Leigh, Vivien

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'''Vivien Mary, Lady Olivier''' (November 5 1913 – July 8 1967), known as '''Vivien Leigh''', was a world famous [[English]] [[actor|actress]] who ironically won two [[Academy Awards]] for her portrayal of "[[southern bell]]s". She was the first non-American to win a "Best Actress" Oscar. Her thrity-year career was marked by two marriages, one child, severe bouts of [[depression]], and laud and praise for her talent. Leigh was a classic beauty, her trademarkes were her green eyes and her cat-like smile, which she made famous in her role as [[Scarlett O'Hara]] in [[Margaret Mitchell]]'s ''[[Gone with the Wind]]''.
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{{Infobox person
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| name          = Vivien Leigh
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| image        = Vivien_Leigh_Scarlet.jpg
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| caption      = Vivien Leigh as [[Scarlett O'Hara]] in ''[[Gone with the Wind (1939 film)|Gone with the Wind]]'' (1939)
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| birth_name    = Vivian Mary Hartley
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| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1913|11|5|mf=y}}
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| birth_place  = [[Darjeeling]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]
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| death_date    = {{death date and age|1967|7|8|1913|11|5|mf=y}}
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| death_place  = [[Belgravia]], [[London]], England
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| nationality  = British
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| education    = [[Loreto Convent, Darjeeling|Loreto Convent]]<br />[[Woldingham School|Convent of the Sacred Heart]]<br />[[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
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| occupation    = Actress
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| notable_works = {{plainlist|
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* ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]''
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* ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (1951 film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]''
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* ''[[Tovarich (musical)|Tovarich]]''
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}}
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| years_active  = 1935–1967
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| title        = Lady Olivier (1947–1960)<br />Vivien, Lady Olivier (1960–1967)
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| spouse        = Herbert Leigh Holman​<br />(m. 1932; div. 1940)<br />​
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Laurence Olivier​<br />(m. 1940; div. 1960)
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| partner      = [[John Merivale]] (1960–1967)
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| children      = [[Suzanne Farrington]]
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| awards        = [[#Accolades|List of awards and nominations]]
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| signature    = Vivien Leigh signature.png
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}}
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'''Vivien Mary, Lady Olivier''' (November 5, 1913 – July 8, 1967), known as '''Vivien Leigh''', was an [[United Kingdom|English]] [[actor|actress]] who won two [[Academy Awards]] for her portrayals of [[United States|American]] "[[southern belle]]s." She was the first non-American to win a "Best Actress" Oscar. Her award winning roles were as Scarlett O'Hara in ''Gone with the Wind'' (1939) and as Blanche DuBois in ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' (1951), a role she had also played in London's West End. She also won a [[Tony Award]] for her Broadway debut in the musical version of ''Tovarich'' in 1963.
  
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In her 30-year career she made only 20 films, most of them in the 1930s. Her life was marked by two marriages, one child, severe bouts of [[Depression (psychology)|depression]], [[tuberculosis]] and world renown for her beauty and talent.
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{{toc}}
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She frequently worked in collaboration with her second husband, [[Laurence Olivier]], who also directed her in several roles. Their life together was full of romance and tragedy, making them one of [[Hollywood]]'s most glamorous couples.
  
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==Early life and acting career==
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==Early life==
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Vivien Leigh was born as Vivian Mary Hartley in [[Darjeeling]], [[United Kingdom|British]] [[India]] just before the outbreak of [[World War I]]. The only child of Ernest Hartley and Gertrude Robinson Yackje, they lived in India during a time when a simple officer in the [[British Indian Army|Indian Cavalry]] could live like a king. Her father was British, while her mother was of [[France|French]] and [[Ireland|Irish]] descent.<ref>Anne Edwards, ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'' (Coronet Books, 1978, ISBN 0671224964), 12.</ref>
  
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Vivian Leigh was born as Vivian Mary Hartley in [[Darjeeling]], [[British Raj|British India]] just before the outbreak of [[World War I]]. An only child, her parents, Ernest Hartley and Gertrude Robinson Yackje, moved to India during a time when a simple officer in the [[British Indian Army|Indian Cavalry]] could live like a king in India. Her father was [[English people| English]], while her mother was of [[France|French]] and [[Ireland|Irish]] descent.<ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X p 12</ref>
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Leigh made her first appearance on stage at the age of three. She recited "Little Bo Peep" in her mother's amateur theater group production. Leigh was introduced to authors [[Hans Christian Andersen]], [[Lewis Carroll]], and [[Rudyard Kipling]] by her mother, who instilled in her an appreciation of [[literature]] and [[art]]. Leigh particularly loved the stories from [[Greek mythology]].  
  
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At the young age of three, Leigh was already appearing on stage. She recited "Little Bo Peep" in her mother's amateur theatre group production. Leigh was introduced to [[Hans Christian Andersen]], [[Lewis Carroll]], and [[Rudyard Kipling]] at a very young age, and her mother was responsible for her good education and her appreciation of literature and art. Leigh particularly loved the stories from [[Greek mythology]] and was often found reading them with her mother.
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Leigh was sent to England for her formal education when her mother became worried that she would not receive proper instruction in Bangalore. Leigh was sent to the "Convent of the Sacred Heart" in Roehampton in 1920. Her first stage appearances at school were in [[Shakespeare]]'s ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (playing the fairy), and in ''The Tempest'' (as Miranda). She studied [[ballet]], played the [[cello]] in the school orchestra, and excelled at [[piano]] - taking her music exam at the [[Royal Academy of Music]] when she was a teenager.
  
