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Tragedy for Juliet: Olivia Hussey was catapulted to fame aged 15 – however has confronted many challenges

Profitable the function of Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet was a blessing and a curse for 15-year-old Argentinian actress Olivia Hussey.

Whereas it was the defining appearing function of her profession, she has come collectively along with her co-star Leonard Whiting, 72, to sue Paramount Photos over the nude scene they filmed once they had been simply 15 and 16 years outdated.

The movie’s success launched her to fame and glamour, exposing her to horrible grief and self-doubt with two tumultuous marriages, a crippling case of agoraphobia, neurotic panic assaults, meals compulsions, pot smoking, ingesting and capsules.

Right here FEMAIL reveals the highs and lows of Olivia’s time within the highlight. 

Winning the role of Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet was a blessing and a curse for 15-year-old Argentinian actress Olivia Hussey (pictured in 2018)

Profitable the function of Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet was a blessing and a curse for 15-year-old Argentinian actress Olivia Hussey (pictured in 2018) 

Olivia was born in  Buenos Aires, Argentina, the primary little one of Argentine opera singer Andrés Osuna and Pleasure, a authorized secretary initially from England.

The couple cut up when she was simply two years outdated, her dad and mom separated.

Whilst a baby, she was fascinated by appearing and would costume up and faux to be a nun.

On the age of seven, she joined her mom and brother and moved to London, the place she was enrolled in a drama faculty.

While it was the defining acting role of her career, she has come together with her co-star Leonard Whiting, 72, to sue Paramount Pictures over the nude scene they filmed when they were just 15 and 16 years old

Whereas it was the defining appearing function of her profession, she has come collectively along with her co-star Leonard Whiting, 72, to sue Paramount Photos over the nude scene they filmed once they had been simply 15 and 16 years outdated

In her 2018 memoir, she claimed how she was raped and abused by her ex Christopher Jones

In her 2018 memoir, she claimed she was raped and abused by her ex Christopher Jones, before her husband Dino Martin cheated on her whilst she was pregnant (pictured)

In her 2018 memoir, she claimed she was raped and abused by her ex Christopher Jones (left), earlier than her husband Dino Martin cheated on her while she was pregnant (proper) 

Meanwhile she suffered crippling anxiety which meant she didn't act for two years after the success of the film, and struggled when networking - even wetting herself when she met the Queen

In the meantime she suffered crippling anxiousness which meant she did not act for 2 years after the success of the movie, and struggled when networking – even wetting herself when she met the Queen 

Aged 13, she started to behave professionally on stage.

She caught the attention of producer Franco Zeffirelli after he noticed her carry out within the West Finish present The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

He later mentioned he observed her as a result of ‘she was the one selection mature sufficient with expertise and pure magnificence to play Juliet whereas nonetheless trying 14.’ 

The intoxicating highlight that in a single day movie star ushered in – one thing the younger woman had dreamed of since age 4 – additionally introduced on a weight achieve that required fat burners morning and evening making her hyper and wired.

The studio demanded she see a specialist for being ‘plump’, one thing that had by no means bothered her – however it did the studio.

‘I started to hate my physique and this warped physique picture would flip right into a compulsion,’ Hussey wrote in her memoir, The Lady on the Balcony.

‘The place as soon as I noticed meals as an incredible pleasure, I now started to see it as an enemy. I’ve by no means actually had a slim physique kind. It is extra buxom or curvy,’ Hussey writes, and quotes Sophia Loren who as soon as mentioned, ‘All the things you see I owe to pasta’.

The actress said she hated wearing the 'dreaded bodice' that pushed up her breasts and made her look voluptuous. Director Franco Zeffirelli (pictured) would take her hands and say, 'Oh, my little Boobs O'Mina' 

The actress mentioned she hated carrying the ‘dreaded bodice’ that pushed up her breasts and made her look voluptuous. Director Franco Zeffirelli (pictured) would take her arms and say, ‘Oh, my little Boobs O’Mina’ 

Olivia caught the eye of producer Franco Zeffirelli after he saw her perform in the West End show The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and was cast in Romeo and Juliet

Olivia caught the attention of producer Franco Zeffirelli after he noticed her carry out within the West Finish present The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and was solid in Romeo and Juliet 

Hussey’s mom rapidly put an finish to the capsules and specialists however ‘a seed had been planted’.

