The actress Olivia Hussey has passed away at the age of 73. She reportedly died peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones, according to information from Deadline.
Olivia Hussey gained widespread fame for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's film "Romeo and Juliet," which was released in 1968. Her collaboration with Zeffirelli continued in 1977 when she portrayed Mary in the television film "Jesus of Nazareth."
The actress also appeared in projects such as "Death on the Nile," "Psycho IV: The Beginning," and the 1990 miniseries based on Stephen King's novel "It."
In 2022, Hussey and Leonard Whiting, who played the lead role in "Romeo and Juliet," filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures. The lawsuit included allegations of sexual exploitation, fraud, and negligence, as well as claims for emotional distress and unauthorized use of their names and likenesses.
At the time of filming, Hussey was 15 years old, and Whiting was 16. The documents stated that Zeffirelli assured the actors that nude scenes would not be included in the film; however, in the following days of shooting, the actors claimed that the director insisted on the need for them to appear naked. As a result, some scenes were filmed without their knowledge.
The Los Angeles Superior Court dismissed the claim regarding sexual exploitation, ruling that "Romeo and Juliet" is protected under the First Amendment. The judge also pointed to the expiration of the statute of limitations on the matter and found no legal violations in the scene presented.