Olivia Hussey Eisley, the actress who shot to fame as one of many star-crossed lovers in Franco Zeffirelli’s controversial Romeo and Juliet in 1968, died peacefully right now at dwelling surrounded by her family members, in keeping with a put up on her Instagram web page. She was 73.
Hussey’s credit additionally embody Demise on the Nile reverse Peter Ustinov; Psycho IV: The Starting during which she performed Norma Bates and the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It.
She labored once more with Zeffirelli when she performed Mary, the mom of Jesus, within the 1977 tv film Jesus of Nazareth.
In 2022, Hussey and Whiting sued Paramount Photos, alleging that Zeffirelli violated their consent on Romeo and Juliet by filming them nude with out their data. Hussey and Whiting had been 15 and 16 years outdated, respectively, when the movie was shot. Estimating that the movie has remodeled $500 million since its pre-Summer time of Love launch, the duo sought $100 million in damages
The claims had been distinct from what Hussey stated in 2018 when she spoke of the nudity within the movie. Again then, plugging a brand new memoir, the actress informed Fox Information that the nudity “wasn’t that massive of a deal.”
The nudity was actually an enormous deal of a form when Romeo and Juliet got here out in March 1968. Nominated for 4 Academy Awards together with Finest Image and Finest Director, the controversial image gained Finest Cinematography and Costume Design Oscars. Each Whiting and Hussey additionally gained Golden Globes for his or her performances.
Having confronted claims of sexual harassment and sexual assault previously, Zeffirelli was unable to answer Hussey and Whiting’s accusations, provided that he died in 2019.
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Nevertheless, the filmmaker’s son Pippo Zeffirelli did reply.
“It’s embarrassing to listen to that right now, 55 years after filming, two aged actors who owe their notoriety primarily to this movie get up to declare that they’ve suffered an abuse that has triggered them years of hysteria and emotional discomfort,” he stated in January 2023.
In Might 2023, a choose stated the swimsuit contained a “gross mischaracterization” of the bed room scenes in query from the movie and, citing the First Modification, put forth a tentative ruling to dismiss the case.
Hussey Eisley is survived by her youngsters, Alex, Max and India, her husband of 35 years, David Glen Eisley, and her grandson, Greyson.
Right here is the assertion from Hussey’s household in full:
It’s with profound disappointment that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at dwelling surrounded by her family members on December twenty seventh.
Olivia was a outstanding particular person whose heat, knowledge, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.
Born on April seventeenth, 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Olivia lived a life filled with ardour, love, and dedication to the humanities, spirituality, and kindness in direction of animals.
Olivia leaves behind a loving household— her youngsters, Alex, Max, and India, her husband of 35 years David Glen Eisley, and grandson, Greyson, and a legacy of affection that can endlessly be cherished in our hearts. As we grieve this immense loss, we additionally rejoice Olivia’s enduring influence on our lives and the trade.
We thanks in your ideas and prayers throughout this troublesome time and ask for privateness as we mourn the lack of a really particular soul.
