Margot Robbie and Jennifer Lopez are two of the most talented and versatile actresses in the industry, and their collaboration is one that many have dreamed of.

On August 25, 1970, Claudia Schiffer was born in Rheinberg, a small West German village. Her childhood self was not at all the glamorous person she would grow up to be; instead, she was a tall, shy, and awkward teenager. Claudia’s original goal was to become a lawyer and work for her father’s legal practice.

But when she was just 17 years old, a modeling agency found her at a Düsseldorf nightclub, and that’s when her life completely changed.

Ascent to Fame

The renowned fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld introduced Claudia to the world of fashion by making her the face of Chanel, which was her big break. Her likeness to Brigitte Bardot, together with her timeless elegance and grace, rapidly turned her into a highly sought-after model.

She quickly rose to fame in the fashion business as the face of major publications including Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Vogue.

The Age of Supermodels

Claudia Schiffer rose to prominence as one of the most well-known supermodels in the world in the 1990s, joining the ranks of Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Cindy Crawford. Her ability to embodied both high fashion and commercial appeal made her well-known for her versatility.

Claudia appeared in advertisements for some of the most well-known companies, such as Guess, Versace, and Dior. During this legendary time, her image came to represent the glitz and splendor of the fashion industry.

Acting and Business Ventures Beyond Modeling

Claudia Schiffer pursued an acting career in addition to modeling, making appearances in movies such as “Richie Rich” (1994) and “Zoolander” (2001). Although her acting career did not achieve the same level of success as her modeling career, it did demonstrate her adaptability and willingness to try new things.

Claudia showed herself to be astute entrepreneur as well. She subsequently cemented her position as a global brand by launching her own collection of apparel, eyewear, and fragrances. Because of her profitable business endeavors, she has been able to stay relevant and influential in the fashion industry even after her prime modeling years have passed.

Individual Life and Charity

In 2002, Claudia Schiffer wed British filmmaker Matthew Vaughn. Together, the couple has three children and divides their time between their Suffolk countryside estate and London. Claudia has always maintained a low profile in her personal life in favor of her family and job, even though she is well-known.

She participates in a number of humanitarian endeavors. Claudia is a UNICEF ambassador and promotes causes pertaining to children’s health and education. Her charitable endeavors are a reflection of her desire to give back and change the world for the better.

History and Significance

There is no denying Claudia Schiffer’s impact on the fashion industry. She continues to be one of the most recognizable supermodels of all time, having had a career spanning more than thirty years.

In the modeling industry, her ageless beauty, professionalism, and business sense have established a benchmark. Models and fashion fans alike are still motivated by Claudia’s legacy.

In a career spanning more than six decades, the enigmatic Claudia Cardinale lit up the screen with her breathtaking presence.

Not planning on becoming one of the greatest actors of the golden age, Cardinale followed the path to stardom, that was oftentimes paved by trauma.

Outliving the now-deceased Hollywood giants that she once shared the screen, and still going strong at 86, she says “cinema saved my life.”

In a career spanning more than six decades, the enigmatic Claudia Cardinale lit up the screen with her breathtaking presence.

Not planning on becoming one of the greatest actors of the golden age, Cardinale followed the path to stardom, that was oftentimes paved by trauma.

Outliving the now-deceased Hollywood giants that she once shared the screen, and still going strong at 86, she says “cinema saved my life.”

As an iconic actress, Claudia Cardinale has left an indelible mark on Italian and international film. Her talent, beauty, and versatility allowed her to portray a wide range of complex and memorable characters throughout her career.

The Tunisian-born Italian actor was studying to be a teacher when she was discovered at 18. The glossy-haired, French-speaking young woman was taken in by the pageantry of an Italian film festival, when she was pulled from the crowd and crowned Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia.

“I was helping my mother and people from the Italian government organize an Italian film festival in Tunisia. I was looking at the girls on the stage and I wasn’t supposed to be there. Someone pushed me out on the stage and I was named the Most Beautiful Girl in Tunisia,” she said.

