Olivia de Havilland Biography

Actress. Born on July 1, 1916, in Tokyo, Japan. Olivia de Havilland was an award-winning actress who rose to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s. Acting became a bit of a family business; her sister is actress Joan Fontaine, known for her roles in such films as Rebecca (1940), Suspicion (1941), and Jane Eyre (1944).

Soon after signing with Warner Brothers in 1935, Olivia de Havilland had her first starring role in Captain Blood (1935) opposite Errol Flynn. But it was 1939's Gone with the Wind that showcased her talent as a serious dramatic actress. De Havilland earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Melanie Hamilton in this Civil War and Reconstruction era drama. She scored another Academy Award nomination two years later for her role in Hold Back the Dawn (1941).

A conflict over Olivia de Havilland's contract with Warner Brothers sidelined her film career for a while during the mid-1940s. But she emerged from the legal battle unscathed and turned in a number of outstanding performances on screen. De Havilland won the Academy Award for Best Actress for To Each His Own (1946) and The Heiress (1949).

Her career slowed in the mid-1950s and Olivia de Havilland began spending more time in France. In her later career, Olivia de Havilland made guest appearances on several television shows, including The Danny Thomas Hour and The Love Boat, and had roles in several television movies. She also appeared in such films as Airport '77 and The Fifth Musketeer (1979).

Olivia de Havilland lives in Paris, France.

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