With all this consideration whereas filming Romeo and Juliet within the Roman countryside and being sorted by a chaperone, Hussey admits she was ‘budding into somewhat diva.’

The as soon as, candy and shy teenager was no extra. She grew to become petulant, a brat, opinionated and fast to evaluate others in addition to taking no recommendation.

Earlier than filming really started, Olivia says she felt extreme cramping and sudden stabbing pains by her entire physique, ‘lightning bolts of ache’ that had been introduced on by stress or an excessive amount of meals.

It was one thing she had skilled earlier than – rumbling appendicitis – however the director needed her appendix out directly.

Olivia was terrified – this removed from house and alone. ‘After a horrible evening of self-recrimination and ache, I awoke feeling higher’.

‘Whether or not the issue had been stress, exhaustion, or an excessive amount of focaccia, I did not know. All I cared about was that I used to be lastly effectively sufficient. I could possibly be Juliet’, she writes.

Filming started in a small city in Tuscany with Hussey carrying what grew to become the staple of her wardrobe, a ‘dreaded bodice’, so tight that it needed to unlaced down the again after takes to permit her to breathe.

However it pushed up her breasts and made her look voluptuous.

The movie was released in 1968 to critical acclaim and earned Zeffirelli an Academy Award nomination for Best Director

The film was launched in 1968 to vital acclaim and earned Zeffirelli an Academy Award nomination for Finest Director

Hussey writes that her breasts attracted her Romeo and an intimacy developed between Olivia and her co-star, Leonard Whiting (pictured).

But the actress writes that she did not sleep with him

Hussey beforehand revealed that her breasts attracted her Romeo and an intimacy developed between Olivia and her co-star, Leonard Whiting (pictured).  However the actress writes that she didn’t sleep with him 

Zeffirelli would take her arms and say, ‘Oh, my little Boobs O’Mina’, one thing Hussey hated.

However her breasts attracted her Romeo and an intimacy developed between Olivia and her co-star, Leonard Whiting. However the actress writes that she didn’t sleep with him.

They bought drunk collectively and kissed however he was busy relationship each Italian woman between 18 and 35 whereas she drank gin and tonics and intoxicatingly danced the evening away in discos in Rome.

The film was launched in 1968 to vital acclaim and earned Zeffirelli an Academy Award nomination for Finest Director. 

Hussey realized she did not know methods to domesticate relationships and had nobody she may ask for recommendation.

She turned down many viable tasks, by no means studying methods to community.

The London opening of the movie was a Royal Command Efficiency earlier than the Queen and royal household on the London Palladium leaving the actress nervous over etiquette for the royal introduction.

She broke out right into a match of giggles, walked onstage with Zeffirelli and Leonard and peed on the spot.

The London opening of the film was a Royal Command Performance before the Queen and royal family at the London Palladium leaving the actress nervous over etiquette for the royal introduction

The London opening of the movie was a Royal Command Efficiency earlier than the Queen and royal household on the London Palladium leaving the actress nervous over etiquette for the royal introduction

‘Years later, I might be identified with a extreme type of agoraphobia: giant crowds, open areas, and uncontrollable social conditions fill me with dread’, writes Hussey.

How Olivia’s co-star Leonard Whiting confronted heartache  

Much like Olivia, Leonard Whiting found fame for his role in the 1968 Zeffirelli film version of Romeo and Juliet

Very similar to Olivia, Leonard Whiting discovered fame for his function within the 1968 Zeffirelli movie model of Romeo and Juliet

Very similar to Olivia, Leonard Whiting discovered fame for his function within the 1968 Zeffirelli movie model of Romeo and Juliet.

It was a job which earned him the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the 12 months – Actor.

He went on to seem in plenty of different movies and TV exhibits, however finally ended his profession within the mid Seventies.

