Olivia Husseyhas had a long and storied career, acting in a variety of fantastic movies and TV shows for over five decades. Though Hussey is primarily known as a screen actress, her early career essentially kicked off in 1966 with a London stage production ofThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, where she acted opposite Vanessa Redgrave. Stage plays, movies, and television aren’t Hussey’s only acting credits, however, as she has had roles in three differentStar Warsvideo games;Star Wars: Rogue Squadron,Star Wars: Force Commander, andStar Wars: The Old Republic.
Hussey has appeared in some of film and TV’s most influential works, including a cornerstone of the slasher genre and one of thebest adaptations of Shakespeare’s most famous play. Though Hussey appears to have retired from acting, as her last credited role was back in 2015, in a little-known movie calledSocial Suicide, she still has an impressive and prolific filmography, with some titles standing out above others.
Ivanhoe
Cast
Ivanhoe is a 1982 television film adaptation of Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel, directed by Douglas Camfield. Starring Anthony Andrews as the titular character, the film follows the knight Ivanhoe upon his return to England, where he must navigate political intrigue and confront his estranged father while striving to help his beloved Lady Rowena and reclaim his honor. Sam Neill, James Mason, and Olivia Hussey also star in this historical drama.
Ivanhoeis an adaptation of the incredible novel of the same name by Sir Walter Scott, which was published in 1819. A British TV movie from 1982,Ivanhoechronicles the story of the titular noble knight returning home after the Third Crusade. Anthony Andrews portrays Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe in a nuanced performance that was considered one of the best of his career.
Andrews and Hussey’s chemistry is on full display in this film, showcasing the talent the two of them have and elevating the film in the process.
Alongside Andrews,Olivia Hussey plays Rebecca of York, the daughter of Isaac of York and the love interest of the titular character. Andrews and Hussey’s chemistry is on full display in this film, showcasing the talent the two of them have and elevating the film in the process.Ivanhoefeels a bit under-the-radar compared to some of Hussey’s other notable works, but the TV movie is a great entry into her filmography.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa of Calcutta is a biographical film directed by Fabrizio Costa, starring Olivia Hussey as the eponymous Roman Catholic nun. The movie chronicles her life and missionary work dedicated to serving the poor and sick in Kolkata, India. It offers an intimate look into her journey of faith, compassion, and selflessness that led to her becoming an iconic humanitarian figure.
Mother Teresa of Calcuttais a biopic revolving around the life of the titular Catholic icon. It follows the familiar beats of most biopics, but Mother Teresa is a particularly fascinating historical figure, leading to a familiar, but ultimately satisfying movie. Most biopics live or die based on the the performance of the lead actor, andMother Teresa of Calcuttafeatures a very good one.
Olivia Hussey plays Mother Teresa in the early 2000s TV movie, portraying the figure to stellar results. In fact,it is Olivia Hussey’s performance that allowsMother Teresa of Calcuttato work so well, cutting through the sometimes tired trappings of the genre. The movie came out 35 years after Hussey had her big break on film, and her performance is definitely one of an actor who has perfected their craft.
The Man With Bogart’s Face
The Man With Bogart’s Face is a 1980 detective comedy film directed by Robert Day. The story follows a private investigator who undergoes plastic surgery to resemble iconic film actor Humphrey Bogart. Emulating Bogart’s classic roles, he embarks on solving a complex case involving a mysterious woman and a valuable jewel. The film features Robert Sacchi in the lead role, capturing the essence of 1940s noir with a touch of humor.
The Man With Bogart’s Faceis a hilarious love letter to the golden age of noir cinema. It stars Robert Sacchi as a man named Sam Marlowe who alters his face to look like his idol Humpgrey Bogart and opens his own detective agency. Bogart is an iconic part of cinema history, particularly for his fantastic performances in film noir fare.
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The Man With Bogart’s Faceis Sam Marlowe’s film through and through, with the character becoming an eerie Bogart doppelganger, right down to the way he talks and his mannerisms. Olivia Hussey makes the most out of her smaller role, though, portraying Elsa. It’s not the most groundbreaking entry in Hussey’s filmography, but even fans of noir, and Humphrey Bogart, would get a kick out of this comedy that examines the genre with adoration and love.
All the Right Noises
All the Right Noises, a 1970 British drama directed by Gerry O’Hara, centers on the morally complex relationship between Len, a married stage manager, and Val, a troubled teenager. The film explores themes of infidelity, morality, and consequence, featuring strong performances by Tom Bell as Len and Olivia Hussey as Val. The film is noted for its candid portrayal of controversial subject matter.
All the Right Noisesis a gritty, early ’70s British family drama revolving around Len Lewin (Tom Bell), a lighting technician and married man with two children. Len finds himself bewitched by Val (Olivia Hussey), an actress in the latest show produced by the theater company Len works for. Despite his commitment to his wife, Len has an affair with Val, who then reveals she is only 15 years old.All the Right Noisesdefinitely features controversial subject matter, and likely wouldn’t get made today, but the film still works as a fascinating, if unsavory character study.
Hussey continued to show her command of the craft and why she was one of the best performers of her generation.
Olivia Hussey is particularly fantastic inAll the Right Noises,which was her next big role just three years after her breakout performance inRomeo and Juliet. Being so early in her career, Hussey continued to show her command of the craft and why she was one of the best performers of her generation, helping to propel her forward through her career.
Virusis a particularly fun entry into Olivia Hussey’s filmography because it is so much different than most of what she has done throughout her career. A 1980 Japanese post-apocalyptic sci-fi film,Virusis notable for the significant amount of international actors featured throughout, which is not usually common within the Japanese film industry. Oliva Hussey acts alongside American and Japanese actors alike, including Glenn Ford, George Kennedy, Robert Vaughn, and Masao Kusakari.
