Happy Birthday, Olivia de Havilland

Celebrating Her 99th Birthday

Today we're wishing a true Hollywood great, and one of the original ladies of the Golden Age of Hollywood—Olivia de Havilland—a happy 99th birthday!

Born July 1, 1916, in Tokyo to English parents, de Havilland and family moved to California along with her younger sister, Joan Fontaine (yes, that Joan Fontaine!), in 1919—though her father eventually relocated back to England. Her mother Lillian was an actress and though she retired from the profession upon becoming a mother she continued to impress upon her daughters the importance of the fine arts and acting by teaching them Shakespeare and music.

Olivia made her screen debut in the Oscar-winning 1935 "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with James Cagney and Dick Powell, where she played the role of Hermia. Along with the role she earned a coveted seven-year contract with Warner Bros.

Dick Powell as Lysander romancing Olivia de Havilland as Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream — Dick Powell as Lysander romancing Olivia de Havilland as Hermia in "*A Midsummer Night's Dream."*

The studio soon paired her with one of the leading men of the day—Errol Flynn—and it was onscreen magic. Her first screen appearance with Flynn was in the 1935 adventure drama "Captain Blood," which was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. The pair went on to shoot eight pictures together.

Sumptuously costumed de Havilland as Arabella Bishop and Flynn as Dr. Peter Blood in Captain Blood — Sumptuously costumed de Havilland as Arabella Bishop and Flynn as Dr. Peter Blood in "*Captain Blood."*

Of course, de Havilland is probably best known for her role as Scarlett O'Hara's soft-hearted cousin Melanie Hamilton in "Gone with the Wind." Though it is not without controversy for its sympathetic view of the Antebellum South, it is one of the most popular and profitable movies of all time. It is #4 on the American Film Institute's Top 100 films and will no doubt continue to inspire filmmakers for generations to come.

In a publicity photo as Melanie for Gone with the Wind — In a publicity photo as Melanie for "*Gone with the Wind."*

Behind-the-scenes with de Havilland and Ric Holt as Beau Wilkes (11 months) seated on her lap. Alongside her are director Victor Fleming and Phillip Trent as a hungry solider.

Her career continued to thrive after "Gone with the Wind" and de Havilland went on to make films and television appearances into the 1970s and '80s. Having had a full and successful career, the actress eventually retired to Paris. Take a look through this photo gallery for an even closer look at Olivia's life and film career in photos.

Olivia de Havilland - The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) — Olivia de Havilland in "*The Adventures of Robin Hood.*" (1938)

Olivia de Havilland - Publicity Photo — Olivia de Havilland in an undated early publicity photo.

Olivia de Havilland - The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) — Olivia de Havilland in "*The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex*." (1939)

The 26-year-old de Havilland in one of the publicity shots released for the 1943 romantic comedy Princess O'Rourke, which won the Oscar for "Best Screenplay." — Olivia de Havilland in "*Princess O'Rourke*." (1943)

Olivia de Havilland — A glamorous de Havilland in this publicty photo

Olivia de Havilland - Government Girl — Olivia de Havilland in "*Government Girl*." (1943)