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As a young girl, Leigh was sent to England for her education, as her mother was worried that she wouldn't receive proper instruction in [[Bangalore]], where the family was residing at the time. Thus, Leigh was sent to the "Convent of the Sacred Heart" in [[Roehampton]] in 1920. One of the only highlights of her education at Sacred Heart was the close friendship she formed with [[Maureen O'Sullivan]] a future actress. She confided in Maureen that her greatest desire was to become "a great actress." <ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X pp 12-19</ref>
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A highlight of her education at Sacred Heart was the close friendship she formed with [[Maureen O'Sullivan]], also a future actress. She confided in Maureen that her greatest desire was to become "a great actress." <ref>Edwards, 12-19.</ref>
  
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After finishing at the "Sacred Heart", Leigh finished secondary education in [[Europe]], and upon graduation she returned to where her parents were living in England around 1931. Leigh was surprised and excited to see that her old friend, Maureen O'Sullivan had a film playing in London's [[West End of London|West End]] and this moment brought back all of the desires she had had as a child. She told her parents she had decided to become and actress and they showed their support by helping her to enroll at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA) in London.<ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X pp 25-30</ref> Her studies at RADA did not last long. In the same year she met Herbert Leigh Holman, a barrister who happened to be thirteen years older that she. Holman was not interested in "theatrical people" and in fact, disapproved of them, but he fell in love with Vivien and they were married on December 20, 1932. Their marriage was the end of her theatrical studies. She became pregnant almost immediately and gave birth to a daughter, Suzanne, on October 12, 1933.
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Her formal education included finishing schools in [[Paris]] and the Bavarian Alps. After graduation in 1931 she returned to England. Leigh was surprised and excited to see that her old friend, Maureen O'Sullivan had a film playing in [[London]]'s [[West End of London|West End]]. This inspired her to tell her parents she had decided to become and actress and as a result they helped her enroll at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA) in London.<ref>Edwards, 25-30.</ref> Her studies at RADA did not last long, however. The same year she met Herbert Leigh Holman, a barrister who was 13 years her senior. Holman was not interested in "theatrical people" and disapproved of them, but he fell in love with Vivien and they were married on December 20, 1932. She became pregnant almost immediately and gave birth to a daughter, Suzanne, on October 12, 1933.
  
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Leigh's nature did not seem to be one of motherhood at such an early age, although she loved her daughter deeply, she often felt stagnant and frustrated with the monotony of domestic life. It was at this time that Leigh accepted a small part in the film ''Things Are Looking Up'', this was her first motion picture appearance. Immediatly upon completion, Leigh hired John Gliddon as her agent. It was Gliddon who suggested a name change as he did not think "Vivian Holman" was an appropriate name for an actress. After many versions, including the name "April Morn", Leigh decided on "Vivian Leigh" for her professional name.<ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X pp 30-43</ref>
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==Acting career==
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Only ten months after her daughter's birth Leigh accepted a small part in the film ''Things Are Looking Up,'' her first motion picture appearance. Immediately upon completion, Leigh hired John Gliddon as her agent. It was Gliddon who suggested a name change as he did not think "Vivian Holman" was an appropriate name for an actress. After many versions, including the name "April Morn," Leigh decided on "Vivian Leigh" for her professional name.<ref>Edwards, 30-43.</ref>
  
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With a new agent and a new name, Vivien began her career in earnest. In 1935, she received excellent reviews for her role in the play ''The Mask of Virtue''. In one such review from the ''[[Daily Express]]'', Leigh's acting was depicted with the phrase, "a lightning change came over her face". This review would prove to be the first mention of one of Leigh's most distinguished characteristics, that of her rapid mood changes. <ref>Coleman, Terry, ''Olivier, The Authorised Biography'', Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0-7475-8306-4 p 74</ref> Her perfomance led to a film contract and one last name change, that of "Vivian" to "Vivien". Years after the highlight of her career, Leigh remembered her the influence of her first brush with fame and greatness. She said, "some critics saw fit to be as foolish as to say that I was a great actress. And I thought, that was a foolish, wicked thing to say, because it put such an onus and such a responsibility onto me, which I simply wasn't able to carry. And it took me years to learn enough to live up to what they said for those first notices. I find it so stupid. I remember the critic very well, and have never forgiven him."<ref>[http://www.vivien-leigh.com/interview.html ''Actors Talk About Acting'' - Vivien Leigh interview (1961)] Edited by John E. Boothe and Lewis Funke. Retrieved January 7, 2006</ref>
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With a new agent and a new name, Vivien began her career in earnest. In 1935, she received excellent reviews for her role in the [[drama|play]] ''The Mask of Virtue.'' Her performance led to a film contract and one last name change, that of "Vivian" to "Vivien." Years later Leigh remembered the influence of her first brush with fame and greatness:
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<blockquote>Some critics saw fit to be as foolish as to say that I was a great actress. And I thought, that was a foolish, wicked thing to say, because it put such an onus and such a responsibility onto me, which I simply wasn't able to carry. And it took me years to learn enough to live up to what they said for those first notices. I find it so stupid. I remember the critic very well, and have never forgiven him.<ref>Kendra Bean, ''Vivien Leigh: An Intimate Portrait'' (Running Press, 2013, ISBN 978-0762450992).</ref></blockquote>
  
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==Meeting Laurence Olivier==
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In 1938, Leigh appeared in another film, this time with her childhood friend, [[Maureen O'Sullivan]], along with [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]] and [[Lionel Barrymore]]. The film was ''A Yank at Oxford,'' and it marked a shift in her career, as it was the first of her films to be widely received in the [[United States]].
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[[Image:FireOverEnglandVivienLeighLaurenceOlivier.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Leigh with [[Laurence Olivier]] in ''[[Fire Over England]]'' (1937), their first collaboration]]
 
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One of the most famous couples ever to have graced Hollywood,[[Laurence Olivier]] and Vivien Leigh had a relationship that saw its many ups and downs. Olivier first say Leigh when he attended one of her performances in ''The Mask of Virtue''. After the play was over, Olivier was so impressed that he went backstage to congratulate the actress on her remarkable performance. From that moment, a friendship developed. A short time later, the two were cast  in the 1937 film ''Fire Over England''. During filming the attraction between the two was evident, and at the end of the production, the two began an affair.
 
