Olivia Hussey, the actress who captivated audiences as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, died on Friday at the age of 73.
Her family confirmed the news on Instagram, describing her as a remarkable person whose kindness and wisdom touched the lives of everyone she met.
Olivia Hussey was born in 1951 to an Argentine opera singer and a British legal secretary. She moved to London at the age of seven and trained at the prestigious Italia Conti drama school. She began acting as a teenager before landing her career-defining role in Zeffirelli’s film.
Hussey’s performance in Romeo and Juliet earned her a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year and cemented her place in cinematic history. She went on to build a diverse career in film and television, starring in notable projects such as the 1974 slasher film Black Christmas and the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile.
Hussey is survived by her husband, musician David Eisley, their three children, and a grandchild.
