On December 28, People reported that Olivia Hussey died at the age of 73. According to an official statement posted on her page, the actress died on December 27.
Olivia Hussey rose to fame as a teenager with her role in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet.”
The most beautiful Juliet in the history of cinema
In 1967, during her first press conference, Olivia Hussey held the hand of Leonard Whiting, the actor who played Romeo. At the time, Olivia was only 16 years old, the sweet and blossoming age of a young woman.
Olivia Hussey left her hometown of Buenos Aires to move to London with her mother and brother, dreaming of becoming famous. At 13, she began her acting career and gained worldwide recognition at 16. With her innate acting skills and striking, storybook looks, Olivia captivated audiences.
At the same age as Juliet in Shakespeare’s original play, Olivia’s full face, large blue eyes, plump red lips and long, flowing black hair made her an enchanting and perfect Juliet. Her youth, combined with a precocious sensuality, defined her performance, making her for many the epitome of Juliet.
Years later, Olivia Hussey’s portrayal of Juliet remains a legend in world cinema. Many actresses have since taken on the role, but none have surpassed the title of “the most beautiful Juliet” that the media and fans have bestowed on Olivia.
This iconic beauty helped Olivia become a legendary figure of 20th century Hollywood, becoming a symbol of global cinema.
A turbulent love life and the pain of abuse
Despite being famous, beautiful and rich, Olivia Hussey’s love life was anything but peaceful. She has been through several relationships that have left her with lasting emotional scars.
In 2018, Olivia released her autobiography The Girl on the Balcony, in which she revealed she had been abused and raped by an ex-boyfriend. She had to interrupt her acting career for a while due to anxiety disorders.
In her autobiography, Olivia admitted that she faced dark times behind the success of her role as Juliet. Early fame made her feel unbalanced, and her rebellious youth led her to miss opportunities to maintain her fame. Olivia confessed that she “strayed from the Shakespearean pedestal to wander Hollywood” during a chaotic period of endless partying, alcohol and drug use, which plunged her into dark times.
Olivia’s first marriage was in 1971 at the age of 20 to Dino Martin. She had rejected his advances several times before succumbing to his persistence. However, while she was pregnant with their first child, Dino Martin cheated on her. Their marriage ended in 1978.
Her second husband was Japanese singer Akira Fuse. Olivia gave birth to a son, Max, in 1983, but they divorced a few years later.
In 1991, Olivia married American rock musician David Glen Eisley. In October 1993 they had a daughter, India Eisley, who also began acting and was praised for her beauty.
At 71, Olivia had been battling breast cancer for years. She was diagnosed in 2008 and underwent surgery for treatment. After nearly a decade of remission, Olivia learned in 2018 that her cancer had returned, with a small tumor developing between her heart and lungs. Despite this, Olivia remained optimistic, battling the disease and enjoying life with her husband and children.