He subsequently centered on his theatrical profession as an actor and author. 

In 1971, he married mannequin Cathee Dahmen, welcoming a daughter Sarah Beth Whiting in 1972.

The couple divorced in 1972, and he went on to have a relationship with Valerie Tobin.

She gave beginning to a daughter Charlotte, who has mentioned publicly she did not meet her father till she was 12. 

In 1995, he married  his assistant, Lynn Presser.

Tragically, his daughter, Sarah Beth Whiting, died in 2014 from cervical most cancers.

Pictured with Olivia in 2018: The pair are now suing Paramount Pictures over the nude scene in Romeo & Juliet

Pictured with Olivia in 2018: The pair are actually suing Paramount Photos over the nude scene in Romeo & Juliet 

She waved politely on the Queen seated beneath and escaped for a wardrobe change.

Sitting subsequent to Prince Charles at an extended eating desk, she complained about how a lot her toes damage.

‘Oh, expensive. Nicely, you need to go forward and relaxation them on my knees, then’, the Prince replied and so they carried on speaking about movies.

It was a 12 months and a half earlier than she accepted one other movie supply as a consequence of her wrestle with agoraphobia.

Nonetheless she was assembly actors and linked with actor Christopher Jones, sizzling off the movie, Wild within the Streets and being talked about as the following James Dean.

Hussey accepted a lunch date that morphed right into a romance in addition to what she describes as one of many darkest durations of her life.

She had been warned by Jones’s supervisor, Rudy Altobelli, that Jones won’t be the fitting man for her, however she learn that as Altobelli flirting.

Jones was having a breakdown on the set of Ryan’s Daughter in Eire, distressing solid and crew. 

He would sit staring off after which abruptly accuse a member of the movie crew of stealing from him.

His assaults turned on Hussey, who was 17 on the time, in love and making an attempt to know her boyfriend.

One evening whereas speaking in mattress, he allegedly punched her within the abdomen after which held her shut and apologized.

The manufacturing firm determined to medicate him and it was as much as Hussey to combine it in his morning oatmeal.

His temper swings calmed down on some days, different days he figured he was being poisoned as a result of he felt too good.

Jones threw the bowl of oatmeal at Olivia, insisting she eat it and laughed ghoulishly earlier than working off.

When filming was over, Hussey needed nothing extra to do with the actor and in 1969, she moved to Los Angeles.

First cease, Altobelli’s house on the notorious Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon, simply north of Beverly Hills and the very web site of the Charles Manson homicide spree earlier that summer time.

‘The entire time I lived at Cielo Drive there was nothing unusual or macabre about it. I used to be nonetheless very younger, and by the point I arrived, all traces of the crime had been erased’ – however for the truth that Altobelli had allowed Christopher to dwell within the again home quickly. The bottom guidelines had been she would by no means be left alone with him and Jones understood they had been now not a pair.

Hussey was now caught up within the Hollywood scene of glamorous events, and assembly large stars. 

She writes she by no means thought-about accepting any job presents. She wasn’t feeling anxiousness or strain and simply settling into ‘this new, sunnier way of life’.

She met Dino Martin, son of singer Dean Martin and his spouse Jeanne. Dino was thought-about a golden boy, nonchalant about his well-known household.

Dino romanced Olivia, took her to all of the well-known Hollywood eating places, launched her to stars and his finest buddy, Desi Arnaz, Jr., son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

The scene at Rudy’s was additionally thrilling with stars dropping by. Sally Kellerman, John Savage, Jack Nicholson even got here to smoke a joint.

Olivia then started a short-lived affair with Terry Melcher, Doris Day’s son, a report producer.

Rudy cherished smoking dope and Olivia joined him changing into extra paranoid all through the day. Dino would be part of them and so they’d head off to fulfill their munchies.

The role catapulted Olivia to global fame, but she was left feeling overwhelmed by the exposure and suffered crippling anxiety

The function catapulted Olivia to international fame, however she was left feeling overwhelmed by the publicity and suffered crippling anxiousness 

However then some darkish sinister drive introduced Christopher Jones into her bed room one evening at Cielo Drive.