Prior to the release of the Japanese language release, the dubbed version was the only one available to see in the US.
At the time of its release,Viruswas the most expensive Japanese film ever made, but it failed at the box office. It wasn’t until 2006 that the original Japanese language cut with subtitles was released to home video that the film got the recognition it deserved. Like always,Hussey is great in her role as Maritbut doesn’t get a lot of screen time, lost within the sea of other Japanese and international actors.
5It (1990)
Olivia Hussey as Audra Denbrough
It wasn’t until 2017 that one of the Stephen King’s most popular novel got a proper big-screen adaptation. Still, the 1990Itminiseries was considered one of thebest King adaptationsfor a long time, due to a strong cast of characters and one of the best performances in horror.Over the years, it has turned into a classic (and nightmare fuel) of many people’s childhoods.
Itis firmly Tim Curry’s movie, as he shines as Pennywise the clown, stealing every scene he’s in. In fact, his version of the iconic character is arguably one of the best horror villains of all time. That doesn’t mean other actors aren’t also doing a good job. Olivia Hussey gives a solid performance as Audra Denbrough, the wife of protagonist Bill Denbrough (Richard Thomas), despite her character being in a catatonic state for most of her scenes.
Death On The Nile
Death on the Nile is a classic mystery film directed by John Guillermin, based on Agatha Christie’s novel. Starring Peter Ustinov as the iconic detective Hercule Poirot, the story unfolds aboard a luxurious Nile river cruise where a wealthy heiress is murdered. The ensemble cast includes Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, and David Niven, as Poirot meticulously pieces together the clues to uncover the culprit amidst shifting alliances and hidden motives.
Agatha Christie is arguably the best mystery writer of all time, authoring a vast number of classics of the genre.Death on the Nileis one of her most popular books ever, and has gotten several adaptations over the years. Still, the 1978 adaptation ofDeath on the Nileis one of thebest movies based on Agatha Christie’s literary canon. It is most notable for being the first appearance of Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot, the legendary actor who portrayed the mustachioed detective in a number of adaptations in his career.
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Like all great Agatha Christie stories, the cast of characters and their dynamics are the most important aspects of the narrative, andDeath on the Nilehas plenty of talented performers.Olivia Hussey portrays Rosalie Otterbourne the kind-hearted and secretive daughter of Salome Otterbournewho almost reveals who the murderer is before she is unfortunately killed off. Hussey is predictably great in the role.
Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus of Nazareth is a 1977 miniseries directed by Franco Zeffirelli, portraying the life of Jesus Christ from his birth to his resurrection. The series stars Robert Powell in the titular role, supported by an ensemble cast including Olivia Hussey, Anne Bancroft, and Laurence Olivier. Esteemed for its historical accuracy and epic scope, the miniseries is a comprehensive depiction of the key events and figures in Jesus Christ’s life.
Jesus of Nazarethis very good television and is one of the best miniseries of all time. It chronicles the life of Jesus Christ (Robert Powell), blending the four Gospels together to create a compelling narrative. WhatJesus of Nazarethdoes so well is explore who Jesus is as a character and as a person, rather than focusing on the theological aspect of what he means. In doing that, it presents a fairly accurate portrayal of Jesus the man and what his life was like.
Despite remaining relatively accurate to the Gospels, the film does add a few original characters into the mix, partcularly the character Zerah who is portrayed by the late Ian Holmes.
Reuniting with herRomeo and Julietdirector, Franco Zeffirelli, Olivia Hussey plays Mary, the mother of Jesus and one of the most revered figures in Christianity.She is arguably the best part of the entire series, exploring who Mary is as a personand the idea of a young women giving birth to the Son of God. She portrays Mary with a sense of strength that makes her story incredibly important.
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet. Set in a modernized Verona Beach, the film retains the original dialogue while translating the story into a contemporary setting, highlighting the intense feud between the Montague and Capulet families and the doomed love affair of the young couple.
Romeo and Julietis one of the most popular Shakespeare plays of all time. Franco Zeffirellia’s 1968 adaptation is an important milestone in film history and one that most high schoolers are shown during their English class. What is possibly the most important thing aboutRomeo and Julietis thatit was the big breakthrough role for Olivia Hussey, who was just 15 years old when the film came out.
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Olivia Hussey’s performance as Juliet is remarkable, and a big reason for her going on to become a star. The film itself wonderfully adapts the tragic story of the doomed star-crossed lovers, fully capturing the magnetic chemistry between Hussey and Leonard Whitling’s Romeo.Romeo and Julietwas nominated for Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards and won for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design.
Black Christmas
Black Christmas is a 1974 horror movie from A Christmas Story director Bob Clark. The Canadian slasher centers on sorority girls who are stalked and killed by a crazed killer during the holiday season. Throughout the film, the teenagers get strange and threatening calls from the killer known as Billy. Black Christmas recieved mixed reviews upon release but has since become a cult classic.
Black Christmasis an iconic entry in the horror film canon, and for good reason.It is one of the earliest films in the slasher genre, helping to actually pioneer slashers alongside movies likePsycho(1960) andTexas Chain Saw Massacre(1974). It is easy to see why it was so influential for the subgenre, as it is a very good film, with a great sense of atmosphere and tension. It also was ahead of its time in terms of what it has to say about women’s autonomy within the horror genre.
Olivia Hussey in particular is amazing in theBlack Christmas, playing the lead Jess Bradford. The “final girl” trope is common within the slasher genre and Hussey’s Jess Bradford ranks among thebest final girls in all of horror. She is a complex character that extends far beyond being someone who exists just to be killed, andOlivia Husseyis a big reason for whyBlack Christmasworks so well, making it the best movie she has ever done.
