film
Known as “Julia” – actress Olivia Hussey is dead
As a 16-year-old, Hussey starred in Franco Zeffirelli’s Shakespeare adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet.” She later unsuccessfully sued the production company over a nude scene. She died at 73 years old.
Actress Olivia Hussey, who became famous in a film adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” in the 1960s, is dead. She died at the age of 73, as publicist Natalie Beita confirmed to the “New York Times”. There had previously been a posting on the actress’ Instagram account.
Hussey won Italy’s David di Donatello film award and a Golden Globe for best new star of the year for her title role in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 “Romeo and Juliet.” She later starred in the Agatha Christie crime thriller “Death on the Nile” and the horror film “Jessy – The Staircase to Death”. Hussey was born in Buenos Aires in 1951 and grew up in Great Britain; she died in California.
Lawsuit against “Romeo and Juliet” was dismissed
More than 50 years after the theatrical release of “Romeo and Juliet,” Hussey and the male lead Leonard Whiting sued the production company for millions in compensation because of a nude scene. According to director Franco Zeffirelli, they were pressured into taking nude photos for a bed scene during filming. Hussey was 16 at the time and Whiting was 17.
As minors, they said they were assured that their naked bodies would not be shown later in the film. However, a judge rejected the lawsuit because in her opinion it was not child pornography. “Romeo and Juliet” was a huge success at the box office and won Oscars for cinematography and costume design in 1969. However, neither of the main actors got any major roles after that.
dpa
Source: Stern
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