Olivia de Havilland made it to 102 years old on July 1, 2018 — but the beloved screen star is still regretting Hollywood’s most famous feud. Her legendary squabbling with sister Joan Fontaine created many of showbiz’s most awkward moments. The siblings had a deep dislike for each other going back to childhood. That rivalry only got worse when they both landed in Hollywood and began fighting over stardom! Get all the shocking details on of how one of Old Hollywood’s most shocking scandals rivaled the hatred between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis…
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Olivia (at right) starred in "Gone With The Wind" and won Oscars for "To Each Their Own" and "The Heiress." Joan starred in "Rebecca" and "Jane Eyre," winning an Oscar for Alfred Hitchcock's "Suspicion." But bad blood started early — with their mother insisting Joan change her name after Olivia became a movie star first!
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When Joan won her Best Actress Oscar for 1941's "Suspicion," Olivia — nominated that same year for "Hold Back The Dawn" — refused to shake her hand. "She was haughty to me after that," Olivia later complained.
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Then, after Olivia won an Oscar for 1946's "To Each His Own," she brushed off her sister's attempt to congratulate her as she left the stage. “I went over to congratulate her,’’ Fontaine recalled. “as I would have done to any winner. She took one look at me, ignored my hand, clutched her Oscar and wheeled away.’’
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It was soon understood in Hollywood that the sisters (seen here politely posing with Dorothy Lamour) could never be invited to the same event. According to Joan, Olivia didn't even invite her to their mother's memorial service!
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"Their life was a constant battle of egos," said a source close to Fontaine,
who passed away in 2013 at the age of 96. "They each made halfhearted attempts at reconciliation over the years, but the truces never lasted. Joan would not bury the hatchet."
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Joan's bitterness grew so intense, she once remarked: "I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia did, and if I die first, she'll undoubtedly be livid!" But insiders told
The National ENQUIRER that Joan's death had ultimately left Olivia remorseful.
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"When Joan was alive, it was easy for Olivia to hate her," a friend told The ENQUIRER. "Now, Olivia says if she could take it all back — the sniping, the bad blood and the feuds waged through their children — she would."
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"Olivia realizes she wasted years by not extending an olive branch to Joan," said the insider, "and she can't get past the guilt. We always worried that when one sister passed away, it would be hard for the other to carry on, knowing how they perpetuated this feud for so long!"
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The children of the two stars tried to break past the family feud. "Joan's daughters and Olivia's children all love each other and keep in touch, but they suffered the terrible weight of Olivia and Joan's battles," said the insider. "Looking back, Olivia feels horrible about it now!"
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Olivia, however, was able to do one last kindness for Joan after her death. Friends said that Joan's death made Olivia give up
plans to write an autobiography that would have taken her sister to task. "Her heart just isn't into doing that anymore," said the source. "She's finally letting the old grudges die with Joan!"
Olivia (at right) starred in "Gone With The Wind" and won Oscars for "To Each Their Own" and "The Heiress." Joan starred in "Rebecca" and "Jane Eyre," winning an Oscar for Alfred Hitchcock's "Suspicion." But bad blood started early — with their mother insisting Joan change her name after Olivia became a movie star first!
When Joan won her Best Actress Oscar for 1941's "Suspicion," Olivia — nominated that same year for "Hold Back The Dawn" — refused to shake her hand. "She was haughty to me after that," Olivia later complained.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Then, after Olivia won an Oscar for 1946's "To Each His Own," she brushed off her sister's attempt to congratulate her as she left the stage. “I went over to congratulate her,’’ Fontaine recalled. “as I would have done to any winner. She took one look at me, ignored my hand, clutched her Oscar and wheeled away.’’
Photo credit: Getty Images
It was soon understood in Hollywood that the sisters (seen here politely posing with Dorothy Lamour) could never be invited to the same event. According to Joan, Olivia didn't even invite her to their mother's memorial service!
Photo credit: Getty Images
"Their life was a constant battle of egos," said a source close to Fontaine,
who passed away in 2013 at the age of 96. "They each made halfhearted attempts at reconciliation over the years, but the truces never lasted. Joan would not bury the hatchet."
Photo credit: Getty Images
Joan's bitterness grew so intense, she once remarked: "I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia did, and if I die first, she'll undoubtedly be livid!" But insiders told
The National ENQUIRER that Joan's death had ultimately left Olivia remorseful.
Photo credit: Getty Images
"When Joan was alive, it was easy for Olivia to hate her," a friend told The ENQUIRER. "Now, Olivia says if she could take it all back — the sniping, the bad blood and the feuds waged through their children — she would."
Photo credit: Getty Images
"Olivia realizes she wasted years by not extending an olive branch to Joan," said the insider, "and she can't get past the guilt. We always worried that when one sister passed away, it would be hard for the other to carry on, knowing how they perpetuated this feud for so long!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
The children of the two stars tried to break past the family feud. "Joan's daughters and Olivia's children all love each other and keep in touch, but they suffered the terrible weight of Olivia and Joan's battles," said the insider. "Looking back, Olivia feels horrible about it now!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
Olivia, however, was able to do one last kindness for Joan after her death. Friends said that Joan's death made Olivia give up
plans to write an autobiography that would have taken her sister to task. "Her heart just isn't into doing that anymore," said the source. "She's finally letting the old grudges die with Joan!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