The prize was a trip to the Venice film festival, a foretelling adventure for the young woman, who received many offers from producers.

Initially turning down the offers, Cardinale explained in an interview, “It’s like a man. When he’s going after you, if you say yes immediately, after a little time he goes away. If you say no, he desires you for a long time.”

The reason she rejected most offers, was because she was pregnant.

But there was one producer whom she couldn’t refuse. Franco Cristaldi, a prominent Italian producer, credited with feature films from the 1950s to the 1990s, captured the interest of the young Cardinale and signed her under an 18-year contract.

There was also a personal contract, the pair married and Cristaldi, sculpting her into an Italian Brigitte Bardot, took full control, dictating her movie roles, hairstyle, weight, and social life.

Her pregnancy, Cristaldi demanded, be kept a secret.

As for her son, it was announced that he was her younger brother.

Under Cristaldi’s management, Cardinale had a few minor roles in Italian films, and noticed for her performances, she was referred to as “Italy’s sweetheart.”

In 1958, she had her big break with a leading role in the romantic comedy, Three Strangers in Rome. Working seven months into her pregnancy–which under Cristaldi’s direction she continued to keep a secret–Cardinale became depressed and had suicidal thoughts, pleading with her manager to terminate the contract.

Instead, Cristaldi shipped her to London, away from the press, falsely saying she was away learning English for a role.

In 1975, her baby Patrick was born, a child she said was fathered by an unidentified man, who raped her. Patrick’s identity as her son, was kept a secret until he turned 19.

‘Violent truth’

In 2017, Cardinale opened up to Enzo Biagi, an Italian journalist, and shared with him the violent truth behind her pregnancy, “A man I didn’t know, much older than me, forced me to go up to car and raped me. It was terrible, but the most beautiful thing is that my wonderful Patrick was born from that violence. In fact, although it was a very complicated situation for a single mother, I decided not to have an abortion.”

She continued, “When that man learned of my pregnancy, he came back, demanding that I have an abortion. Not even for a moment did I think of getting rid of my creature!”

Speaking of Cristaldi, who controlled her life, Cardinale said, “With him I was practically an employee, a subordinate who was paid a month for the four films I made a year: I didn’t even call him by name, but by surname. I felt hostage, my father and mother were furious…Because I wasn’t in love, he was the one with me. In short, Cristaldi was certainly a great producer, but on a private level… better to overlook it.”

Her dysfunctional relationship with Cristaldi, whom she left in 1975, didn’t slow down her career.

The natural beauty, who made her debut in the French-Tunisian film Goha with Omar Sharif, quickly earned the reputation as one Italy’s best actors.  She then had leading roles in Rocco and his Brothers (1960), and in 1963 she starred in the Oscar-winning film 8½ with Marcello Mastroianni, and The Leopard with Burt Lancaster. Both films, where she played a seemingly unattainable object of desire, are praised by the award-winning director Martin Scorsese as two of his top 12 favorites.

‘Italian Brigitte Bardot’

Gaining traction in Hollywood, she starred alongside David Nivens in The Pink Panther and then shared the screen with legends like John Wayne and Rita Hayworth in 1964’s Circus World.

Lauded for her portrayal of a prostitute in the U.S.-Italian film Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), Cardinale co-starred with icons Henry Fonda, Jason Robards and Charles Bronson.

But audiences enjoyed seeing Cardinale, dubbed the Italian Brigitte Bardot, with the real Bardot–her friend and rival–in 1971’s The Legend of Frenchie King. What set her apart from Bardot? She said she never appeared nude in a film, “I always thought it was more erotic to leave some room to imagination, hinting at things rather than showing everything.”

Working in Hollywood was both successful and stressful. In a Life article, that referred to her as “the most admired international film star since Sophia Loren,” Cardinale revealed that she wanted out of the patriarchal Hollywood system. Speaking to the lower salary in Europe, Cardinale said, “If I have to give up the money, I give it up. I do not want to become a cliché.”

