard Whiting, who was 16 at the time.
Years later, both Hussey and Whiting filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures, claiming sexual abuse, harassment, and fraud regarding nude scenes in the movie. They contended that they were promised to wear flesh-colored garments during a bedroom scene, but on the filming day, Zeffirelli informed them that only body makeup would be used and that the camera angles would ensure their nudity was not visible. They claimed to have been filmed nude without prior consent.
However, a Los Angeles County judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2023, stating that their footage could not be categorized as child pornography and that their complaint was submitted after the deadline.
On Saturday, Whiting expressed his condolences, sharing, “Rest now my beautiful Juliet; no injustices can hurt you now. And the world will remember your beauty inside and out forever.”
Hussey was born on April 17, 1951, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and relocated to London during her childhood. She pursued her acting education at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
In addition to her role as Juliet, Hussey portrayed Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the acclaimed 1977 miniseries “Jesus of Nazareth” and appeared in the 1978 film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile,” along with notable horror films like “Black Christmas” and “Psycho IV: The Beginning.”
Survived by her husband, David Glen Eisley, three children, and a grandson, Hussey’s unforgettable contributions to film and theater will be cherished by many.
