She dreamed of the role of Melania in “Gone with the Wind”. She received her first Oscar nomination for it

She made her stage debut in 1933 in “Alice in Wonderland”. She appeared on the screen for the first time two years later in the film “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, becoming one of the most promising of the young generation. When she signed a seven-year contract with Warner Brothers, she believed that she would soon make a spectacular career.

The contract with Warner Brothers was an opportunity and a curse for her. The role in “Gone with the Wind” developed her career

In the second half of the 1930s, she only strengthened her position in Hollywood. She played in “Captain Blood” or “The Adventures of Robin Hood”, but the roles did not meet her expectations and ambitions. When she heard that David O. Selznick was starting the film, she knew the role of Melanie was perfect for her. However, conflicted with the director, Jack L. Warner did not want to agree to his star appearing in a competition film. To make her dream come true, Havilland enlisted the help of his wife. The woman’s intervention was successful. In the legendary production, the actress played the role of a seemingly delicate and fragile woman. Her acting performance was appreciated not only by viewers, but also by critics. It was then that she was nominated for an Oscar for the first time, but eventually the statuette went to another artist.

The role in was a breakthrough in Havilland’s career. She received many offers, but the contract with Warner Brothers prevented her from developing. In the end, she decided to end her cooperation with the studio. The label did not want to agree to terminate the contract and the case went to court. The actress successfully ended her two-year battle. It was then that the “Havilland law” was established, which still governs the duration of contracts to this day. Soon after, in 1946, Havilland landed a role in which she truly discovered her potential and skills. She played the role of Miss Josephine Norris in Mitchell Leisen’s drama The Last Love. This production brought her her first Oscar. She repeated her success three years later, receiving an Academy Award for her performance in William Wyler’s The Heiress.

Her sister has been her competition since she was a child. There was never a truce

The actress had an equally talented sister, Joan Fontaine, but she lived in her shadow for many years. Apparently, the conflict between the stars was born in childhood, when the mother favored Olivia, allowing her much more freedom. Their difficult relationship became extremely loud when in 1942 both were nominated for an Oscar and in addition in the same category. It was then that Fontaine received the statuette.

At this news, Havilland happily exclaimed, “We made it.” The sister, however, did not want to “share” the prize and did not accept the congratulations. When the situation turned around a few years later, she was treated the same way. “My sister was born a lion, I was born a tiger. According to the law of the jungle, we cannot live in friendship – said the star of “Gone With the Wind”. Joan Fontaine died on December 15, 2013 and Olivia de Havilland passed away 7 years later on July 26, 2020. The actresses never found an agreement.