‘You cannot stop time’

Though her career slowed down, Cardinale said she is happy to have stepped away from the sexualized spotlight.

“When I was young, my dream was to explore the world. And I did it. I was never naked and I never did anything to change my face. I don’t like that at all. I like to be what I am, because you cannot stop time,” Cardinale said.

Cardinale married Italian director, Pasquale Squitieri in 1975 and was with him until his death in 2017. The pair have one daughter, Claudia.

Claudia Cardinale had quite a life, filled with trauma and successes. It’s great to see that she’s empowering other women with her story, and we hope that she continues in good health. What’s your favorite Cardinale film?

In 2022, Cardinale addressed rumors that she was involuntarily hospitalized. Living in France, she said “I’m next to my family, I’m in full health. And I wish everyone a happy summer.”

Today, Cardinale is heavily involved with UNESCO as the goodwill ambassador for the Defence of Women’s Rights.

Karen Valentine recalls the bumpy path that led her to her award-winning role as a student turned teacher in the hit TV series Room 222.

Catapulting her into stardom, the show, that last aired almost 50 years ago, is a love she still holds close, unlike her appearance on The Dating Game, that she admits was an “awful” experience, with no love lost.

Before they became famous, celebrities like Suzanne Somers, Tom Selleck, Leif Garret and Farrah Fawcett appeared on The Dating Game, the first ever dating reality show that not only spawned hundreds of similar concepts in the future, but also acted as a launchpad for new actors.

Karen Valentine was one of those stars, who after appearing on Chuck Barris’ TV series Dream Girl of 1967, was invited on the dating show, that was also created by Barris.

Valentine, a former teen beauty queen, was given the opportunity to interview three eligible bachelors who hidden behind a dividing wall.

Admitting that she thought the appearance would be “harmless fun,” she said her “choice” made it a terrible experience.

“That was awful, because the guy thought that this was really going to be a date, right? The Dating Game got more serious later where people would be sent on trips,” Valentine, now 76, told Closer Weekly. “I only got to go to the Ambassador Hotel to see a show, but the guy thought we were going to make out in the limo and it, was, like, ‘You know this is a first date, right?’ It was so sleazy. You’d go to dinner and then to a show, which is the prize I won, but the guy thought this was serious. I wanted to get out of the date. You know, ‘Save the money, who needs to go on a date? Let me do another show. Give me a shot at acting or something.’”

Leaving that regret behind, Valentine was then cast in the TV movie Gidget Grows Up (1969), which transitioned into her starring role in the hit TV series, Room 222 (1969 to 1974). The avant-garde TV show centered around a black high school teacher–played by the award-winning Lloyd Haynes 1934 to 1987–who tried to teach students to be tolerant.

The show was created by James L Brooks–the brainchild behind The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, and films like As Good as it Gets and Terms of Endearment–and produced by Gene Reynolds, one of the developers and producers of M*A*S*H.

In 1970, Room 222 cleaned up at the Primetime Emmy Awards, earning titles for Outstanding New Series, while Valentine and Michael Constantine, also known for My Big Fat Greek Wedding in 2002, both won supporting roles.

“It was kind of mind-blowing to have that happen so soon, so quickly,” said Valentine of her first nomination and win. “And to meet Carol Burnett and her saying, ‘Well, congratulations for this.’ It was like, ‘Thank you.’ But that Carol Burnett would know me? Just incredible.”

The young starlet recalls being starstruck when she met another legendary actor.

“I remember I was taking singing lessons at the time, and I went to my singing class,” Valentine started. “Also taking lessons was Gregory Peck… When he walked by, I was at the teacher’s piano and he saw me through the window and kind of mimed, ‘You did it!’ I was like, ‘Oh my God. It’s Gregory Peck!’ How was it that I had the fortune to meet these stars and talented people from the get-go?”