  
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==Achieving International Success==
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During the filming of her two films in 1938, Leigh read [[Margaret Mitchell]]'s best-selling [[historical novel]] ''Gone with the Wind.'' She heard that a film version was going to be made and became very interested in playing the role of Scarlet O'Hara.<ref>Selznick wrote in a memo on February 3, 1938, "I have no enthusiasm for Vivien Leigh. Maybe I will, but as yet have never even seen a photograph of her. Will be seeing "Fire Over England" shortly, at which time of course will see Leigh…."</ref> She remarked to a journalist, "I've cast myself as Scarlett O'Hara," and the film critic C. A. Lejeune recalled a conversation with her where she made the prediction that Olivier "won't play Rhett Butler, but I shall play Scarlett O'Hara. Wait and see."<ref>Terry Coleman, ''Olivier, The Authorised Biography'' (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0747583064), 76-77, 90, 94-95. </ref>
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[[File:Gable-Leigh GWTW-b.jpg|thumb|300px| Publicity photo of [[Clark Gable]] and Vivien Leigh for ''Gone with the Wind'']]
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Leigh requested that she be placed in the running for the role of Scarlett. That month, the producer of the film, [[David Selznick]], watched Leigh's two most recent pictures. Although he never thought he would like her, Selznick was won over by Leigh's beauty and her talent. Selznick deliberated for several months, studying Leigh's work and photographs. On October 18, Selznick wrote in a confidential memo to director [[George Cukor]], "I am still hoping against hope for that new girl."<ref>David O. Selznick, ''Memo from David O. Selznick'' (New York: Modern Library, 2000, ISBN 0375755314), 184.</ref>
  
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Leigh portrayed [[Ophelia]] opposite Olivier's portrayal of [[Hamlet]] in an [[Old Vic Theatre]] production. This production was one of the first indications Olivier had to Leigh's unstable and unbalances nature. During one evening's performance, Leigh abruptly changed her mood, yelling and screaming at Olivier shortly before appearing onstage. As suddenly as she began screaming, she stopped, calmed herself down, and went out to perform without mishap or incident. By the following day, Leigh was completely normal and couldn't even remember the incident had occurred. <ref>Coleman, Terry, ''Olivier, The Authorised Biography'', Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0-7475-8350-1; p 97-98 </ref> They began living together; Holman and Olivier's wife, the actress [[Jill Esmond]], each having refused to grant either a divorce.
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When Leigh traveled to Los Angeles to be with Laurence Olivier, she had a chance meeting with Selznick's brother Myron. Myron was serving as Olivier's American agent, and he took the couple to the set of the film and introduced Leigh to his brother. Shortly after, Leigh did a formal [[audition]] and a [[screen test]] for David Selznick. After the audition Selznick wrote to his wife, "She's the Scarlett dark horse and looks damn good. Not for anyone's ear but your own: it's narrowed down to [[Paulette Goddard]], [[Jean Arthur]], [[Joan Bennett]] and Vivien Leigh." The director of the film, [[George Cukor]], agreed with Selznick and noted that the "incredible wildness" of Leigh was perfectly suited to Scarlett. Leigh was given the infamous part soon after.<ref>Ronald Haver, ''David O. Selznick's Hollywood'' (New York: Bonanza Books, 1980, ISBN 0517476657), 259.</ref>
  
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In 1938, Leigh appeared in another film, this time with her childhood friend, Maureen O'Sullivan, along with [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]] and [[Lionel Barrymore]]. The film was ''A Yank at Oxford'', and it marked a shift in her career, as it was the first of her films to be widely received in the United States. It was also the film that spurred comments by those who worked with her that she was difficult and unreasonable to work with. In fact, the film company warned her that her contract would not be renewed if behavior did not improve. <ref> Coleman, Terry, ''Olivier, The Authorised Biography'', Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0-7475-8350-1; p 97 </ref> She moved onto her next role immediately, starring in ''[[St. Martin's Lane]]'' (1938) with [[Charles Laughton]].
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The production of ''Gone with the Wind'' was fraught with difficulties. First Cukor was fired and then replaced by [[Victor Fleming]] as the new director. The change led to several conflicts between Leigh and Fleming. Leigh believed that Cukor was the man for the job, thus, along with [[Olivia de Havilland]], the two actresses met with Cukor secretly to ask advice on how the roles of Scarlett and Melanie should be played. Leigh truly admired and befriended [[Clark Gable]], his wife [[Carole Lombard]] and de Havilland. However, her relationship with [[Leslie Howard (actor)|Leslie Howard]] was tense and strained. Leigh was required to perform several of the most emotional scenes with Howard, she worked seven days a week, and often long evenings. She missed Olivier who was in [[New York City]], and she became tired and distraught. She wrote in a letter, "I loathe Hollywood…. I will never get used to this – how I ''hate'' film acting."<ref>John Russell Taylor, ''Vivien Leigh'' (Elm Tree Books, 1984, ISBN 0241113334), 22-23.</ref>
  
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==Achieving international success==
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Many rumors flowed concerning Leigh's behavior during filming. It wasn't until 2006 that [[Olivia de Havilland]] spoke out against the rumors and accusations. She said of Leigh, "Vivien was impeccably professional, impeccably disciplined on ''Gone with the Wind.'' She had two great concerns: doing her best work in an extremely difficult role and being separated from Larry (Olivier), who was in New York."<ref>Bob Thomas, [https://www.today.com/popculture/private-public-olivier-revealed-biography-wbna10618886 Private and public Olivier revealed in biography] ''The Associated Press'', December 27, 2006. Retrieved August 11, 2022.</ref>
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[[Image:Vivien-Leigh publicity still Gone-with-the-Wind.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Leigh in a 1939 publicity photograph for ''Gone with the Wind''.]]
 
