Olivia De Havilland, Late 2019
Posted on 07/09/2020 7:39:06 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Olivia De Havilland, Late 2019
There are few veterans of Hollywood's Golden Age who are still around, much less still making headlines. But Olivia de Havilland, who turns 104 Wednesday (US time), was always a rule-breaker.
She's part of the current furore over Gone With the Wind, since she is the only surviving star of the 1939 epic.
In 2017, she also sued FX Networks over her depiction in the miniseries Feud: Bette and Joan, from exec producer Ryan Murphy. After a series of appeals, the court ultimately decided against de Havilland. The ruling represents a rare defeat for her, but serves as a reminder that the actress is not going to take any nonsense from anyone.
Olivia de Havilland, British actress, circa 1945. (Getty)
READ MORE: Gone With the Wind hits number one on Amazon best-sellers chart after HBO Max drops movie
In 1944, she tackled the studio system, by filing suit against Warner Bros. Her victory helped bring an end to the studio system, and redefined the business of moviemaking.
At 19, de Havilland made her film debut in the 1935 A Midsummer Night's Dream; WB signed her to a seven-year contract, which was standard for actors.
WB put her in such films as Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood, both with Errol Flynn. But she wasn't always happy with the studio's assignments and WB suspended her multiple times.
When de Havilland's contract expired, Warner Bros. claimed it was owed an additional six months of work, for the time off during suspension. She countered that the contract was for seven years, not for the time actually spent working. Superior Court Judge Charles S. Burnell agreed with her, saying otherwise the contract was a form of "peonage."
In that picture she looks amazing for 103
Amazing.
By her expression and gestures, she looks like she still has all her marbles. Good for her and Happy Birthday, Olivia!
She looks more like 78-82.
She’s amazing!
I hear that she still rides her bicycle a few times a week.
I am truly impressed.
Melanie was always the most intriguing character in the book and movie, for me.
(A few days ago, a woman 107 years old was celebrated on the local news here. I believe she was featured because she had suffered Covid and survived. She looked no older than many 75-80 year old women that I’ve seen.)
Her younger sister, Joan Fontaine, passed away a few years ago at the young age of.........96
Happy Birthday, Olivia!
Happy Birthday Olivia.
Shes’s a racist and probably owned slaves. /sarc
Of the 4 main stars Melanie is the one that dies at the end of GWTW. In real life the exact opposite. Leslie Howard died very shortly after in WWII. Gable and Leigh in the 1960s.
I’m 52 and i go to the refrigerator a few times a day :-) I cannot believe this woman is twice as old as me and looks in bettet shape
If you ever meet Olivia, be sure that you don’t mention how much you also enjoyed seeing her sister on the silver screen.
Olivia and sister Joan Fontaine were bitter rivals and enemies for decades. Nobody fully knows why. Joan died at age 96 in 2013
The Heiress 1949. Great movie, and Carol Burnett’s spoof of it is one of the funniest things ever on TV.
Interestingly enough, she was born in Tokyo before WWII.
And still sitting in the parlor, awaiting the arrival of her intended, Morris, I imagine.
I know. Olivia was never exactly beautiful, but she has a sense of strength, clarity and grace all braided together.
She makes you pay attention.
There are certain people you meet, where before knowing much about them, you realize you just met someone special, formidable and of great consequence.
Amazing lady. Wishing her many more. Break a record!
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