Did Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey date in real life? Romeo and Juliet star’s Dating history explored

British actress Olivia Hussey, known for her stellar role in the 1968 movie Romeo and Juliet, passed away on December 27, 2024, at 73. Born in Buenos Aires on April 17, 1951, to an opera singer, she started acting at 13. Hussey debuted with the 1965 movie The Battle of the Villa Fiorita.

She dated Leonard Whiting briefly in 1967 and was involved with actor Christopher Jones from 1968 to 1969. According to Variety, the actress shared during an interview at a Studio City bistro that she and Leonard held hands and kissed, viewing each other as a young couple. However, she noted that their relationship was different from how such relationships are perceived today.

After doing Romeo and Juliet, she moved to Los Angeles, where she briefly dated Terry Melcher in 1969. Although she thought of him as a sweetheart, she felt he was messed up. Olivia Hussey shares some of the challenging experiences she has faced in her life in the autobiography she wrote with her son, Alexander Martin.

The book is titled The Girl on the Balcony: Olivia Hussey Finds Life after Romeo and Juliet. She has also fought stage four breast cancer and faced financial hardship after being defrauded by her business manager and his wife.

Olivia Hussey was married thrice. First, she married Dean Paul Martin in 1971, and the marriage lasted until 1978. Then, she married Japanese singer and actor Akira Fuse in 1980 and separated in 1989. There is an interesting story behind her relationship with Martin.

The Players actor came to Britain from Los Angeles for a date, but she turned him down. However, after she moved to California a year later, she agreed. She met David Glen Eisley in the 1980s and married him in 1991.

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Olivia Hussey called David Glen Eisley the rock of her life

As per a report by The Guardian, Olivia Hussey referred to David Eisley as her unwavering support and called him her 'rock.' Before meeting him, she was unsure she would find love again after having loved so deeply before.

She had a daughter with him, actress India Eisley. India took a step back from her acting career to be with her mother, who was battling breast cancer for the second time. In 2018, Hussey told People Magazine:

“It's been quite a life. I feel grateful that I survived it all.”

The actress also faced tragedy in her life. At 18, she endured physical abuse and sexual assault by her ex-boyfriend, Christopher Jones. Shortly after their relationship began, Jones started abusing her. One day, during a conversation, he abruptly punched her in the stomach.

The abuse, both physical and emotional, persisted, yet Hussey remained with him, citing her youth, love for him, and strong sense of loyalty. Describing the threat she felt during the attack, Olivia Hussey said:

“I didn't know if he was going to kill me. My face was like a balloon. I had a bloody nose, my lip was split open, and I had a black eye. It was terrifying.”

She became pregnant as a result of the abuse but decided to terminate it. Olivia Hussey said it broke her heart, but she never regretted the decision.