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During the filming of her two films of 1938, Vivien Leigh read [[Margaret Mitchell]]'s best-selling novel ''Gone with the Wind''. Leigh heard that a film version was going to be made, and she became very interested in playing the role of Scarlet O'Hara.<ref>Selznick wrote in a memo on February 3, 1938, "I have no enthusiasm for Vivien Leigh. Maybe I will, but as yet have never even seen a photograph of her. Will be seeing "Fire Over England" shortly, at which time of course will see Leigh . . ."</ref> She remarked to a journalist, "I've cast myself as [[Scarlett O'Hara]]", and the film critic C. A. Lejeune recalled a conversation her had with Leigh where she made the prediction that Olivier "won't play [[Rhett Butler]], but I shall play Scarlett O'Hara. Wait and see."<ref>Coleman, Terry, ''Olivier, The Authorised Biography'', Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0-7475-8306-4 pp 76-77, 90, 94-95 </ref>
 
  
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Thus, in February 1938, Vivien Leigh requested that she be placed in the running for the role of Scarlett. That month, the producer of the film, [[David Selznick]], watched Leigh's two most recent pictures. Although he never thought he would like her, Selznick was won over by Leigh's beauty and her acting. After that, she was considered one of the main choices for the film.  Selznick deliberated for several months, studying Leigh's work and photographs of her in depth. On October 18, Selznick wrote in a confidential memo to director [[George Cukor]], "I am still hoping against hope for that new girl."<ref>{{cite book
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''Gone with the Wind'' brought fame to Leigh. However, she never bought into the idea of being a huge star. She once said, "I'm not a film star – I'm an actress. Being a film star—just a film star—is such a false life, lived for fake values and for publicity. Actresses go on for a long time and there are always marvelous parts to play."<ref>Taylor, 22-23.</ref>
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| first = David O.
 
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| last = Selznick
 
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| title = Memo from David O. Selznick
 
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| location = New York
 
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| publisher = Modern Library
 
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| year = 2000
 
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| pages = 184
 
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| id = ISBN 0-375-75531-4
 
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}}</ref> When Leigh travelled to Los Angeles to be with Lawrence Olivier, she had a chance meeting with Selznick's brother Myron. Myron was serving as Olivier's American agent, and he took the couple to the set of the film and introduced Leigh to his brother. Shortly after, Leigh did a formal audition and a screen test for David Selznick. After the audition, Selznick wrote to his wife, "She's the Scarlett dark horse and looks damn good. Not for anyone's ear but your own: it's narrowed down to [[Paulette Goddard]], [[Jean Arthur]], [[Joan Bennett]] and Vivien Leigh". The director of the film, George Cukor, agreed with Selznick and noted that the "incredible wildness" of Leigh was perfectly suited to Scarlett. Leigh was given the infamous part soon after.<ref>Haver, Ronald. ''David O. Selznick's Hollywood'', Bonanza Books, New York, 1980. [ISBN 0-517-47665-7]; p 259</ref>
 
  
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The production of ''Gone with the Wind" was frought with hard times. First of all Cukor was fired and replaced with [[Victor Fleming]] as the new director. This change led to several conflicts in personality between Leigh and Fleming. Leigh believed that Cukor was the man for the job, thus, along with [[Olivia de Havilland]], they met with Cukor secretly to ask advice on how the roles of Scarlett and Melanie should be played. Leigh truly admired and befriended [[Clark Gable]], his wife [[Carole Lombard]] and de Havilland. However, her relationship with  [[Leslie Howard (actor)|Leslie Howard]] was tense and strained. Leigh was required to perform several of the most emotional scenes with Howard, she also worked seven days a week, and often long evenings. She missed Olivier who was in New York, and she because tired and distraught. She wrote in a letter, "I loathe Hollywood.... I will never get used to this &ndash; how I ''hate'' film acting."<ref> Taylor, John Russell. ''Vivien Leigh'', Elm Tree Books, 1984. ISBN 0-241-11333-4, pp 22-23</ref>
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''Gone with the Wind'' was nominated for several [[Academy Awards]], winning ten of them. Among the ten were Best Actress for Leigh, who also won a [[New York Film Critics Circle]] Award for Best Actress.  
  
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Many rumors flowed concerning Leigh's behavior during the filming of one of American's most loved films. And finally, in 2006, Olivia de Havilland spoke out against the rumors and publications. She said of Leigh, "Vivien was impeccably professional, impeccably disciplined on ''Gone with the Wind''. She had two great concerns: doing her best work in an extremely difficult role and being separated from Larry [Olivier], who was in New York." <ref> [http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2006/01/04/features/books/62bbooks04olivier.txt The Washington Examiner] Bob Thomas, ''The Associated Press'', published January 3, 2006. Retrieved January 7, 2006, quoting [[Olivia de Havilland]]</ref>
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==Life with Laurence==
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[[File:Vivian Leigh Laurence Olivier That Hamilton Woman.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Leigh with [[Laurence Olivier]] in ''[[That Hamilton Woman.]]'' (1941)]]
  
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''Gone with the Wind'' brought Leigh much attention, laud, and fame. However, she never bought into the idea of being a huge star. She once said, "I'm not a film star &ndash; I'm an actress. Being a film star &ndash; just a film star &ndash; is such a false life, lived for fake values and for publicity. Actresses go on for a long time and there are always marvellous parts to play."<ref> Taylor, John Russell. ''Vivien Leigh'', Elm Tree Books, 1984. ISBN 0-241-11333-4, pp 22-23</ref>
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[[Laurence Olivier]] first saw Leigh when he attended one of her performances in ''The Mask of Virtue.'' After the play, Olivier was so impressed that he went backstage to congratulate the actress on her remarkable performance. From that moment, a friendship developed. A short time later, the two were cast in the 1937 film ''Fire Over England.''  
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''Gone with the Wind was nominated for several[[Academy Awards]], winning ten of them. Among the ten was a [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] award for Leigh, who also won a [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress]].  In 1993, her Academy Award statuette was sold at auction for $510,000. <ref> [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADA0A911635E4F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM stacks.ajc.com] "Mystery voice on phone gets GWTW Oscar for $510,000", citing ''The Atlanta Journal'', published December 16, 1993. Retrieved December 29, 2006. </ref>
 
