Olivia de Havilland is remembered for taking Warner Bros. to court in the 1940s and winning; her victory granted actors freedom from the iron-clad contracts which kept them in virtual servitude to the studios. De Havilland, who turns 101 on July 1st, was also the first female president of the Cannes Film Festival jury in 1965. That year she was, in fact, the only woman on the jury. (The 70th Cannes Film Fest opens today.)
De Havilland gave an interview recently in which she stated, "There was, indeed, a distinction in the status of actors and that of actresses: actors were paid more than actresses for equivalent work. Bette Davis was a ferocious defender of the status of actresses in all its aspects. I am astounded to learn that the battle continues at this late date."
