Sibling rivalry was a career boost for De Havilland, Fontaine
DE HAVILLAND AND FONTAINE. Won two Oscars each.
One of Hollywood’s prettiest actresses was Olivia de Havilland, who added more excitement to her lengthy career when she rejected the advances of Errol Flynn.
De Havilland had an ongoing rivalry with her younger sister, Joan Fontaine, who also won two Academy Awards—but, it is said that their mother favored the former. She began in theater before she became one of Tinseltown’s most prestigious stars.
She was also Oscar-nominated for her spectacular portrayal in “Gone With the Wind,” where she played the martyr-like Melanie. Like her costar, Clark Gable, she was expected to take home the Oscar, but she failed to win it. She nevertheless became one of Hollywood’s biggest box-office attractions.
After divorcing her first husband, she remarried French author, Pierre Galante, and lived in Paris for many years. It is said that, while she “competed” with her sister, she later borrowed money from Joan, who turned out to be a better businesswoman.
Centennial year
De Havilland was tapped to appear in dramatic vehicles, alongside stalwarts like Montgomery Clift and Lew Ayres. She was born in Japan in 1916.
In a 1982 TV movie, De Havilland portrayed the late Queen Mother of England, while Fontaine was cast as Queen Ludmilla in 1994’s “Good King Wenceslas” on TV.