According to Closer Weekly, critics were praising Room 222 but in the fourth season, ratings took a dive, and the show was canceled mid-season.

“Why things changed, I have no idea,” Valentine said, recalling when the network told the cast the show was cut. “But they did have the wherewithal to give us the word that it was happening, and it was sad … well, it’s always sad, but especially when you feel you have a good product and a good show, for it to be taken away. But in the end, the network made the decision to go in a different direction. That’s what they always say, ‘We’ve decided to go in a different direction.’”

When Room 222 was cancelled, she starred in her own show Karen (1975), which was created by Reynolds, but due to low ratings, it was canceled after four months.

Describing the show’s premise as “controversial political stories that were a savvy, humoristic reflection of then-current headlines,” Valentine said, “The original opening titles were a take-off of the opening of the film ‘Patton.’ Instead of George C. Scott, you had me marching up to an American flag background. Really clever, but never aired.” She continued, “It was changed to me riding a bicycle around D.C. The network envisioned something softer, more romantic and personal, and not too complicated, as opposed to an issue-oriented drama/comedy in the political arena. I’d say it was ahead of its time.”

Valentine, a stage actor who’s also appeared in Broadway productions, kept her career alive as a semi- regular on The Hollywood Squares (1971 to 1977), and in episodes of TV shows like Murder She Wrote and The Love Boat.

Her last film was Wedding Daze (2004), where she co-starred with John Laroquette, that was broadcast on the Hallmark Channel.

Looking back on Room 222, that sprang success for her very early on, Valentine says she only has fond memories: “Working with all of those people, and to have that kind of experience first time out–the show just brings back the fondest and best memories in the world to me.” She adds, “…It also kind of spoiled me, because it set the bar really high. So when other things come to you, you think, ‘What is this?’ It was different, you know. But I was fortunate that I did get material that was pretty fun and well done.”

If you’re a fan of Karen Valentine, what’s your favorite show or movie that she starred?

There was much and more said about Robert De Niro becoming a father last year at the grand old age of 79.

Needless to say, there were plenty of critics when the actor revealed that he had become a dad again with film producer Tiffany Chen. De Niro confirmed the news at a red carpet event last May, sending veritable shockwaves around his fan base.

Yet it would appear that the Goodfellas star is embracing the role of parent to a newborn – in spite of his years – with the 80-year-old choking up when discussing his baby daughter, Gia, in a new interview.

Speaking to told AARP for their upcoming February/March issue, De Niro said: “I’m an 80-year-old dad and it’s great.

“Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about just goes away when I look at her. It’s wondrous.”

The Irishman actor, who recently earned an Oscar nomination for his work in Flowers of the Killer Moon, said that Gia reminded him of his daughter Helen, who he welcomed with Grace Hightower in 2011.

“I want to be around for as long as I can to enjoy it and enjoy her,” De Niro added.

Speaking last year on being a dad, De Niro said “I don’t think I’m a cool dad,” and added that he believes “in being loving with [his] kids,” despite sometimes having “to be stern about stuff.”

“I mean, there’s no way around it with kids. I don’t like to have to lay down the law and stuff like that.”

“But, [sometimes] you just have no choice and any parent, I think, would say the same thing.

“You always want to do the right thing by the children and give them the benefit of the doubt but sometimes you can’t.”

The iconic actor split from Grace Hightower, his wife of 20 years, in 2018 but now seems to have found love again with the aforementioned Tiffany Chen.

De Niro shares two children with first wife Diahnne Abbott, Drena, 51, and Raphael, 46. He has another two – Elliot, 25, and Helen, 11 – with his second wife, Grace. The actor also has twin sons Aaron and Julian, 27, with Toukie Smith.

I think we can all agree that Robert De Niro has proven himself to be an attentive and loving father.

If you like reading celebrity news and would like to see more, check out the article below:

The performance featured a choir of singers and dancers dressed in red, white, and blue.