Hussey thought one among Rudy’s canine had pushed open the door however then the door closed. 

Jones was hallucinating and listening to voices, twitching whereas whispering sweetly however incoherently after which he was all of the sudden punching and beating Olivia for an hour ‘all of the whereas grinding his enamel and snarling, his spittle spraying me’, she writes.

‘Then he raped me’.

‘Not directly, I had at all times know that it might come to this; that it was solely a matter of time earlier than the dam broke and all of Chris’s anger washed over me’, writes Hussey.

She known as Dino whose first phrases had been ‘I will have him killed’.

Olivia’s lip was cut up open. There was darkish bruising round her eyes and on the aspect of her head. He had pulled out a clump of her hair and her nostril was bloodied.

She did not depart the Cielo Drive home for 2 months however Dino visited on daily basis.

After Romeo & Juliet was released, Olivia didn't act for two years - however she later appeared in a number of programmes and films, including The Bastard (pictured, in 1978)

After Romeo & Juliet was launched, Olivia did not act for 2 years – nevertheless she later appeared in plenty of programmes and movies, together with The Bastard (pictured, in 1978) 

When she recovered, she went to the gynecologist who confirmed she was pregnant. Conferring with Dino, Rudy, and a psychiatrist, Olivia determined to abort the child. 

Whereas mendacity in a mattress in Cedar-Sinai hospital earlier than the abortion, when Dino left, Christopher walked in. He apologized and pleaded along with her to maintain the child.

She mentioned she could not and that he must not ever come close to her once more or she’d reveal that he had viciously raped her.

She rang the nurse’s bell and Christopher exited. Hussey by no means noticed him once more.

Jones died in 2014 of problems from gallbladder most cancers – after three marriages and 7 youngsters.

Dino had been there to help Olivia all through her ordeal and he or she fell in love with him.

‘Out of that horror got here among the brightest, happiest days of my life. I used to be very a lot in love’, writes Hussey. She additionally adored Dino’s household.

In 1980 she married a Japanese singer Akira Fuse with whom she had a baby boy before divorcing in 1989

In 1980 she married a Japanese singer Akira Fuse with whom she had a child boy earlier than divorcing in 1989

Living between Japan and Hollywood took its toll on Olivia and Akira's relationship and although they remained friends, they later divorced

Dwelling between Japan and Hollywood took its toll on Olivia and Akira’s relationship and though they remained pals, they later divorced

They tied the knot in Vegas and Olivia was so into the wedding, she even realized to prepare dinner.

When Desi Jr. began relationship Liza Minelli, she and Olivia grew to become shut pals in addition to the godmother of Olivia’s first little one.

The 2 {couples} spent a number of time collectively, flying to Vegas and again the identical evening, getting tipsy on Saturday nights at Madeo’s, a sizzling Beverly Hills restaurant, and Sunday morning hitting tennis balls to dispel hangovers.

‘I lived in an odd form of stability between my newfound love of home life and the still-surreal glamour of Hollywood, and it was by no means boring’.

When the supply got here in to work on the movie, Summertime Killer, starring Christopher Mitchum and Karl Malden on location in Spain for six weeks, Hussey jumped at it.

Her contract included particular lunches to make sure she keep on a food plan. When the film wrapped in Madrid, Barcelona was the following shoot and her food plan included one plate of pasta a day and hours on the resort pool engaged on her tan.

She has not appeared on screen since 2015, when she appeared in the British film Social Suicide, based on Romeo and Juliet

She has not appeared on display screen since 2015, when she appeared within the British movie Social Suicide, based mostly on Romeo and Juliet

As soon as again in LA, she had the style to work on a much bigger movie and beat out Natalie Wooden for the function of Maria within the large funds movie, Misplaced Horizon.

The placement was the Warner Bros. Studio lot. A day after signing, she realized she was pregnant.

She confided her situation to the costume designer who promised to maintain it a secret and preserve making her wardrobe larger.

She and Dino had a gorgeous child boy, Alexander Gunther Martin however the marriage turned out to be a flop, as did the movie.

