Happy 100th Birthday Olivia de Havilland

Gone With The Wind is one of my Mommy’s favorite movies and has become a classic one of mine as well.

For the woman who played the role of faithful wife to Ashley Wilkes – Olivia De Havilland is the film’s only surviving actor.  Today she turned 100 years young!

Born in Tokyo on July 1, 1916, to British parents, de Havilland and her younger sister Joan Fontaine grew up in California and both became Academy Award-winning lead actresses (the only pair of siblings to do so). Reportedly, Fontaine had originally been approached for the role of Melanie in “GWTW,” but wanted to play Scarlett O’Hara.  She suggested her sister for the part instead.

De Havilland, who appeared in “GWTW” when she was in her early 20s, ultimately went on to star in dozens of movies and TV shows, winning two Oscars (for 1947’s “To Each His Own” and 1950’s “The Heiress”) before stepping away from the spotlight in 1988.

If you haven’t seen her body of work, take a break from the barbecue and fireworks to check her out.  Like the iconic films in which she starred…Olivia de Havilland is a class act.