Joining Dean and Kate were legendary stars Barbara Eden, Mickey Rooney, and Norm Crosby.

While the three men wore tuxedos, Barbara Eden wore a pink dress, and Kate Smith was in a sequined red and black gown.

Carrie Underwood has sparked an online stir with her high-slit metallic outfit that left her legs on display. Although public opinion regarding the star’s dress ranged from critique to praise, the commentary did not take away from the prestige of the event Underwood attended, where she celebrated a friend’s major milestone.

Iconic musician Carrie Underwood served looks at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala on June 13. Wearing a unique and eye-catching metallic dress, Underwood left jaws dropping to the floor as she posed on the red carpet alongside fellow friends and artists in the music industry. However, not everybody was impressed by what she wore.

Dazzling in an all-silver look, Underwood adorned a bespoke sleeveless metallic bodice attached to a striking skirt. Rouched and bunched up in the front, the lower half of her dress left her toned legs exposed while the back of the dress draped to the floor.

Carrie Underwood at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala in New York City on June 13, 2024 | Source: Getty Images

She paired her intricately designed ensemble with matching strap heels and accessorized with beautiful jewelry, including two necklaces, dangling earrings, bracelets, and gorgeous diamond rings.

Carrie Underwood performing at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala, posted on June 14, 2024 | Source: Instagram/carrieunderwood

Attending the prestigious event as one of the esteemed guests, Underwood was there to celebrate the talented songwriters who had the honor of being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Among the inductees was her dear friend and cowriter, Hillary Lindsey, whom she boasted about in a carousel post she shared online.

Carrie Underwood and Hillary Lindsey posing for a picture at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala, posted on June 14, 2024 | Source: Instagram/carrieunderwood

“Had the best night celebrating Hillary Lindsey and many other incredible songwriters and artists last night […] It was so cool to have so many genres represented in one place! And, of course, being there for my girl, Hillary, was a true joy! There is no one who deserves it more!” Underwood penned.

Hillary Lindsey, Nile Rodgers, and Carrie Underwood posing for a picture at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala, posted on June 14, 2024 | Source: Instagram/carrieunderwood

The “Jesus, Take the Wheel” singer also had praise for her friend, “I am SO proud of my friend and cowriter for the mark she has made on music and I am beyond blessed to have learned so much from her over the years. Cheers to Hillary and to all the inductees!!!”

Upon seeing pictures of Underwood on the red carpet where she posed alongside other heavy hitters in the industry like Nile Rodgers, Keith Urban, Clive Davis, and Diane Warren, people flooded social media platforms with opinions.

Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala in New York City on June 13, 2024 | Source: Getty Images

The majority of AmoMama readers felt that Underwood’s look was lackluster and unflattering. “Surely, she has better taste than THAT!!!” exclaimed one of our readers.

Another commented, “The dress is not flattering,” while someone who was completely taken aback wrote, “What was she thinking?” Diverting their focus on how Underwood’s legs looked, an AmoMama reader asserted, “She should hide those legs is all I can say.” Echoing the sentiment another chimed in with, “Not pretty legs!”

A close-up of Carrie Underwood’s legs, posted on June 5, 2024 | Source: Instagram/carrieunderwood

Amid the critique Underwood received, however, some readers came to her defense, complimenting her appearance, including her legs. “Strongest legs in country music,” one commended, and another simply gushed, “Beautiful ❤️.”

Regardless of what some may think of Underwood’s look, specifically as it pertains to her metallic dress, the garment appears to be popular as the same design has been worn before, by a model.

Kenzy Mamdouh wearing the Rafik Zaki designed gown, posted on October 10, 2023 | Source: Instagram/rafikzakidesigns

The official Instagram account of the designer brand, Rafik Zaki, who made Underwood’s dress, shared images of model and influencer Kenzy Mamdouh wearing the widely debated gown.

