Actress Olivia Hussey, Star of Romeo and Juliet, Dies at 73

• Dec 28, 2024

Olivia Hussey, best known for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has died at the age of 73. The Argentinian-born actress passed away on Friday, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement shared on her Instagram account.

“We grieve this immense loss but celebrate Olivia’s enduring impact on our lives and the industry,” the statement read.

Hussey’s rise to international fame began as a teenager when she was cast as Juliet in Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. Discovered at just 15 years old while performing on stage in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie alongside Vanessa Redgrave, Hussey embodied the innocence and passion Zeffirelli sought for the role. She starred opposite Leonard Whiting, then 16, who played Romeo.

The film earned critical acclaim and multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. While Hussey received a Golden Globe for Best New Star, she narrowly missed an Oscar nomination during a year dominated by Barbra Streisand’s performance in Funny Girl.

Hussey’s career spanned decades, including her portrayal of the Virgin Mary in Zeffirelli’s 1977 miniseries Jesus of Nazareth. She also appeared in the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, the cult-classic slasher Black Christmas (1974), and the TV movie Psycho IV: The Beginning. Her work in the horror genre earned her a reputation as a "scream queen."

In recent years, Hussey turned to voice acting, contributing to video games and modern film projects. She reunited with her former co-star Leonard Whiting in the 2015 British film Social Suicide, a contemporary take on Romeo and Juliet.

Hussey’s later life was marked by controversy when she and Whiting filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures, alleging emotional distress over nude scenes in Romeo and Juliet that they claimed were filmed without their consent. The $500 million lawsuit was dismissed last year, with a judge ruling that the scenes were not “sufficiently sexually suggestive.”

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1951, Hussey moved to London at the age of seven and studied drama at the Italia Conti Academy. Her remarkable career, spanning theater, film, and voice acting, leaves an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. Fans and colleagues worldwide mourn her passing while celebrating her enduring legacy.