Actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, who starred in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” have filed a lawsuit against Paramount in Santa Monica Superior Court. They claim that the studio sexually exploited them by distributing nude images of them as teenagers.
The lawsuit alleges that director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, promised no nudity in the film but later insisted on nude scenes with body makeup to prevent the film’s failure.
Hussey was 15, and Whiting was 16 at the time, and they were assured that no nudity would be photographed or released. However, the lawsuit claims they were filmed nude without their knowledge. The actors, now in their 70s, state they suffered mental anguish and lost job opportunities in the 55 years since the film’s release. They are seeking damages exceeding $500 million.
The lawsuit leverages a California law temporarily suspending the statute of limitations for older claims of child sexual abuse. Paramount has not responded to the allegations.
In a 2018 interview, Hussey defended the nude scene, stating it was needed for the film and shot tastefully, while also noting that nudity was more accepted in European films at the time.
Olivia Hussey in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Lawsuit
The controversy surrounding the nude scene of Olivia Hussey in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ centers on a recent lawsuit. Olivia Hussey and co-star Leonard Whiting, who were teenagers during the 1968 film, have filed a lawsuit against Paramount. They accuse the studio of sexually exploiting them by distributing nude images of them as adolescents.
The lawsuit alleges that director Franco Zeffirelli, who passed away in 2019, initially promised no nudity in the film. However, during the final days of filming, he allegedly insisted on nude scenes with body makeup, claiming the film would fail otherwise. The actors, aged 15 and 16 at the time, were assured that no nudity would be filmed or released.
The lawsuit contends that Zeffirelli was dishonest, filming them nude without their knowledge. The actors claim to have suffered mental anguish and lost job opportunities in the 55 years since the film’s release. Seeking damages exceeding $500 million, they rely on a California law suspending the statute of limitations for older claims of child sexual abuse.
Paramount has not yet responded to the allegations. In past interviews, Hussey defended the nude scene, stating it was necessary for the film and shot tastefully. She also noted that, at the time, nudity was more accepted in European films compared to American cinema.
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