The star was the first woman to lead the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1965, and her 1943 lawsuit against Warner Bros. changed Hollywood forever.
In 1965, many important things happened. The U.S. Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which made racial discrimination in voting illegal, and labor unions had the support of 71 percent of Americans.
That same year, actress Olivia de Havilland made history as the first woman to lead the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. She and her fellow jurors gave the top prize to a British comedy called “The Knack … And How to Get It,” which showcased the lively culture of London and featured Jane Birkin’s first movie appearance.
Back in 1943, de Havilland sued Warner Bros. The studio, like many others, tried to extend performers’ contracts by claiming any day they didn’t work didn’t count towards their contract time. This meant contracts could last much longer than the legal limit of seven years. In 1944, the court ruled in de Havilland’s favor, stating that contracts couldn’t be extended past seven calendar years. This decision, known as the “De Havilland Law,” gave performers more freedom and shifted power to talent agencies.
This year, during a time of significant labor activity, Greta Gerwig will become the second American woman to lead the Cannes jury. Gerwig’s film “Barbie” was the highest-grossing film of 2023 and the 14th highest-grossing film ever. She will be the 12th female jury president since the festival began in 1939 and the second female director in the role. The first was Jane Campion in 2014.