Olivia Hussey, the legendary actress best known for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 Oscar-winning adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, passed away on Friday at the age of 73.
Her family announced the heartbreaking news on Instagram, describing her as a “remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.”
Hussey, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 17, 1951, achieved global fame at just 15 years old for her portrayal of Juliet opposite Leonard Whiting in William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. Her performance earned her the Golden Globe for “New Star of the Year,” cementing her status as a cinematic icon.
Beyond Romeo and Juliet, Hussey showcased her acting versatility in a range of acclaimed projects, including the 1974 cult classic slasher film Black Christmas and the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile.
In 2023, Hussey and her Romeo and Juliet co-star Leonard Whiting filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures, alleging child abuse due to a controversial nude scene in the film featuring the underage actors. While the lawsuit was dismissed later that year, Hussey addressed the scene in a 2018 interview with Variety: “We both came from drama schools and took our work very seriously. We were aware of what we were doing.”
Reflecting on their shared experiences during the filming, Whiting said in 2023, “Olivia was very nervous and frightened, but we were very fond of each other and helped each other get through the whole thing.”
Born to an Argentine opera singer and a British legal secretary, Hussey moved to London at the age of seven. She trained at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy and began acting as a teenager before landing her breakthrough role in Zeffirelli’s masterpiece.
Hussey is survived by her husband, musician David Eisley, their three children, and a grandchild. Her unparalleled legacy as a trailblazing actress and her contributions to cinema will forever be remembered.