‘Romeo and Juliet’ lawsuit dismissed again as court rules actors consented to nude scene

A judge has dismissed a second lawsuit over the 1968 'Romeo and Juliet' nude scene, citing the actors’ consent.

A judge has dismissed a second lawsuit filed by actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting over the nude scene in the 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet."

The lawsuit, initially filed in 2022, alleged that director Franco Zeffirelli misled the actors, who were 16 and 17 at the time, into appearing nude. The scene in question includes a shot of Whiting’s bare buttocks and a brief glimpse of Hussey’s breasts.

The actors’ original lawsuit was dismissed in May 2023 due to statute of limitations concerns. They refiled in February 2024, arguing that a 2023 Criterion re-release, featuring a digital restoration, triggered a new statute of limitations. However, Judge Holly J. Fujie rejected that claim, ruling on Monday that the re-release did not significantly alter the film, particularly the bedroom scene, enough to revisit the previous ruling.

In her ruling, Fujie emphasized that both Hussey and Whiting had contracts with the film’s producers, signifying their consent to participate. She also noted their subsequent conduct, including public appearances and interviews where they did not object to the film’s continued distribution, as evidence of implied ratification.

The actors' attorney, William Romaine, expressed his intent to appeal the ruling, stating that it was improper for the judge to make findings about consent and the restoration at this stage of the case.