Olivia Hussey From ‘Romeo And Juliet’ Dies At 73

British actress Olivia Hussey was known for playing Juliet in 1968’s Romeo and Juliet alongside Leonard Whiting, who played Romeo. The late star won a Golden Globe for Best New Actress for her role, which gave her international acclaim and a quick rise to fame.

After more than five decades in the movie industry, Olivia was confirmed dead last Friday, which was shortly after Christmas. She reportedly passed away while surrounded by family, and the cause of her death has yet to be disclosed.

Olivia Hussey got into Hollywood at a young age

Olivia’s acting career began in her mid-teens, with her first significant act being a London production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, where she got noticed to be cast in Romeo and Juliet. Her passion for entertainment was influenced by her father, Osvaldo Ribo who was a singer, and she went on to study drama at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

After Romeo and Juliet, earning her a special David di Donatello Award, Olivia played the lead in Anne Of A Thousand Days and co-starred alongside John Wayne in True Grit. She hardly stopped working until last year, when she opted out of reprising her role as Jessica Bradford in It’s Me, Billy.

What happened to Olivia Hussey?

Although the cause of Olivia’s death was not explicitly stated, she had a recurring bout with breast cancer in recent times. The late icon was first diagnosed in 2008, after which she underwent a double mastectomy only to have another tumor growing between her heart and lungs a decade later.

Tributes from Olivia’s fans and loved ones, including co-actor Whiting, have filled social media. She is survived by her third husband, David Glen Eisley, their only child together, India Eisley, and her older siblings, Alexander Gunther and Maximilian Fuse.