The Girl on the Balcony

April 16, 2018
In this chatty memoir, Argentinian actress Hussey, best known from Romeo & Juliet, describes what happened after she hit the cinematic equivalent of the lottery in 1966. She was just 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her as Juliet in his eagerly awaited film adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy. After long days of shooting in Italy and “magic nights, shot through with stardust,” the film premiered in 1968, and the movie’s teenage stars “suddenly had two of the most recognizable faces in the world” (16-year-old Leonard Whiting was cast as Romeo). At 20, Hussey married the son of singer Dean Martin, and, for the next four decades, through motherhood and two more marriages, she built a Hollywood career, described in brief anecdotes about famous colleagues from Bette Davis to Laurence Olivier. Hussey credits yogi Swami Muktananda, whom she met in the 1970s, for helping her “feel an ocean of compassion” despite working in an industry that “floats on a vicious undercurrent of slime.” Hussey touches on the various problems she’s faced with alcohol addiction, agoraphobia, and cancer, and how she came to believe, “We are built to heal.” With a light touch, Hussey beautifully sketches the life that followed her memorable turn as “that girl on the balcony.” Agent: Rob Kirkpatrick, the Stuart Agency.

June 1, 2018
The girl from Shakespeare's balcony opens up in a debut memoir.In 1968, director Franco Zeffirelli came to London to cast fresh new faces for the roles of Romeo and Juliet in his forthcoming film adaptation. Born in Argentina, Hussey moved to the U.K. in the late 1950s and eventually joined the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. "I had known I wanted to be an actress since the age of four," writes the author, "though I didn't start to take my career seriously until I was eight--when, over breakfast one morning, I announced, 'I think it's about time I started taking my career seriously.' " It was this determination that landed her the role of Juliet. Here, Hussey looks back at the many aspects of her experience working with Zeffirelli, from the annoying things he did to tease her during her audition to his powerlessness in the face of the rising ego of a growing diva. But the author doesn't just focus on Romeo & Juliet. Hussey travels through most of her life, moving from one anecdote to the next--e.g., she once lived in the house where Sharon Tate was murdered--and chronicling her relationships and acting roles. In the process, the author provides insight into the approach she took in her professional life, her techniques, and her impressions about her practice. Though her life has been punctuated by bouts of agoraphobia, the devastating loss of her first husband and her separation from her second, and stage 4 breast cancer, Hussey maintains an engaging narrative voice that oozes strength and determination. As a result, this memoir will surely lure readers into binge-watching all of her films, either all over again or for the very first time. A fun peek into the turbulent life of a 1960s sweetheart.

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June 15, 2018

Hussey may not be a household name today, but in the late 1960s, the actress became a superstar at 16, when she was plucked from obscurity to play Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's groundbreaking film version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Born in Argentina but living in London, Hussey's youth helped her hit the pinnacle of success but played against her in real life as immaturity and lack of experience led her to fall prey to the pressures of Hollywood (she was raped by a fellow actor) and to make bad decisions regarding her career and money. She married young to Dean Martin's son, Dino, who died tragically in a plane accident while serving with the National Guard (two more marriages followed). Hussey also battled cancer and lost all of her money to unscrupulous managers. Though her real life story has some Shakespearean elements, it did not end in tragedy. She's found peace with a guru and a fulfilling family life (her son, Alexander, helped coauthor this book). VERDICT A cautionary tale of Hollywood that will appeal to film students as well as celebrity watchers, who will enjoy Hussey's insider perspective.--Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA

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