Olivia de Havilland

Hollywood’s Golden Lady and Trailblazer

Introduction

Olivia de Havilland was not just a celebrated actress of Hollywood’s Golden Age — she was a pioneer who reshaped the film industry, fought for artists' rights, and lived to tell her tale across an astonishing 104 years. Best known for her luminous presence in classics like Gone with the Wind and her Oscar-winning performances in To Each His Own and The Heiress, de Havilland combined elegance and strength both on and off the screen. Her career was marked by versatility, intelligence, and courage, cementing her legacy as one of the most influential women in Hollywood history.

Early Life

Olivia Mary de Havilland was born on July 1, 1916, in Tokyo, Japan, to British parents. Her father, Walter de Havilland, was a patent attorney, and her mother, Lilian, was a former stage actress. The family moved to California in 1919 after her parents’ separation, settling in Saratoga.

De Havilland’s childhood was marked by a strict upbringing, illness, and tension with her younger sister, Joan Fontaine, who would also go on to become a famous actress. Both sisters were drawn to the stage, but Olivia’s passion for drama and literature led her to perform in school plays and later secure a scholarship to study at Mills College.

Her life changed dramatically in 1934 when director Max Reinhardt cast her in a stage production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which led to a role in the film version released in 1935. Warner Bros. quickly signed her to a contract, launching her into stardom.

Rise to Stardom: The Errol Flynn Era

De Havilland gained early fame through a series of swashbuckling adventure films opposite Errol Flynn, with whom she shared undeniable on-screen chemistry (and reportedly, off-screen tension and affection).

Key collaborations with Errol Flynn:

Captain Blood (1935)

The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Dodge City (1939)

They Died with Their Boots On (1941)

These films, especially The Adventures of Robin Hood, made de Havilland a household name. Though often cast as the demure love interest, her performances exuded intelligence and quiet strength, hinting at the more complex roles she would pursue later.

Gone with the Wind and Breakthrough

In 1939, de Havilland took on the role of Melanie Hamilton in Gone with the Wind, one of the most iconic films in American cinema history. Unlike many of her earlier roles, Melanie was a fully fleshed-out character: kind, brave, and emotionally intelligent.

Though overshadowed at times by Vivien Leigh’s fiery Scarlett O’Hara, de Havilland’s nuanced performance earned her her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Many critics have argued that her role was the emotional centre of the film — the calm amidst the chaos of the Civil War.

The Legal Battle That Changed Hollywood

Frustrated by being typecast in passive or decorative roles, and constrained by the studio system, de Havilland made a historic decision in 1943: she sued Warner Bros. over the "seven-year contract" rule, which allowed studios to suspend actors for refusing roles, effectively extending their contracts indefinitely.

The de Havilland Decision (1945)

The court ruled in her favour in what became known as "The de Havilland Law", a landmark legal decision that forever changed Hollywood labour practices. It established that no studio could indefinitely bind an actor to a contract against their will once the legal term expired.

This courageous act blacklisted her from work for nearly two years, but it also cemented her status as a trailblazer who prioritized artistic freedom and fairness over fame.

Career Renaissance and Oscar Wins

After winning her legal battle, de Havilland entered the most acclaimed phase of her career, tackling deeper, more psychologically complex roles.

To Each His Own (1946) – Academy Award for Best Actress

De Havilland played a woman who sacrifices her child and reputation during World War I. Her performance was emotionally rich and subtle, marking her transformation into a serious dramatic actress.

The Snake Pit (1948)

In a groundbreaking role, she portrayed a woman confined to a mental institution. The film was one of the first in Hollywood to address mental illness in a realistic and compassionate way. De Havilland’s performance was harrowing and courageous, earning her another Oscar nomination.

The Heiress (1949) – Second Academy Award for Best Actress

Perhaps her finest performance, de Havilland played Catherine Sloper, a shy and awkward woman who transforms into a steely figure of resolve and heartbreak. The role demanded a range of emotion and restraint, and she delivered with masterful control and empathy.

Later Career and Stage Work

De Havilland's film roles became less frequent in the 1950s and 1960s, but she remained active in both television and stage work. She lived in Paris from 1953 onward, making selective appearances in films and television productions, including:

The Light in the Piazza (1962)

Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), co-starring with Bette Davis

Roots: The Next Generations (1979)

She also performed on stage in Shakespearean roles, bringing her full circle to the classical roots of her acting training.

Personal Life

De Havilland was married twice and had two children. Though admired for her poise and grace, her life was not without turmoil. Her legendary feud with her sister Joan Fontaine was one of Hollywood’s most famous sibling rivalries, fuelled by years of professional competition and personal resentment. The two were estranged for much of their adult lives.

Nonetheless, de Havilland remained highly respected for her intelligence, dignity, and class. She was fluent in French and deeply engaged with arts, culture, and public life in Paris, where she lived for the majority of her later years.

Honours and Legacy

Olivia de Havilland’s career and contributions to cinema and civil rights within Hollywood were widely recognized:

Two Academy Awards for Best Actress

National Medal of Arts (2008)

Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France)

Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Academy Honorary Tribute (2017) for her centennial

Named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2017

She passed away peacefully in Paris on July 26, 2020, at the age of 104, the last surviving principal cast member of Gone with the Wind and one of the last living legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Conclusion

Olivia de Havilland’s life was a study in elegance, courage, and brilliance. On screen, she brought warmth, intelligence, and strength to her characters, growing from ingenue to Oscar-winning dramatic powerhouse. Off screen, she reshaped Hollywood by daring to stand up to the most powerful studio system in the world. Her grace, both artistic and personal, left an indelible imprint not only on the silver screen but also on the very fabric of the film industry. She remains a timeless symbol of resilience, talent, and integrity — truly one of the greats.