Learn How to Pronounce Olivia de Havilland | YouPronounce.it
How to Pronounce Olivia de Havilland
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Meaning and Context
Olivia de Havilland, born in Tokyo in 1916 to British parents, was a legendary British-American actress whose seven-decade career defined Hollywood's Golden Age. She achieved cinematic immortality with her Oscar-winning performances in To Each His Own (1946) and The Heiress (1949), and her iconic portrayal of the gentle Melanie Hamilton in the 1939 epic Gone with the Wind. Beyond her filmography, which includes classics like The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and The Snake Pit (1948), de Havilland left a profound legal legacy. Her landmark 1944 lawsuit against Warner Bros., known as the "de Havilland Law," successfully challenged the studio system's oppressive long-term contracts, liberating actors from indentured servitude and reshaping the entertainment industry. Her grace, formidable talent, and resilience cemented her status as an enduring icon of both British and American film history until her passing in Paris in 2020.
Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings
The name "Olivia de Havilland" has a consistent and elegant spelling, but several common errors and points of confusion arise. The most frequent mistake is the misspelling of "Havilland" as "Haviland," omitting the second 'l'. This is likely due to the influence of the similarly spelled Haviland china. Another common typo is "de Havilland" written as "DeHavilland" or "De Havilland" without the proper lowercase 'd' for the preposition "de." Her first name is occasionally misspelled as "Oliva," dropping the 'i'. Furthermore, the hyphen in "British-American" is sometimes incorrectly omitted or replaced with a slash. It is also worth noting that her sister, actress Joan Fontaine, was born Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland but used a stage name, leading to occasional confusion in familial references.
Example Sentences
Film scholars often cite Olivia de Havilland's victory in the 1944 "de Havilland Law" case as a pivotal moment in dismantling the Hollywood studio system.
In Gone with the Wind, Olivia de Havilland's performance as the kind-hearted Melanie provides a crucial moral counterpoint to Scarlett O'Hara's ruthless ambition.
To prepare for her role in The Snake Pit, de Havilland conducted extensive research at mental institutions, demonstrating her deep commitment to her craft.
The enduring rivalry between Olivia de Havilland and her sister, Joan Fontaine, remains a subject of fascination for classic Hollywood biographers.
Throughout her later life in Paris, Olivia de Havilland remained a dignified link to a bygone era of cinematic elegance.
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