The Girl on the Balcony : Olivia Hussey Finds Life After Romeo and Juliet

In 1968, Olivia Hussey became one of the most famous faces in the world, immortalized as the definitive Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo & Juliet . Now the iconic girl on the balcony shares the ups and downs of her truly remarkable life and career . . . At only sixteen-years-old, she was an internationally celebrated overnight discovery. The part was an opportunity of a lifetime for a simple girl from Buenos Aires, Argentina. But for Olivia, admired for her beauty and innocence, and praised as a fresh and burgeoning young talent, the role of movie star was hard to play, and harder still, to live up to. In this candid memoir, Olivia Hussey tells her story--from being an "It Girl" in swinging 60s London and her enduring friendship with Romeo & Juliet co-star Leonard Whiting, through three tumultuous marriages--including one with Dean Martin's son, Dino--motherhood, stage-four breast cancer, debilitating agoraphobia, bankruptcy, and ultimately, a journey of self-discovery in India that led her on a path to fulfillment. She brings readers intimately close to the legendary performers she knew, loved, worked with, and battled, including The Beatles, Vanessa Redgrave, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Anthony Perkins, Christopher Reeve, Lawrence Olivier, Ingrid Bergman, and more. Olivia also finally reveals for the first time, the identity of the actor--a fellow young newcomer--who raped her, but who would not break her. Featuring a foreword by her star-making director Franco Zeffirelli, Olivia Hussey's memoir shines with her luminous spirit and perseverance as she reflects on her unique life and experiences--inspiring, surprising, and fascinating to read about. For eleven seasons, Marion Ross was head of one of America's favorite television households. Now meet the lovable real-life woman behind the Happy Days mom . . . Before she was affectionately known to millions as "Mrs. C.," Marion Ross worked for two decades as a Paramount starlet, appearing in nearly every major TV series of the 1950s and 1960s--including Love, American Style, in which she donned an apron that would cinch her career. Soon after came the fateful phone call from producer Garry Marshall that made her an "overnight" success, and changed her life . . . In this warm and candid memoir, filled with loving recollections from the award-winning Happy Days team--from break-out star Henry Winkler to Cunningham "wild child" Erin Moran--Ross shares what it was like to be a starry-eyed young girl with dreams in poor, rural Minnesota, and the resilience, sacrifices, and determination it took to make them come true. She recalls her early years in the business, being in the company of such luminaries as Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Noel Coward, yet always feeling the Hollywood outsider--a painful invisibility that mirrored her own childhood. She reveals the absolute joys of playing a wife and mother on TV, and the struggles of maintaining those roles in real life. But among Ross's most heart-rending recollections are those of finally finding a soulmate--another secret hope of hers made true well beyond her expectations. Funny, poignant, and revealing--and featuring Garry Marshall's final illuminating interview--as well as a touching foreword from her "TV son" Ron Howard, and a conversation with her real-life son and daughter, Marion Ross's story is one of inspiration, persistence, and gratitude. It's also a glowing tribute to all those who fulfilled her dreams--and in turn, gave us some of the happiest days of our own lives For eleven seasons, Marion Ross was head of one of Americas favorite television households. Now meet the lovable real-life woman behind the Happy Days mom . . . Before she was affectionately known to millions as Mrs. C., Marion Ross began her career as a Paramount starlet who went on to appear in nearly every major TV series of the 1950s and 1960sincluding Love, American Style , in which she donned an apron that would cinch her career. Soon after came the fateful phone call from producer Garry Marshall that made her an overnight success, and changed her life . . . In this warm and candid memoir, filled with loving recollections from the award-winning Happy Days teamfrom break-out star Henry Winkler to Cunningham wild child Erin MoranRoss shares what it was like to be a starry-eyed young girl with dreams in poor, rural Minnesota, and the resilience, sacrifices, and determination it took to make them come true. She recalls her early years in the business, being in the company of such luminaries as Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Noel Coward, yet always feeling the Hollywood outsidera painful invisibility that mirrored her own childhood. She reveals the absolute joys of playing a wife and mother on TV, and the struggles of maintaining those roles in real life. But among Rosss most