This is a repost of a blog originally published at our website Olivia de Havilland – Lady of the Classic Cinema! Please click on the link to visit the original post!
Today is that special day, Olivia de Havilland’s birthday! Born on July 1, 1916 in Tokyo, Japan to British parents, today marks Ms. De Havilland’s 97th birthday! We wish her a beautiful day in her beloved Paris surrounded by friends, flowers, champagne, and celebration!
Without further ado, we present the 2013 Olivia de Havilland birthday blog!
A look back: Olivia de Havilland from 1916 – 1932
Many who knew de Havilland during her childhood days in Saratoga and Los Gatos predicted she would have a successful life, as an actress or otherwise. It was during her years at Saratoga Grammar School that Olivia began to shine. She achieved top grades, played hockey, participated in school debates, served as associate editor of the school magazine, and won a public-speaking award. Despite serious stage fright, she appeared in an eighth-grade school production of Hansel and Gretel, followed by a pageant, Cinderella in the Redwoods, staged at Stanford University. She’d caught the acting bug.
Willys Peck, a former lawyer, a San Jose Mercury News editor and a columnist for the Saratoga News , remembers young Olivia as “the consummate Alice,” in the Foothill Club’s 1933 performance of Alice in Wonderland.
“Watching her,” said Peck, “you’d think, Olivia is Alice, she’s that convincing.”
~ October 29, 2003 in the Los Gatos Weekly Times
Olivia de Havilland as an infant, with her father, Walter A. de Havilland, her mother, Lilian de Havilland and two Japanese nurses. Olivia was born in Japan, where her father had a successful patent law practice.
Olivia in 2012 – 2013!
Olivia de Havilland’s statement to the fans of Ann Rutherford
July 29, 2012
What a beautiful tribute this is, and how moving that it is being held in a place which brought her so much happiness, and among people who meant so much to her.
I am sure that, in sprit, she, too, will be there, full of love and gratitude.
My warmest regards,
Olivia de Havilland
Ann Rutherford with Olivia de Havilland at the 2006 Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences tribute to Olivia at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, CA
June 15, 2006
Olivia de Havilland on CBS’s 60 MinutesNovember 11, 2012Sunday evening, November 11, 2012, Olivia de Havilland was included in the 60 Minutes story, “David McCullough’s heroes of history.” The story followed US historian, David McCullough, through Paris as he relayed stories of 19th century Americans who traveled to Paris to broaden their horizons, increase their exposure to art, music, and architecture, and achieve a higher standard of education. While in Paris, in May, 2012, David was honored at the residence of the US Ambassador. Olivia was also present for that event. In the 60 minutes clip, they cut to David standing at a microphone in the Ambassador’s Residence gleefully announcing “I just kissed Olivia de Havilland!” Then, he ran over and received a hug and kiss from Olivia again. There are just a few seconds of McCullough and De Havilland speaking about living in Paris. He asks her how she ended up in Paris and she says, without missing a beat, “A Frenchman” and then she laughs her joyous laugh and says again “A Frenchman.” (She is referring to her second husband, Pierre Galante, the former editor of Paris Match Magazine). Olivia sums up her relationship with Paris with the following quote:“You feel that it belongs to you. That’s what’s so magical, that it’s yours!”
David salutes Olivia with the famous classic film quote: “We’ll always have Paris.” Olivia de Havilland interviewed by Scott Feinberg
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