Smoking at 15
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Olivia Hussey
inlove123 — 20 years ago(July 05, 2005 03:46 PM)
I found some pictures and articles of her smoking during the promotion of Romeo and Juliet. I found that kind of weird and shocking since I wouldnt expect someone like her to be smoking at such a young age. Was smoking more common for younger people at this time or something?
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LilyDaleLady — 20 years ago(August 06, 2005 02:12 PM)
Not only was smoking more common in the 1960s, there was less of a taboo against it, especially teenagers. It was just considered a sort of "bad habit", not as absolutely self-destructive and dangerous as today. And remember it was not banned in public buildings or restaurants or bars or any of that!
Another thing to keep in mind: if you have read interviews with Olivia that date from the period when "Romeo & Juliet" was being filmed, she was under ENORMOUS pressure to lose weight and keep slim. (While I think she is one of the most beautiful women in the world, no question, you can see that in the film she is just a tiny bit plump.) Probably most women w111cho smoke, started with the intent to lose weight. Ironically, smoking actually DOES help you to lose weight, by killing your appetite and speeding up your metabolism it's just a pretty horrid, addictive way to try and do this.
On the positive side, Olivia looks so terrific these days (and she's in her middle 50s! YIKES!), that she clearly seems to have licked her smoking long ago and gotten a handle on any weight issues. If I am not mistaken, she's known as a vegetarian and into meditation. -
LilyDaleLady — 14 years ago(September 09, 2011 06:39 PM)
Get a grip. I think she was exquisite. She was not heavyset or obese; just a teenager with some normal "baby fat" (she was just sixteen in the summer of 1967 when R&J was filmed!).
If you read INTERVIEWS with her and Zeffirelli from that time period like the big picture spread about the film in LOOK magazine, circa summer '67 he talks about wanting her to slim down, and she says she's trying, but it's hard with all the great Italian food, etc. etc.
I think that sounds pretty normal. Also remember we are talking the SIXTIES the era of Twiggy while Olivia Hussey had the kind of curvaceous form more popular 5-10 years earlier. Goodness knows, many men (and women) think curvy is quite a bit more attractive than skinny!
It is easy to understand why a 16 or 17 year old, concerned about her weight, would take up smoking. Heck, almost everyone smoked back then ever seen "Mad Men"? LOL
By her 40s, Hussey was known as a Hindu, a vegetarian or vegan and a non-smoker. I imagine that's why she's aged extremely well. -
tra1n_n_va1n — 14 years ago(October 25, 2011 11:52 AM)
Actually, Zeffirelli said in his autobiography that when he first saw her she was "too fat" and passed on casting her in R&J. He saw her a few months later when he still hadn't cast Juliet and she had lost a "dramatic" amount of weight, and so he cast her.
You better understand I'm in love with myself Myself My beautiful self -
SimplemindedSociety — 12 years ago(December 13, 2013 10:45 PM)
'By her 40s, Hussey was known as a Hindu, a vegetarian or vegan and a non-smoker. I imagine that's why she's aged extremely well'.
or she had the sense to stay out of sun,and has good genes. Gee, how come all those other Hindu, vegetarians,vegans and a non-smokers look thier age?
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janedoe1234 — 20 years ago(February 20, 2006 03:54 PM)
here's a picture of her smoking: http://i4.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/31/84/07_1_b.JPG
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sexybitch12345 — 20 years ago(August 18, 2005 10:25 AM)
My dad started smoking at 13. I see some kids in our local Town Center area who smoke cigarettes/pot at 9 years of age, at least that's how old they look. It actually looks quite humorous; a youngling who hasn't yet hit puberty who's puffing at a cigarette to look cool. I think Olivia smoked because she was an actress and was more exposed to such habits, and I've also heard that she married a millionaire at 16! She certainly doesn't lead an ordinary life.
