Olivia de Havilland Resilience through independence
T he unforgettable actress who played Melanie Hamilton in Gone with the Wind (1939) lived to the age of 104 thanks to a “steely” strength of character. Her departure from Hollywood to Paris in 1953 protected her from the stress of the industry. By managing her own affairs and legal legacy, she powerfully maintained a purpose in her life. Her rule of the three Ls (Love, Laughter and Learning), coupled with a rigorous intellectual discipline, preserved her hippocampus from the toxic effects of cortisol until she drew her last breath.
Louise Bourgeois Art as immune catharsis
T he French visual artist Louise Bourgeois, who died at the age of 98, used sculpture to externalise the traumas of her childhood. The therapeutic function of art is a powerful driver for survival; by turning her complex emotions (anger, fear) into monumental artworks (including her extraordinary spiders), she limited chronic inflammation linked to emotional stress. Her physical commitment in the studio and Sunday salons, where artists of all generations would meet, maintained her sharpness and social connections at the highest level.
ELITENESS 2026 | Vitality
47
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software