Olivia Hussey, star of 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, dies at 73

Actress Olivia Hussey, best known for playing Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 production of Romeo and Juliet, has died aged 73.

She died peacefully at her home in California, surrounded by her loved ones on Friday, according to a post shared on her official Instagram account.

The message, posted with a sunset photo of Hussey in her youth, paid tribute to "a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her".

It went on: "Olivia lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts, spirituality, and kindness towards animals".

Calling her a "truly special soul", her family said while her "immense loss" was grieved, they would also "celebrate Olivia's enduring impact on our lives and the industry".

Co-star Leonard Whiting paid tribute to his "beautiful Juliet" in a comment on the announcement post.

"Olivia, we have shared so much since we were two sweet innocent children clinging onto each other for dear life, as every photo of us attests to.

"You have never been frightened of fighting to fix everything wrong in this world.

"Rest now my beautiful Juliet no injustices can hurt you now. And the world will remember your beauty inside and out forever. Leonard."

Born in Buenos Aires in 1951 to an Argentinian father and English mother, Hussey returned to London aged seven with her mother and studied at the Italia Conti Academy drama school.

Spotted by Italian director Zeffirelli in a stage show of The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie opposite Vanessa Redgrave, Hussey's performance as Juliet aged just 15 made her a star and won her a Golden Globe.

Sixteen-year-old actor Whiting played her Romeo, with the pair going on to sue Paramount Pictures in 2022 for sexual abuse due to the Oscar-nominated movie's nude scene.

The case was dismissed by a judge the following year.

Hussey would work with Zeffirelli again, playing the Virgin Mary in the 1977 TV miniseries Jesus Of Nazareth.

Appearances in horrors including Black Christmas and Psycho prequel Psycho IV: The Beginning established Hussey as a scream queen over the years.

Other notable appearances included Hercule Poirot movie Death On The Nile and Mother Teresa biography Madre Teresa.

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Hussey was reunited with Whiting in the 2015 British film Social Suicide, which was loosely based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Her daughter, actress India Eisley, played her on-screen daughter in the movie.

It was Hussey's final screen role, according to IMDB.

Hussey leaves behind three children, Alex, Max, and India, her husband of 35 years David Glen Eisley, and grandson, Greyson.