Kenzy Mamdouh wearing the Rafik Zaki designed gown, posted on October 10, 2023 | Source: Instagram/rafikzakidesigns

According to the brand’s caption accompanying their carousel post, eccentric designs are their specialty. “wearable art is our philosophy #rafikzakidesigns,” penned the account.

Aside from discussions revolving around Underwood’s Rafik Zaki designer dress, other people were simply happy to see the Oklahoma native at the event. A few lucky fans even got to meet her, one of whom took to Instagram to boast about their encounter.

Fans have seen new photos of the actresses and are urging them to age gracefully. According to the public, celebrities should set an example for their audience.

For years, fans have noted that age seems to have no effect on Jennifer Aniston.

It’s hard to disagree— the actress consistently maintains her fitness.

She works out both at the gym and at home, pays special attention to skincare and haircare, and is well-versed in healthy living and nutrition.

Photos of the Hollywood star always receive numerous compliments, but recent pictures of Jennifer Aniston have disappointed her fans. In the latest images, she is seen posing with Reese Witherspoon.

The actresses shared a photo announcing the start of filming for the third season of “The Morning Show.” It appears the team gathered to discuss the script. “Let the games of season 4 begin, we’re on our way!” Jennifer wrote under the photo.

In the picture, Aniston and Witherspoon are wearing jeans and fitted white tanks, holding nameplates. However, fans noticed something unusual about the stars’ faces. Users pointed out that the celebrities seemed to have overdone the editing, as it’s clear they used a filter to smooth their skin. It’s worth noting that 48-year-old Witherspoon’s personal blog features many photos that she carefully edits to hide fine lines and signs of aging. 55-year-old Jennifer isn’t lagging behind. Fans were not impressed by their efforts:

1968, a 15-year-old boy and a 20-year-old girl, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, crossed paths on a movie set, sparking a unique love story. Initially, their perspectives on the encounter differed, but it marked the beginning of a remarkable journey. Over the years, Goldie Hawn achieved fame in Hollywood, facing challenges as a strong, independent woman. Kurt Russell transitioned from Disney roles to grittier characters. Their paths reconverged during the 1984 film “Swing Shift,” both having experienced marriages and divorces.

Their love story, characterized by authenticity, defied conventions, culminating in the birth of their son, Wyatt, in 1986. Despite their enduring love, Russell and Hawn chose not to marry, viewing the institution differently after past experiences. Their decision was grounded in the belief that their relationship didn’t require validation through marriage. They made a pact to consider marriage only if their children deemed it necessary, but the children saw no need.

Now celebrating 40 years together, Russell and Hawn remain a testament to enduring love that defies societal norms. Their blended family, with six grandchildren, reflects the essence of love transcending traditional boundaries. The couple emphasizes the simplicity of wanting to be together as the key to lasting love. Russell and Hawn stand as icons of the silver screen and paragons of enduring love, thriving in the warmth of shared moments.

In 2020, Hollywood lost one of its true legends: Olivia de Havilland.

The two-time Oscar-winning star of classic films like Gone with the Wind and The Adventures of Robin Hood, died at 104.

The last living major star of Hollywood’s golden age was notorious for her dark sense of humor during the filming of Gone With the Wind,– but her real-life was even darker than her movies…

Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com

Nobody can touch Olivia in terms of her grace, control, beauty, strength, intelligence, and wit. She was the epitome of a lady.

De Havilland first gained fame in the 1930s as one of Hollywood’s top ingénues, memorably starring in swashbuckling adventure films opposite Errol Flynn, including the classics Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood.

She finished the decade with perhaps her best-remembered role: Melanie Wilkes in the classic Gone with the Wind, often ranked as one of the best Hollywood films of all time and, adjusted for inflation, still the highest-grossing film ever made.

As the kindhearted best friend and confidant to Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara, de Havilland provided the heart of the film, giving a classic performance that earned her her first Oscar nomination.

Wikimedia Commons

But her other biggest contribution to Hollywood came off screen: in 1943, she sued Warner Bros. over the terms of her exclusive contract, wanting the freedom to pursue roles with other studios.