heart-rending recollections are those of finally finding a soulmateanother secret hope of hers made true well beyond her expectations. Funny, poignant, and revealingand featuring Garry Marshalls final illuminating interviewas well as a touching foreword from her TV son Ron Howard, and a conversation with her real-life son and daughter, Marion Rosss story is one of inspiration, persistence, and gratitude. Its also a glowing tribute to all those who fulfilled her dreamsand in turn, gave us some of the happiest days of our own lives. For eleven seasons, she was head of one of America's favorite television households. Now meet the lovable real-life woman behind the Happy Days mom. Before she was affectionately known to millions as "Mrs. C.," Marion Ross began her career as a Paramount starlet who went on to appear in nearly every major TV series of the 1950s and 1960s—including Love, American Style , in which she donned an apron that would cinch her career. Soon after came the phone call that changed her life . . . In this warm and candid memoir, filled with recollections from the award-winning Happy Days team—from break-out star Henry Winkler to Cunningham "wild child" Erin Moran—Ross shares what it was like to be a starry-eyed young girl with dreams in poor, rural Minnesota, and the resilience it took to make them come true. She recalls her early years in the business, being in the company of such luminaries as Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, yet always feeling the Hollywood outsider—an invisibility that mirrored her own childhood. She reveals the joys of playing a wife and mother on TV, and the struggles of maintaining those roles in real life. But among Ross's most heart-rending recollections are those of finally finding a soulmate—another hope made true beyond her expectations. Featuring producer Garry Marshall's final interview—as well as a touching foreword from her "TV son" Ron Howard, and a conversation with her real-life son and daughter, Marion Ross's inspiring story is also a glowing tribute to all those who fulfilled her dreams—and in turn, gave us some of the happiest days of our own lives. The 1960s starlet, immortalized on the silver screen as Juliet, tells her story in this celebrity biography—with a forward by director Franco Zeffirelli.In 1968, sixteen-year-old Olivia Hussey became one of the most famous faces in the world, immortalized as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's classic film Romeo & Juliet. For a simple girl from Buenos Aires, Argentina, the role was an opportunity of a lifetime. But for Olivia, the role of movie star wasn't so easy to play.In this candid memoir, Hussey tells her story from her time as an “It Girl” in swinging 60s London through her three tumultuous marriages—including one with Dean Martin's son, Dino. Over the years, she experienced motherhood, stage-four breast cancer, debilitating agoraphobia, bankruptcy, and ultimately, a journey of self-discovery in India that led her on a path to fulfillment.Hussey shares intimate memories of the legendary performers she knew, loved, worked with, and battled, including The Beatles, Vanessa Redgrave, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Anthony Perkins, Christopher Reeve, Lawrence Olivier, Ingrid Bergman, and more. Olivia also opens up for the first time about the trauma of being raped by her boyfriend just a year after Romeo & Juliet came out. "In 1968, Olivia Hussey became one of the most famous faces in the world, immortalized as the definitive Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo & Juliet. Now the iconic girl on the balcony shares the ups and downs of her truly remarkable life and career ... In this candid memoir, Olivia Hussey tells her story: from being an "It Girl" in swinging 60s London and her enduring friendship with Romeo & Juliet co-star Leonard Whiting, through three tumultuous marriages, motherhood, stage-four breast cancer, debilitating agoraphobia, bankruptcy, and ultimately, a journey of self-discovery in India that led her on a path to fulfillment"--Jacket Foreword (by Ron Howard) My prologue My beginnings My family My inspirations My secret becomes known My new life in California My marriage My move to Hollywood My studio contract My days between two worlds My days of successes and struggles My real-life role as mom My luckiest airplane ride My "lovely" big break My dream becomes a happy reality My happy days My boss Garry My TV son Ron My TV daughter Erin My dear Henry My funny Donny My wonderful friend Anson My neighbor Scott My real-life children My right-hand woman Gwen My happiest days My days (which just may never end) at the Happy Days Farm My epilogue and acknowledgments. The actress best known for her portrayal of "Mrs. C" on "Happy Days" recalls her childhood in rural Minnesota, her early career in Hollywood, and her life-changing role on the popular TV sitcom, and pays tribute to the many people who helped to fulfill her dreams