” ms. fontaine , wearing a beautiful gown , was accused by a few critics of being over - dressed in this photo .
it was hitchcock , with his penchant for " cool blondes , " who brought fontaine to the forefront when he cast her as the second mrs. de winter in rebecca ( 1940 ) , the director 's american debut .
ap joan fontaine , an academy award - winning actress whose delicate beauty made her a movie star in the 1940s and who excelled at portraying romantic vulnerability in such films as alfred hitchcock ’s “ suspicion ” and “ rebecca , ” died dec. 15 at her home in carmel , calif. she was 96 .
joan fontaine , the polished actress who achieved stardom in the early 1940s with memorable performances in the alfred hitchcock films suspicion -- for which she earned the best actress oscar over her bitter rival , sister olivia de havilland -- and rebecca , has died .
ms. fontaine was the younger sister of oscar - winning actress olivia de havilland , with whom she endured one of the longest - running sibling feuds on record .
an assistant to ms. fontaine confirmed the death to the hollywood reporter .
the hollywood reporter awards analyst scott feinberg spoke with fontaine 's assistant , susan pfeiffer , who confirmed the actress ' death of natural causes sunday at her home in carmel , calif. fontaine earned a third best actress oscar nomination for her role in the constant nymph ( 1943 ) .
a year later , hitchcock placed her opposite cary grant in suspicion , and she won the oscar for her turn as
six years later , she earned her only oscar , opposite cary grant in “ suspicion ” as a rich bride uncertain whether her ne’er - do - well bridegroom the star of the hitchcock classics " suspicion " and " rebecca " famously won an oscar in 1942 over her bitter rival -- her older sister , olivia de havilland .