Olivia Hussey, renowned for her captivating performance as the female lead in Franco Zeffirelli's acclaimed 1968 adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet", passed away yesterday at the age of 73. Her initial diagnosis of breast cancer occurred in 2008.

The Argentina-born actress passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones, as shared in an announcement on her official Instagram account. The post described Olivia as "a remarkable individual whose warmth, wisdom, and genuine kindness left a lasting impact on everyone who knew her."

At just 15 years old, Hussey starred alongside 16-year-old British actor Leonard Whiting in the iconic roles of Juliet and Romeo in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". Both were newcomers at the time. The Paramount-distributed film, co-written by Franco Zeffirelli, received a Best Picture Oscar nomination along with three other Academy Award nods. Hussey's performance earned her a David di Donatello award and a Golden Globe.

Hussey's role in a 1966 West End production of "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" alongside Vanessa Redgrave brought her to the attention of Zeffirelli. Romeo and Juliet, filmed in Italy with uncredited narration by Laurence Olivier, captivated a new generation with its portrayal of Shakespeare's tragedy. The film became a major success for Paramount, a studio facing difficulties at the time.

She then pursued roles in the British romantic drama "All the Right Noises" (1970), the Italian crime thriller "The Summertime Killer" (1972), and a remake of "Lost Horizon" (1973) — eventually delivering unforgettable performances as Jess Bradford, a sorority student threatened in Bob Clark's cult Canadian slasher film "Black Christmas" (1974), and as the moody Rosalie Otterbourne, daughter of Angela Lansbury's character, in John Guillermin's adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile" (1978).

Hussey featured in "The Man With Bogart's Face" (1980), the Japanese sci-fi film "Virus" (1980), a remake of "Ivanhoe" (1982), and the Australian horror movie "Turkey Shoot" (1982). She later took on the role of Norman Bates' mother (opposite Anthony Perkins reprising his iconic role) in "Psycho IV: The Beginning" (1990).

The late actress memorably lent her voice to "Star Wars", "Batman", and "Superman" video games before reuniting with Whiting in the 2015 film "Social Suicide", a modern adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet", where they portrayed the Capulet parents. This marked her final onscreen role. Notably, her daughter, India Eisley, played their on-screen daughter, Julia Coulson, in the film.

In 2018, she released her memoir, "The Girl on the Balcony: Olivia Hussey Finds Life After Romeo and Juliet".

In 2023, Hussey and Whiting filed a lawsuit against Paramount, alleging child abuse during the filming of "Romeo and Juliet". The actors claimed that director Zeffirelli coerced them into performing a bedroom scene nude, despite assurances that they would wear flesh-coloured body suits. The scene ultimately featured Whiting's and Hussey's bare body parts.

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The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed, with the judge ruling that describing the film as depicting sexual acts was a "gross mischaracterisation." A second lawsuit faced dismissal in October.

She is survived by her family members including her daughter, her husband of 35 years, David Glen Eisley, the son of actor Anthony Eisley (known for "Hawaiian Eye"); her two sons, Alexander and Max; and her grandson, Greyson.