ENTERTAINMENT
Olivia Hussey, Romeo and Juliet star dies at 73
Hussey was just 15 years old when she starred opposite Leonard Whiting in the Oscar-winning film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy.

Olivia Hussey, best known for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, passed away on Friday at the age of 73, her family announced.
The performance earned her a Golden Globe and remains one of the most iconic portrayals of the character.
“Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her,” her family shared in a statement on her Instagram account.
Born in Buenos Aires, Hussey was just 15 years old when she starred opposite Leonard Whiting in the Oscar-winning film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy.
In 2023, Hussey and Whiting filed a lawsuit against the studio, citing allegations of child abuse related to a controversial nude scene in the film, which they had filmed as minors. The lawsuit was later dismissed by a judge that same year.
Reflecting on the scene in a 2018 interview with Variety, Hussey said director Zeffirelli handled it with care and sensitivity. “Everyone assumes we were too young to understand what we were doing,” she remarked. “But we were very aware. We both came from drama schools and approached our work with seriousness.”
Whiting, in a 2023 interview, shared how they leaned on each other during the challenging moments on set. “Olivia was very nervous and frightened too, but we were very fond of each other and supported each other throughout,” he said.
Hussey, born to an Argentine opera singer and a British legal secretary, moved to London with her family at the age of seven. She trained at the prestigious Italia Conti drama school and began acting professionally as a teenager, leading to her life-changing role in Zeffirelli’s film.
Following her Golden Globe win for “New Star of the Year,” Hussey went on to star in notable films, including the 1974 horror classic Black Christmas and the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile.
She is survived by her husband, David Eisley, their three children, and a grandchild.
Discover more from Naijanewstoday
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
-
NEWS5 days ago
FG Cuts Dialysis Cost In Federal Hospitals From ₦50,000 To ₦12,000
-
NEWS3 days ago
Ebonyi Man Plans Lagos-Abakaliki Trek to Honour Gov. Nwifuru’s Peace Efforts
-
POLITICS6 days ago
Peter Obi Tells Nigerians: Get Your PVC, Reject Criminals in Disguise
-
NEWS5 days ago
Ebonyi Coordinator Distributes Motorcycles, Lauds Governor’s Grassroots Development Agenda
-
ENTERTAINMENT5 days ago
Jim Iyke Says Single Mothers Cannot Raise Boys Into “Proper Men”
-
FACT-CHECKS/INVESTIGATION7 days ago
EFCC Recovers N5bn, $10m in Refinery Maintenance Fraud
-
NEWS5 days ago
FCT Minister Denies Awarding N5 Billion Contract to Local Contractors
-
SPORTS5 days ago
Tinubu Arrives in Japan to Boost Bilateral Ties
-
NEWS5 days ago
Lagos State Declares August 20 Work-Free for Public Servants for Isese Day
-
INSIDE NYSC7 days ago
NYSC Lagos Holds Cultural Carnival to Celebrate Unity in Diversity
-
NEWS4 days ago
Wike Says Amaechi’s 2027 Presidential Ambition Is Dead on Arrival
-
ENTERTAINMENT5 days ago
VeryDarkMan Leads Protest In Auchi, Blocks Dangote Trucks Over Victims’ Compensation