  
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==Marriage and joint projects==
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''Because We Must'' opened on February 5, 1937. She followed this play with the role of Ophelia in ''Hamlet,'' playing opposite her new love Laurence Olivier at the Kronborg Castle in Elsinore. [[Michael Redgrave]] was a young cast member, and [[Alec Guinness]] was Olivier's understudy at the time. At this point both Vivien and Olivier's marriages were failing due to their own affair, and this resulted in separation from their spouses and moving in together in Chelsea. Olivier continued to concentrate on [[Shakespeare]], joining the Old Vic Theatre Company, while Vivien performed briefly in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' as Titania in December of 1937. It ran successfully for several months.
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In February 1940 Jill Esmond agreed to divorce Olivier, and Holman also agreed to divorce Leigh, although they maintained a strong friendship for the rest of Leigh's life. Esmond was granted custody of Tarquin, her son with Olivier, and Holman was granted custody of Suzanne, his daughter with Leigh. On August 30 Olivier and Leigh were married in [[Santa Barbara, California]], in a ceremony attended only by their witnesses, [[Katharine Hepburn]] and [[Garson Kanin]].
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{{readout||right|250px|Vivien Leigh and [[Laurence Olivier]] were one of [[Hollywood]]'s most glamorous couples}}
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During the production of ''Because We Must'' Olivier got his first glimpse of Leigh's developing mental health problems. During one performance, Leigh abruptly changed her mood, yelling and screaming at Olivier shortly before appearing onstage. As suddenly as she began screaming, she stopped, calmed herself down, and went out to perform without mishap or incident. By the following day, Leigh was completely normal and couldn't even remember the incident had occurred.<ref>Coleman, 97-98. </ref>
  
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Leigh hoped to star with Olivier and made a screentest for ''[[Rebecca (film)|Rebecca]]'', which was to be directed by [[Alfred Hitchcock]] with Olivier in the leading role, but after viewing her screentest Selznick noted that "she doesn't seem right as to sincerity or age or innocence", a view shared by Hitchcock, and Leigh's mentor, George Cukor.<ref>McGilligan, Patrick. ''Alfred Hitchcock, A Life in Darkness and Light'', ''Wiley Press'', 2003. ISBN 0-470-86973-9, p 238. </ref> Selznick also observed that she had shown no enthusiasm for the part until Olivier had been confirmed as the lead actor, and subsequently cast [[Joan Fontaine]]. He also refused to allow her to join Olivier in ''[[Pride and Prejudice (1940 film)|Pride and Prejudice]]'' (1940), and [[Greer Garson]] took the part Leigh had envisioned for herself. ''[[Waterloo Bridge (movie)|Waterloo Bridge]]'' (1940) was to have starred Olivier and Leigh, however Selznick replaced Olivier with [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]], then at the peak of his success as one of [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]'s most popular male stars. Leigh's top-billing reflected her status in Hollywood, and despite her reluctance to participate without Olivier, the film proved to be popular with audiences and critics.
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In February 1940 both Olivier and Leigh obtained divorces, with neither of them gaining custody of the children. In August of that same year the couple was married in a small wedding attended only by the two witnesses, [[Katharine Hepburn]] and [[Garson Kanin]].
  
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She and Olivier mounted a stage production of ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' for [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]. The New York press discussed the adulterous nature that had marked the beginning of Olivier and Leigh's relationship, and questioned their ethics in not returning to England to help with the [[World War II|war]] effort, and the critics were hostile in their assessment of the production. [[Brooks Atkinson]] for the ''[[New York Times]]'' wrote, "Although Miss Leigh and Mr Olivier are handsome young people they hardly act their parts at all."<ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X p 127 </ref> While most of the blame was attributed to Olivier's acting and direction, Leigh was also criticised, with [[Bernard Grebanier]] commenting on the "thin, shopgirl quality of Miss Leigh's voice." The couple had invested almost their entire savings into the project, and its failure was a financial disaster for them.<ref> Holden, Anthony, ''Olivier'', Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0-7221-4857-7, pp 189-190 </ref>
+
The couple loved working together, though Leigh met with disappointments as she was passed over for the leading lady role in Olivier's two films ''Rebecca'' directed by [[Alfred Hitchcock]] and ''Pride and Prejudice'' (1940). When the film ''Waterloo Bridge'' (1940) was being made, it was to star the couple, however, Selznick replaced Olivier with [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]]. Both Leigh and Taylor were at the top of their fame, and the film proved to be a major success.  
  
−
They filmed ''[[That Hamilton Woman]]'' (1941) with Olivier as [[Horatio Nelson]] and Leigh as [[Emma Hamilton]]. With Britain engaged in World War II, it was one of several Hollywood films made with the aim of arousing a pro-British sentiment among American audiences. The film was popular in the United States, but was an outstanding success in the [[Soviet Union]]. [[Winston Churchill]] arranged a screening for a party which included [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and, on its conclusion, addressed the group, saying, "Gentlemen, I thought this film would interest you, showing great events similar to those in which you have just been taking part." The Oliviers remained favourites of Churchill, attending dinners and occasions at his request for the rest of his life, and of Leigh he was quoted as saying, "By Jove, she's a clinker."<ref> Holden, Anthony, ''Olivier'', Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0-7221-4857-7, pp 202, 205 and 325 </ref>
+
Olivier and Leigh took a break from film work and decided to perform on the stage in a production of ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' for [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]. However, the press reviews were not favorable. [[Brooks Atkinson]], a reporter for the ''New York Times'' wrote, "Although Miss Leigh and Mr. Olivier are handsome young people they hardly act their parts at all."<ref>Edwards, 127. </ref> The play's failure caused severe financial strain for the two, who had invested almost all of their savings into the production.<ref>Anthony Holden, ''Olivier'' (Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0722148577), 189-190. </ref>
  