Dino had begun dishonest on her when Olivia was seven months pregnant.

‘A lightweight had gone out and we each knew it. If we might been older, maybe we might have gone to counseling,’ she writes.

Olivia Hussey seen with 'Romeo' Leonard Whiting  at the  2018 TCM Classic Film Festival on April 26, 2018

Olivia Hussey seen with ‘Romeo’ Leonard Whiting  on the  2018 TCM Traditional Movie Pageant on April 26, 2018

Nonetheless, she and Liza fell out after they each tried out for the lead function within the movie Camille. 

The glory days had been over. Dino was arrested for an unlawful gun assortment. They offered their home, cut up the cash and went their separate methods.

Binge consuming, booze, fat burners, sleeping capsules washed down with white wine spritzers –all grew to become routine – till Hussey was launched to Swami Muktananda, a mild Indian guru who now grew to become the middle of her life and helped lead her out of her distress.

She nonetheless had panic assaults and hassle getting exterior of her personal head.

She met and married a Japanese singer, Akira Fuse, had a child boy earlier than a 3rd marriage to ‘stone-cold rock star hunk’, David Glenn Eisley, in 1991.

Olivia was identified with stage 4 breast most cancers in the summertime of 2008.

Nonetheless she opted to not pursue chemotherapy or radiation and as a substitute underwent a double mastectomy to deal with the most cancers.

Hussey has been married to David Eisley since 1991. The two have a daughter, India Eisley (right) who had a role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager 

Hussey has been married to David Eisley since 1991. The 2 have a daughter, India Eisley (proper) who had a job in The Secret Lifetime of the American Teenager 

A decade later, she discovered the breast most cancers had returned when a small tumour was found rising between her coronary heart and lungs.

She opted to make use of radiation and chemotherapy to deal with the tumour, stating: “I might refused chemotherapy and radiation therapy ten years in the past, desirous to keep away from these poisons, however final 12 months I had no selection, and so they saved my life.

‘The tumour shrank, I am hoping to the dimensions of a pea, and I am doing effectively now. I am wholesome and completely satisfied.’

She has not appeared on display screen since 2015, when she appeared within the British movie Social Suicide, based mostly on Romeo and Juliet.  

In 2021, she revealed to DailyMail she was ‘broke’ , saying: ‘I’ve had horrible luck…I went from being snug to being overdrawn.’ 

Now, Olivia has joined with Leonard to file a lawsuit Friday in Santa Monica Superior Court docket in California accusing Paramount Photos of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse, and intentional infliction of emotional misery.

Hussey, who is now married to third husband David Eisely (pictured), is suing Paramount for $500 million

Hussey, who’s now married to 3rd husband David Eisely (pictured), is suing Paramount for $500 million 

Hussey and Whiting have mentioned Zeffirelli initially advised them there wouldn’t be any nudity within the movie.

Nonetheless, on the final day of filming, they declare he mentioned the movie ‘would fail’ until they carried out a scene nude whereas carrying physique make-up. 

‘What they had been advised and what went on had been two various things,’ mentioned Tony Marinozzi, a enterprise supervisor for the actors, in a press release. 

‘They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he wouldn’t violate that belief that they had,’ the supervisor mentioned. 

‘Franco was their buddy, and albeit, at 16, what do they do?’ Marinozzi added in a press release to the outlet. ‘There are not any choices. There was no #MeToo.’

The lawsuit alleges the pair had been filmed nude with out their information and they’re now looking for damages ‘believed to be in extra of $500 million.’ 

Learn extra: 

Stars of 1968 movie adaptation of Romeo and Juliet sue Paramount for $500m for ‘forcing them’ right into a intercourse scene once they had been simply 15 and 16 years outdated and filming them nude with out their information 

Bard information as snowflakes tackle Shakespeare: Globe Theatre provides viewers set off warnings over ‘upsetting’ Romeo and Juliet – and even offers a Samaritans helpline quantity for after the present 

Mother and father are left outraged over a passionate same-sex kissing scene in a highschool efficiency of Romeo and Juliet 

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