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Hollywood's Last Golden Girl Reminisces

De Havilland on her career, legendary chemistry with Flynn

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 14, 2009 9:59 AM CDT

(Newser) – Seventy years after Gone with the Wind, Olivia de Havilland talks to the Independent about her similarities to Melanie Hamilton, what it was really like to work during the golden age of Hollywood, and her relationship with Errol Flynn. Though nothing ever happened between the frequent costars, “What I felt for Errol Flynn was not a trivial matter at all,” de Havilland says. “I felt terribly attracted to him.”

Of Melanie, de Havilland—who nursed an ex-husband and a son through terminal cancer—says, “I would say that she is the person that I would like to be.” Though she is perhaps best known for the role, de Havilland’s career opened up after she won a landmark 1943 court battle against the Hollywood studios—until that point, “You were a great celebrity but also a slave,” she says.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (3)]

circa 1935: Studio portrait of British-born actor Olivia de Havilland. (Getty Images)

1935: Promotional headshot portrait of actor Olivia de Havilland for director Ray Enright's film, 'Alibi Ike.' (Getty Images)

Olivia de Havilland attends her Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' tribute at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on June 15, 2006 in Beverly Hills, California. (Getty Images)

1940: Australian-born actor Errol Flynn (1909-1959) sits on the deck of his yacht, holding a large hook with a rope coiled on his knee. (Getty Images)

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I didn't reject him. You know, I was also very attracted to him. But I said that nothing could happen while he was still with Lili. I said that he had to resolve things with Lili first. But, you know, he never did. - Olivia de Havilland, on Errol Flynn

All of Hollywood was convinced that Gone with the Wind would be a colossal disaster. But not me. I believed in it. I knew that it would be a very successful movie because it had a real story to tell about real people. - Olivia de Havilland

I want to try to explain what the 1930s—the golden age of Hollywood—was truly like. How I had to present myself to make-up by 6:30 AM and work until late in the evening. How I had to make five movies in my first year.
- Olivia de Havilland

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Hollywood's Last Golden Girl Reminisces