Hollywood Studio Magazine (1977)

An interview with Olivia De Havilland By Ruth Weeks (This interview appeared in ‘Curtain Call”’ Nov. 1964 the Vivien Leigh Film Fan Club publication.) HOW WERE YOU CHOSEN FOR THE ROLE OF MELANIE IN “GONE WITH THE WIND? The first Director, George Cukor, telephoned me one day to say that he had heard through my sister Joan Fontaine that I was interested in the role of Melanie. He asked me to come into his office to read for him; I did so, and a few days later, read a second time for David Selznick, the producer, at his home. Mr. Selznick immediately decided that it was I whom he wished to have play Melanie in the film. WHAT WAS THE EASIEST AND THE HARDEST SCENE FOR YOU TO DO IN “GONE WITH THE WIND”? I think that all the scenes were equally difficult as, without exception, they involved a delicate characterization of the very individual personality of Melanie. DID YOU DO ANY SPECIAL RESEARCH BEFORE DOING THE ROLE? I read “Gone With the Wind” straight through for the second time, underlining every description of Melanie and marking each page where any action of hers occurred. I then studied many times these particular descriptions and scenes. I further examined a number of costume books so as to acquaint myself with the hairdress and the garments of the period. In addition, of course, I learned the correct Southern accent of the county in Georgia from which Melanie came. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN THE FILM, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU SEE THE FILM TODAY? I have seen the film about six times and most recently at its second opening in Atlanta in the Spring of 1961. I was even more impressed by it then, than I was the first time I saw it. IS THERE A SPECIAL ROLE THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO Olivia DeHavilland’s most recent movie role was in ‘“‘Airport”’ for Universal. PLAY, EITHER ON THE STAGE OR IN A FILM? I have always thought it would be fascinating to play a nun and a rather dissolute woman—if possible in the same film. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR RELAXATION? I like skiing lessons, to go for long walks, to read, to embroider, to paint. WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITE ROLE THAT YOU HAVE DONE? I have loved many roles by my favorites have been: MELANIE of ‘‘Gone With the Wind,’ VIRGINIA CUNNINGHAM in “The Snake Pit’? and CATHERINE SLOPPER in “‘The Heiress.”’ DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR CHILDREN WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOT-STEPS? I am certain that my son, although he is a boy with a very wide range of interests, will not be attracted by the theater as far as making a profession of it is concerned. My daughter, on the other hand, is very creative, very artistic, and is very possibly gifted as a future actress. It is however a life I am not particularly anxious to have her lead. WHICH MEDIUM DO YOU PREFER DOING, STAGE, FILMS, OR TV? I like the theater and the cinema equally well but on rather different terms. HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT SEEING “GONE WITH THE WIND” WHEN SO MANY OF YOUR FELLOW PLAYERS WERE DECEASED?” “IT thought I’d feel sad with Clark Gable gone so recently, but the moment the picture began, it was just as though we had never been separated. To sit and watch Clark, Ward Bond, Leslie Howard, and Hattie McDaniels all gone and yet so close to my heart up there on the screen, seemed to bridge time.” Miss Weeks continued, ‘““True so many who were in the picture will live on as long as there is a theatre to show it in. Olivia was my favorite even though Gable and Leigh were supposed to be the favorite ones. I shall never forget the tenderness with which she played the role of Miss Melanie.” A HOLLYWOOD STUDIO Magazine 31