Olivia de Havilland (1916–2020) was a celebrated British-American actress whose career spanned over five decades, establishing her as one of the leading stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, on July 1, 1916, to British parents, Olivia Mary de Havilland was the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine, with whom she had a famously tumultuous relationship. Her family moved to California when she was young. De Havilland’s early talent for acting was evident in school plays, leading to a role in Max Reinhardt’s stage production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (1934) and subsequently, the 1935 film adaptation, marking her screen debut.
She quickly rose to prominence at Warner Bros., often paired with Errol Flynn in swashbuckling adventures like Captain Blood (1935) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), establishing them as a beloved on-screen duo. However, it was her iconic portrayal of the gentle and unwavering Melanie Hamilton Wilkes in Gone with the Wind (1939) that earned her widespread recognition and her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Frustrated with the limited ingénue roles offered by her studio contract, de Havilland famously sued Warner Bros. in 1943. Her landmark victory in 1945, known as the “de Havilland Law,” significantly weakened the studio system’s restrictive contract practices, granting actors greater freedom.
After her legal battle, she took on more challenging and dramatic roles, earning two Academy Awards for Best Actress: for her performance as an unwed mother in To Each His Own (1946) and for her nuanced portrayal of a shy heiress in The Heiress (1949). She also received critical acclaim for her role in The Snake Pit (1948), which bravely explored mental illness.
De Havilland continued to act in films and television throughout her later years, with notable appearances including Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) and the miniseries Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986), for which she won a Golden Globe.
She resided in Paris, France, from the 1950s onward. Throughout her life, de Havilland received numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Arts, the Légion d’honneur, and was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire at the age of 101.
Olivia de Havilland passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Paris on July 26, 2020, at the age of 104, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as a talented actress and a courageous figure who fought for artistic freedom in Hollywood.
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