−
The Oliviers returned to England, and Leigh toured through [[North Africa]] in 1943, performing for troops before falling ill with a persistent cough and fevers. In 1944 she was diagnosed as having [[tuberculosis]] in her left [[lung]], but after spending several weeks in hospital, she appeared to be cured. In spring she was filming ''[[Caesar and Cleopatra]]'' (1945) when she discovered she was pregnant, but suffered a miscarriage. She fell into a deep depression which reached its nadir when she turned on Olivier, verbally and physically attacking him until she fell to the floor sobbing. This was the first of many major breakdowns related to manic-depression, or bipolar mood disorder. Olivier came to recognise the symptoms of an impending episode &ndash; several days of hyperactivity followed by a period of [[clinical depression|depression]] and an explosive breakdown, after which Leigh would have no memory of the event, but would be acutely embarrassed and remorseful.<ref>Holden, Anthony, ''Olivier'', Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0-7221-4857-7, pp 221-222 </ref>
+
The couple went on to film ''[[That Hamilton Woman]]'' (1941) a [[World War II]] film that became very successful, especially in the [[Soviet Union]]. The film was also popular in the [[United States]]. [[Winston Churchill]] was very close to the couple, and he often requested that they attend dinners and other official events. He once said of Leigh, "By Jove, she's a clinker."<ref>Holden, 202, 205, 325. </ref>
  
−
She was well enough to resume acting in 1946 in a successful London production of [[Thornton Wilder]]'s ''[[The Skin of Our Teeth]]'', but her films of this period, ''[[Caesar and Cleopatra]]'' (1945) and ''[[Anna Karenina (1948 film)|Anna Karenina]]'' (1948), were not great successes.
+
Troubles began for the couple when they returned to England. Leigh contracted [[tuberculosis]] after completing a tour through [[North Africa]]. Then she discovered she was pregnant while filming ''Caesar and Cleopatra'' (1945). A short time later she suffered a [[miscarriage]], the first of two they would experience while together. She began to verbally and physically attack Olivier, suffering her first of many breakdowns as a result of [[manic-depression]], or [[bipolar mood disorder]]. Olivier came to recognize the symptoms and was able to prepare himself for them. The episodes were followed by Leigh having no memory of the event, but feeling deeply remorseful.<ref>Holden, 221-222. </ref>. In 1947 the couple ventured to [[Buckingham Palace]] where Olivier was knighted. Leigh became Lady Olivier, a title she used the rest of her life.  
  
−
In 1947 Olivier was knighted, and Leigh accompanied him to [[Buckingham Palace]] for the investiture. She became Lady Olivier, a title she continued to use after their divorce, until she died.
+
By 1948 Olivier was on the Board of Directors for the [[Old Vic Theatre]], and to raise funds, the couple decided to tour through [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] to raise funds for the theater. The tour was long and exhausting, Leigh suffered from insomnia, and the couple fought often. At the very end of the tour, Olivier told a journalist, "You may not know it, but you are talking to a couple of walking corpses." Later he commented that he "lost Vivien" during the tour to Australia.<ref>Holden, 295. </ref>
 +
[[File:Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire.jpeg|thumb|350px|[[Marlon Brando]] and Vivien Leigh in ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' (1951)]]
  
−
By 1948 Olivier was on the Board of Directors for the [[Old Vic Theatre]], and he and Leigh embarked on a tour of [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] to raise funds for the theatre. During their six-month tour, Olivier performed ''[[Richard III]]'' and also performed with Leigh in ''[[The School for Scandal]]'' and ''The Skin of Our Teeth''. The tour was an outstanding success, and although Leigh was plagued with [[insomnia]] and allowed her understudy to replace her for a week while she was ill, she generally withstood the demands placed upon her, with Olivier noting her ability to "charm the press". Members of the company later recalled several quarrels between the couple, with the most dramatic of these occurring in [[Christchurch]] when Leigh refused to go on stage. Olivier slapped her face, and Leigh slapped him in return and swore at him before she made her way to the stage. By the end of the tour, both were exhausted and ill, and Olivier told a journalist, "You may not know it, but you are talking to a couple of walking corpses." Later he would comment that he "lost Vivien" in Australia.<ref>Holden, Anthony, ''Olivier'', Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0-7221-4857-7, pp 295 </ref>
+
Leigh followed a few stage performances with her role as [[Blanche DuBois]] in the [[West End of London|West End]] stage production of [[Tennessee Williams]]'s ''A Streetcar Named Desire.'' Leigh's run lasted 326 performances, and garnered her the same role in the film version that starred [[Marlon Brando]]. Leigh and Brando got along well, but she had conflicts with the director, [[Elia Kazan]], who felt that Leigh "had a small talent." Kazan would soon change his mind, however, saying he was "full of admiration" for "the greatest determination to excel of any actress I've known. She'd have crawled over broken glass if she thought it would help her performance."<ref>Coleman, 233-236.</ref>  
  
−
The success of the tour encouraged the Oliviers to make their first [[West End of London|West End]] appearance together, performing the same works with one addition, ''[[Antigone]]'', included at Leigh's insistence because she wished to play a role in a tragedy.
+
Vivien Leigh received her second [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for Best Actress for her role as Blanche, as well as a [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] Award and a [[New York Film Critics Circle Award]] for Best Actress. Author Tennessee Williams commented that Leigh was "everything that I intended, and much that I had never dreamed of," but in later years, Leigh said that her time as Blanche DuBois "tipped me over into madness".<ref>Holden, 312-313. </ref>
−
[[Image:VivienLeighMarlonBrandoAStreetcarNamedDesire.jpg|thumb|left|300px|As Blanche DuBois in the film version of ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' (1951), with [[Marlon Brando]]]]
 
