Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ circa 1968
Everett
Olivia Hussey Eisley, the actress who shot to fame as one of the star-crossed lovers in Franco Zeffirelli’s controversial Romeo and Juliet in 1968, died peacefully today at home surrounded by her loved ones, according to a post on her Instagram page. She was 73.
Hussey’s credits also include Death on the Nile opposite Peter Ustinov; Psycho IV: The Beginning in which she played Norma Bates and the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It.
She worked again with Zeffirelli when she played Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the 1977 television movie Jesus of Nazareth.
In 2022, Hussey and Whiting sued Paramount Pictures, alleging that Zeffirelli violated their consent on Romeo and Juliet by filming them nude without their knowledge. Hussey and Whiting were 15 and 16 years old, respectively, when the film was shot. Estimating that the film has made over $500 million since its pre-Summer of Love release, the duo sought $100 million in damages
The claims were distinct from what Hussey said in 2018 when she spoke of the nudity in the film. Back then, plugging a new memoir, the actress told Fox News that the nudity “wasn’t that big of a deal.”
The nudity was certainly a big deal of a sort when Romeo and Juliet came out in March 1968. Nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, the controversial picture won Best Cinematography and Costume Design Oscars. Both Whiting and Hussey also won Golden Globes for their performances.
Having faced claims of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the past, Zeffirelli was unable to respond to Hussey and Whiting’s accusations, given that he died in 2019.
However, the filmmaker’s son Pippo Zeffirelli did respond.
“It is embarrassing to hear that today, 55 years after filming, two elderly actors who owe their notoriety essentially to this film wake up to declare that they have suffered an abuse that has caused them years of anxiety and emotional discomfort,” he said in January 2023.
In May 2023, a judge said the suit contained a “gross mischaracterization” of the bedroom scenes in question from the film and, citing the First Amendment, put forth a tentative ruling to dismiss the case.
Hussey Eisley is survived by her children, Alex, Max and India, her husband of 35 years, David Glen Eisley, and her grandson, Greyson.
Here is the statement from Hussey’s family in full:
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27th.
Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.
Born on April 17th, 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Olivia lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts, spirituality, and kindness towards animals.
We thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and ask for privacy as we mourn the loss of a truly special soul.
