Hollywood's Most Dramatic Sibling Rivalry Still Baffles People
You really can't talk about Hollywood's Golden Age without bringing up Olivia de Havilland. With a career spanning more than 50 years and countless accolades to her name, de Havilland remained Hollywood royalty even into the 21st century. But one relationship proved to be a constant thorn in the beloved actress' side, shifting the public's focus from her many accomplishments onscreen to the bitter war she was waging behind the scenes. The memory of de Havilland's notorious feud still lingers — and may never truly fade.
Destined for Fame
Born in Tokyo to English parents, Olivia de Havilland was destined for the acting world. Her mother, Lilian Fontaine, was a prominent stage actress, and her name was actually inspired by the character Olivia from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
Acting Debut
Despite these inclinations, Olivia originally wanted to become a schoolteacher of English and speech. It wasn't until 1933 when she made her stage debut in a production of Alice in Wonderland that acting became her true calling.
Kicked Out
Olivia continued to perform in stage productions throughout her youth, though her success was overshadowed by troubles at home. Her stepfather George Fontaine disapproved of her aspirations, eventually forcing Olivia to move out after she refused to stop acting.
Olivia and Joan
Yet the most troubling relationship that Olivia had was with her sister Joan. The actress wasn't fond of having a younger sibling, and even as a teenager, she would rip up her hand-me-downs so that Joan would have to stitch them back together.