−
Leigh next sought the role of [[Blanche DuBois]] in the [[West End of London|West End]] stage production of [[Tennessee Williams]]'s ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire]]'', and was cast after Williams and the play's producer [[Irene Mayer Selznick]] saw her in the ''The School for Scandal'' and ''[[Antigone]]'', and Olivier was contracted to direct. Containing a rape scene and references to promiscuity and homosexuality, the play was destined to be controversial, and the media discussion about its suitability added to Leigh's anxiety, but she believed strongly in the importance of the work. [[J. B. Priestley]] denounced the play and Leigh's performance, and the critic [[Kenneth Tynan]] commented that Leigh was badly miscast because British actors were "too well-bred to emote effectively on stage". Olivier and Leigh were chagrined that part of the commercial success of the play lay in audience members attending to see what they believed would be a salacious and sensationalist story, rather than the [[Greek tragedy]] that they envisioned, but the play also had strong supporters,<ref>Coleman, Terry, ''Olivier, The Authorised Biography'', Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0-7475-8306-4 pp 227-231</ref> among them [[Noël Coward]] who described Leigh as "magnificent".<ref> Holden, Anthony, ''Olivier'', Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0-7221-4857-7, p 312 </ref>
 
  
−
After 326 performances Leigh finished her run; however, she was soon engaged for the [[A Streetcar Named Desire (film)|film version]]. Her irreverent and often bawdy sense of humour allowed her to establish a rapport with her co-star [[Marlon Brando]], but she had difficulty with the director [[Elia Kazan]], who did not hold her in high regard as an actress. He later commented that "she had a small talent", but as work progressed, he became "full of admiration" for "the greatest determination to excel of any actress I've known. She'd have crawled over broken glass if she thought it would help her performance." Leigh found the role gruelling and commented to the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', "I had nine months in the theatre of Blanche DuBois. Now she's in command of me."<ref>Coleman, Terry, ''Olivier, The Authorised Biography'', Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0-7475-8306-4 pp 233-236</ref> The film won glowing reviews for her, and she won a second [[Academy Award for Best Actress]], a [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] Award and a [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress]]. Tennessee Williams commented that Leigh brought to the role "everything that I intended, and much that I had never dreamed of", but in later years, Leigh would say that playing Blanche DuBois "tipped me over into madness".<ref> Holden, Anthony, ''Olivier'', Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0-7221-4857-7, pp 312-313 </ref>
+
==Declining health==
 +
In January 1953, during the filming of ''Elephant Walk'' with [[Peter Finch]], Leigh suffered another breakdown. [[Paramount Studios]] replaced Leigh with the popular [[Elizabeth Taylor]]. Olivier brought Leigh back to their English home to recover. During this time Leigh said that she was in love with Peter Finch and had been having an affair with him. Gradually, over a period of months, Leigh made a recovery.  
  
−
==Continuing illness==
+
As a result of this breakdown many of the Olivier's friends learned just how sick Leigh had become. [[David Niven]] said she had been "quite, quite mad," and in his diary [[Noël Coward]] expressed surprise that "things had been bad and getting worse since 1948 or thereabouts."<ref>Coleman, 254-263.</ref>
−
In 1951, Leigh and Olivier performed two plays about [[Cleopatra VII|Cleopatra]], [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Antony and Cleopatra]]'' and [[George Bernard Shaw]]'s ''[[Caesar and Cleopatra]]'', alternating the play each night and winning good reviews. They took the productions to New York, where they performed a season at the [[Ziegfeld Theatre]] into 1952. The reviews there were also mostly positive, but the critic [[Kenneth Tynan]] angered them when he suggested that Leigh's was a mediocre talent which forced Olivier to compromise his own. Tynan's diatribe almost precipitated another collapse; Leigh, terrified of failure and intent on achieving greatness, dwelt on his comments, while ignoring the positive reviews of other critics.<ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X pp 196-197 </ref>
 
  
−
In January 1953 Leigh travelled to [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] to film ''[[Elephant Walk]]'' with [[Peter Finch]]. Shortly after filming commenced, she suffered a breakdown, and [[Paramount Studios]] replaced her with [[Elizabeth Taylor]]. Olivier returned her to their home in England, where between periods of incoherence, Leigh told him that she was in love with Finch, and had been having an affair with him. She gradually recovered over a period of several months. [[Image:LaurenceOlivierVivienLeighinTitusAndronicus1957.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Olivier and Leigh in the 1955 production of ''Titus Andronicus'']]
+
After Leigh recovered she played in ''The Sleeping Prince'' with Olivier in 1953. Two years later the couple performed at [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] in [[Shakespeare]]'s ''Twelfth Night,'' ''Macbeth'' and ''Titus Andronicus.'' The theater was always packed and the two received favorable reviews. Her second miscarriage threw her into another period of severe depression. Again, after recovery, the couple performed in a European tour of ''Titus Andronicus.'' The tour did not go well with Leigh becoming more frequent in her moody outbursts. Olivier took her home once again, even calling upon Leigh's ex-husband, Leigh Holman, to help calm her.
−
As a result of this episode, many of the Oliviers' friends learnt of her problems. [[David Niven]] said she had been "quite, quite mad", and in his diary [[Noël Coward]] expressed surprise that "things had been bad and getting worse since 1948 or thereabouts."<ref>Coleman, Terry, ''Olivier, The Authorised Biography'', Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0-7475-8306-4 pp 254-263</ref>
 
  
−
Leigh recovered sufficiently to play ''[[The Sleeping Prince]]'' with Olivier in 1953, and in 1955 they performed a season at [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] in Shakespeare's ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', ''[[Macbeth]]'' and ''[[Titus Andronicus]]''. They played to capacity houses and attracted generally good reviews, Leigh's health seemingly stable. [[Noël Coward]] was enjoying success with the play ''[[South Sea Bubble]]'', with Leigh in the lead role, but she became pregnant and withdrew from the production. Several weeks later, she miscarried and entered a period of depression that lasted for months. She joined Olivier for a European tour with ''Titus Andronicus'', but the tour was marred by Leigh's frequent outbursts against Olivier and other members of the company. After their return to London, her former husband Leigh Holman, who continued to exert a strong influence over her, stayed with the Oliviers and helped calm her.
+
In 1958 Leigh decided that the marriage was over, and she began another affair with the actor [[John Merivale|Jack Merivale]]. Merivale said he was aware of Leigh's condition and assured Olivier that he would take good care of her. In 1959 Leigh found more success with the Noël Coward [[comedy]] ''Look After Lulu.''  
  
