Tragic news strikes the entertainment world as a beloved star passes away at 74 after a brave battle with cancer. Remembered for her iconic role in a timeless classic, her legacy of passi...

British-Argentinian actress Olivia Hussey-Eisley, best known for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet," has passed away at the age of 74. This was reported by Variety.

Director Mark Westis announced that the actress died from cancer. In 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and a recurrence occurred in 2018.

“Olivia was an extraordinary person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her. … Olivia lived a life full of passion, love, devotion to the arts, spirituality, and kindness to animals,” the statement reads.

Olivia Hussey was born in 1951 in Buenos Aires. Her father was a famous Argentine opera singer, while her mother was English. Hussey grew up in London. She made her screen debut at the age of 13 and, at 16, played the role of Juliet in the legendary Oscar-winning film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, "Romeo and Juliet."

In 1974, Hussey starred in the lead role of Bob Clark's horror film "Black Christmas," which is now considered the progenitor of the slasher genre. The actress appeared in several dozen films, including "Jesus of Nazareth," the miniseries "It," "Death on the Nile," and "Ivanhoe."

In the fall of 2014, Olivia Hussey participated in the filming of "Social Suicide," a film by British director Bruce Webb, which transports the story of Romeo and Juliet into the modern world of social media. This project also features Leonard Whiting, Olivia's co-star from Zeffirelli's film. Whiting and Hussey played the parents of Julia (the current Juliet), portrayed by Olivia's real-life daughter, India Eisley.

In 2022, Hussey and other actors from "Romeo and Juliet" accused Paramount Studios of the sexual exploitation of minors. They estimated their moral damages at $100 million, but the lawsuit was lost.