She won the lawsuit, striking a blow on behalf of actors and reducing the control the studio system had on them. To this day, it’s known as “The de Havilland Law.”

It also meant de Havilland was able to break her ingenue stereotype at Warner Bros and pursue more dramatic roles, which paid off: She received two Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role for 1946’s To Each His Own and 1949’s The Heiress, among other honors.

Wikimedia Commons

Tragic childhood

In 1960, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2008 she was honored with the National Medal of Arts. De Havilland made her last screen appearance in 1988 but survived as one of the last members of classic Hollywood.

Olivia de Havilland must have been very proud of what she accomplished, considering where she came from. Her childhood was pretty tragic and turbulent. Olivia was born in Tokyo in 1916 to British parents, Lillian (nee Ruse), an actor, and Walter de Havilland, a patent lawyer.

Lilian Fontaine with her daughters, Joan Fontaine (on the floor) and Olivia de Havilland (seated), shortly after their arrival to the United States

Olivia also had a younger sister, actress Joan Fontaine, born in 1917. According to BBC, the sister’s relationship and rivalry ”was a constant source of speculation in the gossip columns.”

Olivia and Joan apparently suffered from bronchial problems, so their mother decided to move to California in 1919. The idea was to find a better climate for the girls – a doctor said that the climate in Saratoga, in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains, would do them good.

Sadly, the relationship between Lillian and Walter de Havilland was estranged. Olivia’s father was notorious for his infidelities and would later abandon the family. 11 days after moving to California, the father left and returned back to Tokyo to marry his Japanese housekeeper.

Fight with stepfather

Instead, Olivia de Havilland grew up with her mother, sister, and stepfather. The mother’s upbringing has been described as very strict. Lillian had very high demands on her daughters. Both Oliva and Joan needed to ask permission to leave the house.

De Havilland in the stage play Alice in Wonderland, 1933

When a teenage de Havilland, with her huge brown eyes and long golden-brown hair, started to get interested in amateur theatre and started starring in school plays, things turned sour at home.

She really wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, which ultimately led to a sharp confrontation with her stepfather, George Milan Fontaine. He didn’t want her to become an actress and threatened to go kick her out of the house if Olivia agreed to take on the lead role in the high school play ”Pride and Prejudice.”

But Olivia’s passion for drama couldn’t be stopped.

Her stepfather, known for his rigid discipline, made it clear that if she left the house, she left forever. The 17-year-old girl decided to take the role and left her home to pursue her dreams.

Olivia stayed at the home of friends until she won a scholarship to Mills College. And the rest is history.

James Cagney and Olivia de Havilland in The Irish in Us (1935)

Inside her passing

Olivia’s passing has left a huge hole in the atmosphere, like oxygen leaving the room around us.

She died on July 26, 2020, at the age of 104. She died at her home in Paris of natural causes, according to her publicist.

Of course, it didn’t take long for Hollywood paid tribute to the legend and her incredible career.

Actress Jane Seymour recalled working with her on a film, calling her ”larger than life” and ”a brilliant actor.”

The legendary Olivia De Havilland passed away yesterday. She was 104. Olivia made a powerful impact in my life and I had the pleasure to spend some time with her in Paris. I thanked her for her bravery and shared how her choices affected me and my brother (1/6) pic.twitter.com/R9RXsrWHS9

— JARED LETO (@JaredLeto) July 26, 2020

And one of the most personal tributes came from an unlikely source: actor Jared Leto, who recalled meeting de Havilland in Paris and discussing how the actress’ legal victory impacted his own career.

“I thanked her for her bravery and shared how her choices affected me and my brother,” Leto wrote on Twitter.

And fans even honored de Havilland with tributes on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame:

Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com

What an extraordinary life and career. Rest in peace to a true Hollywood legend! Share this story with your favorite memories of Olivia de Havilland.