Biography
Olivia de Haviland is one of the most sought-after actresses "Golden Era" Hollywood. Together with Vivien Lee and Clark Gablom, she led the melodrama "worn by the wind" to the triumph, won 8 statuettes "Oscar". Now de Haviland reveals on the laurels of the victims of Fame.Olivia Mary de Khivland was born on July 1, 1916 in the capital of Japan - Tokyo, but the girl has nothing to do with the east. Walter de Heviland's parents and Lilian Fontainene (in Music Ruse) come from the United States and the UK, met in Japan, where Olivia's father worked as a professor of English. Mother - actress.
On October 22, 1917, the second daughter appeared in the family - Joan de Bovwar de Heviland, famous in cinema like Joan Fontaine. By the birth of sisters were citizens of the United States.
Girls often hurt, and Lilian convinced her husband to move to the United Kingdom - a country with a more suitable climate. In 1919 in San Francisco, California, Olivia showed tonsillitis, and Joan picked up the inflammation of the lungs. Mother took a volitional decision to stay in the United States. The family settled in the village of Saratoga, 80 km south of San Francisco. Walter threw his wife and children and returned to Tokyo.
Sisters grew in a creative atmosphere. Olivia has been playing ballet since 4 years old, with 5 played the piano, by 6 years he knew how to read and recalled Sonnet William Shakespeare to develop diction. In the early period of biography, Joan began to call Sister Livvi. This nickname fixed the actress for life.
In 1922, Olivia entered the local gymnasium. She succeeded in his studies, loved to read, wrote poems, drawing. In High School, Los Gatos developed eloquence, playing hockey on the grass, attended a dramatic circle and dreamed of becoming a teacher of English.
The measured quiet life of three women destroyed the new spouse Lilian - George Milan Fontaine. He strictly accounted for girls than he deserved their hatred and aggravated the situation in the family.
In 1933, De Haviland debuted in the amateur theater, while playing the main role in the play "Alice in Wonderland". Among other works - "Genzel and Gretel", "Venetian merchant".
The passion of the girl to the drama led to a conflict with stepfather. He forbade her to participate in extracurricular activities. When Fontaine learned that Olivia got the main role in the school statement on the novel Jane Austin "Pride and Prejudice", then Padcheritsa Ultimatum: Refuse and live in the world or leave the house. Not wanting to sum up school and classmates, De Haviland chose a second option.
After graduating from school in 1934, the girl entered the Mills College in Auckland, California, in the scholarship of the English teacher.
Olivia did not quit the theater. Her presentation in the formulation of a "sleep in a summer night" in William Shakespeare noted Austrian director Max Reinhardt. He suggested an American the role of Dubler Hermia in the same performance, but on the "Hollywood Bowle" scene. A week before the premiere, the main performers left the project, and the role was obtained by 18-year-old Olivia.
Inspired by Reinhardt suggested De Haviland to go with him in Tournai. On the trip, the director found out that Warner Bros. They want to relieve the film "Sleep in the Summer Night". Of course, the role of Hermia was offered Olivia. Still dreaming to become a teacher, the girl doubted, but in 1934 he signed a 5-year contract with a film company with a starting salary of $ 200 per week.
Films
The premiere of the comedy "Sleep in the Summer Night" took place in 1935. Critics took the film cool, but Olivia de Heviland praised for the "truthful reading of Shakespeare".
Warner Bros. It was believed that the adventure film would not "shoot" during the Great Depression, but risked and released "Odyssey Captain Blade" (1935). Olivia's colleague on the set was then unknown Errol Flynn. Total actors appeared 8 times together in the frame. "Odyssey Captain Blade", despite the concerns of the film company, was nominated for 4 "Oscars", including the best movie.
In September 1937, Olivia and Earrol received the main roles in the "Adventures of Robin Hood". The story about Knight-Altruisthe had loud success and was awarded the main statuette of Oscar. The picture is considered one of the most popular adventure films of the classic Hollywood era.
Warner Bros., grateful de Haviland for talent, gave her how it seemed to them, the best roles. The actress played "empty" characters in "Four - already a crowd" and "impregnable" (1938). Even in the youth of Olivia could not afford to spend time on the role of typical mistresses, and therefore seriously thought about leaving the film company.
1939 is considered the peak of the "golden" hollywood, but de Haviland could not enjoy this time due to spiritual torments. In an interview, she recalled:
"I was in such an depressed state that I could hardly remember my lines."The greatest film project in Hollywood's history was helped to recover in the history of Hollywood - "Gone by Wind" (1939). Producer David Celznik wrote a letter Warner Bros. With a request to allow De Haviland to fulfill the role of Melanie Hamilton Wilks. While the remaining actresses fought for the role of Scarlett O'Hara, Olivia saw melanie - a character, whose calm dignity and inner power she felt.
