Olivia Hussey, the celebrated actress who portrayed Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has passed away at the age of 73. Her family confirmed the news on Friday, describing her as a “remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.”
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Hussey was just 15 when she starred alongside Leonard Whiting in the Oscar-winning adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, a role that earned her the Golden Globe for “New Star of the Year.”
Despite the acclaim, Hussey and Whiting’s careers were overshadowed by controversy surrounding a nude scene in the film, which resurfaced in 2023 when the pair sued the studio, alleging child abuse. The lawsuit was dismissed later that year. In earlier interviews, Hussey defended the scene as tastefully done, adding, “We were very aware… and took our work seriously.”
Hussey’s career extended beyond Romeo and Juliet. She appeared in notable productions such as the 1974 slasher film Black Christmas and the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile.
She is survived by her husband, musician David Eisley, three children, and a grandchild. Hussey’s contributions to cinema remain a lasting legacy.
