Final answer:
Olivia de Havilland sued to work at any studio of her choice, leading to a legal victory that established the De Havilland Law, which allowed actors greater freedom in choosing their studios after their contracts expired.
Step-by-step explanation:
The actress who famously sued to work at any studio of her choice was Olivia de Havilland. The Olivia de Havilland lawsuit in the 1940s is a landmark legal case in Hollywood history that significantly altered the balance of power between studios and contract artists. This case led to the De Havilland Law, which put an end to the oppressive long-term studio contracts that essentially bound actors to a single studio. Olivia de Havilland's legal victory gave artists the freedom to work at any studio they chose once their initial contract had expired and was no longer than seven years including options.