“Romeo” and “Julie” sue for nude scenes – NRK Culture and entertainment

Olivia Hussey (71) and Leonard Whiting (72) were 15 and 16 years old when the film production of Romeo and Juliet started.

They claim they were promised that there would be no nude scenes, but that they would be allowed to wear skin-colored underwear during a bedroom scene.

According to the actors, this was replaced with body make-up during the filming, and they claim they were promised that the cameras would film from angles so that they could not be seen naked.

The actors claim director Franco Zeffirelli believed that the film would flop and that it would hurt their careers if they did not agree. Zeffirelli passed away in 2019.

The nude scenes caused great controversy at the time. In 2018, Olivia Hussey defended the nude scenes, calling them “tasteful”.

Now both actors believe that it was abuse. Variety reports.

They are now seeking damages for 500 million dollars. According to a representative for the actors, they have suffered psychologically afterwards because of the incident, and they believe it has affected the chances of further work.

Hussey and Whiting have been active actors, but have not had such large roles as they had in “Romeo and Juliet”.

Paramount Pictures has so far not commented on the allegations.

Several child stars have recently spoken out about their previous works. Actress and model Brooke Shields recently said she doesn’t think “Blue Lagoon” could have been made today.

In the 1980 film, two cousins ​​fall in love and have a child after their boat crashes.

Shields was 14 when she played alongside 18-year-old Christopher Atkins. The film had nude scenes of both Atkins and Shields.

Actress Natalie Portman has also spoken about what it was like to play in “Léon” from 1994. Portman had barely turned 12 when the film about the hitman who takes an orphaned 12-year-old under his wing came out.

After the film, Portman is said to have received threats of rape from the audience.