"The" Oscar "figurines won 8 figurines, and De Haviland was nominated for the first time - for the best female role of the second plan.
During World War II, the actress did not cease to be filmed. The most interesting project was "delay dawn" (1941), for which De Havingland had to be prematurely "to fall into old age" - history develops for 30 years. To accomplish into the role, Olivia used different perfumes suitable for each age, changed voice timbre.
The role in the drama "Delay Dawn" in 1946 brought the first Oscar actress. By that time, de Heviland broke the relationship with Warner Bros., And the historian Tony Thomas noted that the statuette became a symbol of a long struggle for the right to be called a capable actress.
Her first work outside the contract was the drama "Each His" (1946) about a woman who gives the child for adoption, and then until the end of his days try to redeem this sin. The "Golden" Time de Heviland is completed by the drama "My Kuzina Rachel" (1952)
In 1964, the actress performed the two final lead roles in her filmography: "Woman in a cage" and "quieter ... quieter, cute charlotte." The last project with Olivia divided her best friend Bett Davis. He was nominated 7 times to Oscar.
It was becoming more difficult to choose decent roles, the number of actresses grew, and De Haviland was forced to go on television. The transfer of "Human Wine" (1966), "Screaming Woman" (1972), the series "Lubovy Boat" (1977-1987). The last of her project is "the woman he loved" (1988).
Having retired as an actress, de Heviland remained faithful to cinema. In 2003, she appeared on the Oscar award to declare the winner, and as a result of ovation for 6.5 minutes.
In 2008, 92-year-old Olivia received from the hands of President George Bush Jr. The Higher Professional Award - National Art Medal. 2 years later, the Order of the Honorary Legion was awarded, and on the eve of its 101st birthday, the Order of the British Empire and the Titula "Lady". De Haviland could not attend the ceremony in the Buckingham Palace due to the state of health, so the award was presented to her at home in 2018.
On July 1, 2019, the actress celebrated its 103rd birthday. Last years, Olivia de Haviland lived in Paris, read books, answered letters of fans by email. The secret of longevity, according to her personal confessions, lies in love, laughter and constant studies. Or in harmfulness of character.
Personal life
Olivia de Haviland and Arrol Flynna called the most beautiful pair of Hollywood, but they never consisted in relationships. Yes, young people nourished warm feelings to each other, but Flynn wanted to dilute with his wife Lily Damita, and then start a new personal life. However, in 1937, the spouses were reconciled, and Olivia with Errol no longer returned to romantic topics.In July 1938, the girl found a consolation in the arms of Aviator and director Howard Hughes, in 1939, met with actor James Stewart, who made Olivia proposal remaining unanswered. In 1941, relations began with director John Houston, for which the actress wanted to marry.
On August 26, 1946, De Haviland also tied himself to marriage with the Writer Markus Goodrich, the marriage lasted 6 years. September 27, 1949 they had a son Benjamin. The actress was proud of his baby, did not hide from the photo, even briefly left his career for his sake.
In 19 years, the boy was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. In 1991, at the age of 42, Benjamin died of heart disease.
On April 2, 1955, De Haviland married Pierre Galanta, Paris Match magazine editor. A year later, they had a daughter Giselle. Spouses divorced in 1962, but for another 6 years lived together, then in the neighborhood to raise a child together. Olivia remained with Pierre until 1998, when he died of lung cancer.
Giselle did not give her mother grandchildren.
The relationship with the sister Joan did not go to Olivia. In childhood, the girls constantly fought, cut each other dresses. The situation has not improved and in conscious age. Once Fontaine said:
"I was the first to marry, the first received" Oscar ", and, undoubtedly, the first - and sister will be in rabies, when I would understand that I've been around it!".Joan died at the age of 96.
Death
July 26, 2020 became aware of the death of the actress. Olivia de Heviland died at the 105th year of life from natural reasons.
Filmography
- 1935 - "Sleeping in the Summer Night"
- 1938 - "Adventures Robin Hood"
- 1939 - "Gone by the Wind"
- 1941 - "Strawberry Blonde"
- 1946 - "Everyone"
- 1949 - "Snake Yama"
- 1955 - "My Kuzina Rachel"
- 1964 - "Woman in a cage"
- 1964 - "Cherry ... quieter, cute charlotte"
- 1977 - "Airport 77"
- 1986 - "Anastasia: Anna Riddle"