Actress Olivia Hussey, known for her role in 'Romeo and Juliet,' passes away at 73

 Actress Olivia Hussey, known for her role in 'Romeo and Juliet,' passes away at 73

Actress Olivia Hussey, renowned for her role as Juliet in the celebrated 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has passed away at the age of 73.

The Argentine-born star, who spent much of her childhood in London, died on Friday surrounded by her family, according to a statement shared on her Instagram account.

Hussey gained international fame as a teenager for her portrayal of Juliet, a performance that earned her the Golden Globe for Best New Actress. However, years later, she filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures for sexual abuse, as she was only 15 years old when the film's nude scene was shot.

Among her other notable roles was her portrayal of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the acclaimed 1977 TV miniseries Jesus of Nazareth.As we mourn this profound loss, we also honor Olivia's lasting influence on our lives and the industry," the statement reads.

Hussey was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1951 and moved to London at the age of seven, where she studied at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

At 15, she caught the attention of director Franco Zeffirelli while performing opposite Vanessa Redgrave in the play The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Zeffirelli, who was seeking a young actress to convincingly portray Juliet in his envisioned definitive cinematic adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, cast Hussey as Juliet alongside 16-year-old Leonard Whiting as Romeo.