−
In 1958, considering her marriage to be over, Leigh began a relationship with the actor [[John Merivale|Jack Merivale]], who knew of Leigh's medical condition and assured Olivier he would care for her. She achieved a success in 1959 with the Noël Coward comedy ''Look After Lulu'', with ''The Times'' critic describing her as "beautiful, delectably cool and matter of fact, she is mistress of every situation."<ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X pp 219-234 and 239</ref>
+
In 1960 she and Olivier formally divorced and Olivier soon afterwards married the actress [[Joan Plowright]]. In his autobiography Olivier wrote, "Throughout her possession by that uncannily evil monster, manic [[Depression (psychology)|depression]], with its deadly ever-tightening spirals, she retained her own individual canniness – an ability to disguise her true mental condition from almost all except me, for whom she could hardly be expected to take the trouble."<ref>Laurence Olivier, ''Confessions Of an Actor'' (Simon and Schuster, 1982, ISBN 0140068880), 174, </ref>
−
 
 
−
In 1960 she and Olivier divorced, and Olivier married the actress [[Joan Plowright]]. In his autobiography he discussed the years of problems they had experienced because of Leigh's illness, writing, "Throughout her possession by that uncannily evil monster, manic depression, with its deadly ever-tightening spirals, she retained her own individual canniness &ndash; an ability to disguise her true mental condition from almost all except me, for whom she could hardly be expected to take the trouble."<ref>[[Laurence Olivier|Olivier, Laurence]], ''Confessions Of an Actor'', Simon and Schuster, 1982, ISBN 0-14-006888-0 p 174 </ref>
 
  
 
==Final years and death==
 
==Final years and death==
−
Merivale proved to be a stable influence for Leigh, but despite her apparent contentment she was quoted by [[Radie Harris]] as confiding that she "would rather have lived a short life with Larry [Olivier] than face a long one without him".<ref> Walker, Alexander. ''Vivien, The Life of Vivien Leigh'', Grove Press, 1987. ISBN 0-8021-3259-6 p290 </ref>
+
Merivale kept his promise and offered a stable environment for Leigh. The couple seemed happy but Leigh was quoted by [[Radie Harris]] as confiding that she "would rather have lived a short life with Larry (Olivier) than face a long one without him."<ref>Alexander Walker, ''Vivien, The Life of Vivien Leigh'' (Grove Press, 1987, ISBN 0802132596), 290. </ref>
−
Her first husband, Leigh Holman, also spent considerable time with her. Merivale joined her for a tour of Australia, New Zealand and [[Latin America]] that lasted from July 1961 until May 1962, and Leigh enjoyed positive reviews without Olivier sharing the spotlight with her. Though she was still beset by bouts of depression, she continued to work in the theatre and in 1963 won a [[Tony Award]] for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the Broadway musical ''[[Tovarich]]''. She also appeared in the films ''[[The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone]]'' (1961) and ''[[Ship of Fools (film)|Ship of Fools]]'' (1965).<ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X pp 266-272 </ref>
 
  
−
In May 1967 she was rehearsing to appear with [[Michael Redgrave]] in [[Edward Albee]]'s ''[[A Delicate Balance]]'' when she became ill with [[tuberculosis]] but, after resting for several weeks, seemed to be recovering. On the night of July 7, Merivale left her as usual, to perform in a play, and returned home around midnight to find her asleep. About thirty minutes later (by now July 8), he returned to the bedroom and discovered her body on the floor.<ref>[http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/l/Vivien%20Leigh/DC.JPG Vivien Leigh's death certificate] </ref> She had been attempting to walk to the bathroom, and as her lungs filled with liquid, she had collapsed.<ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X pp 304-305 </ref> Merivale contacted Olivier, who was receiving treatment for [[prostate cancer]] in a nearby hospital. In his autobiography, Olivier described his "grievous anguish" as he immediately travelled to Leigh's residence, to find that Merivale had moved her body onto the bed. Olivier paid his respects, and "stood and prayed for forgiveness for all the evils that had sprung up between us",<ref>[[Laurence Olivier|Olivier, Laurence]], ''Confessions Of an Actor'', Simon and Schuster, 1982, ISBN 0-14-006888-0 pp 273-274</ref> before helping Merivale make funeral arrangements.
+
Even though Leigh was still prone to depression and anxiety she continued to act. In 1963 she won a [[Tony Award]] for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the [[Broadway]] musical ''Tovarich''. She also appeared in the films ''The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone'' (1961) and ''Ship of Fools'' (1965).<ref>Edwards, 266-272. </ref> Her last play was [[Anton Chekhov]]'s ''Ivanov'' in 1966, with [[John Gielgud]], in which she ironically played a woman who dies of [[tuberculosis]].
−
 
 
−
She was [[cremation|cremated]], and her ashes were scattered on the lake at her home, Tickerage Mill, near [[Blackboys]], [[East Sussex]], England. A memorial service was held at [[St Martin-in-the-Fields]], with a final tribute read by [[John Gielgud]]. In the United States, she became the first actress honoured by "The Friends of the Libraries at the [[University of Southern California]]". The ceremony was conducted as a memorial service, with selections from her films shown and tributes provided by such associates as [[George Cukor]].<ref>Edwards, Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography'', Coronet Books, 1978 edition. ISBN 0-340-23024-X p 306</ref>
 
  
 +
In May 1967 Vivien had another bout of [[tuberculosis]]. After seeming to be on the road to recovery, on the night of July 7, Merivale returned from a play and found Leigh sleeping peacefully. Thirty minutes later he returned to the bedroom and discovered her body on the floor. Apparently, Leigh had been attempting to walk to the bathroom but her lungs filled with liquid, causing her to collapse.<ref>Edwards, 304-305. </ref> Merivale contacted Olivier immediately. In his autobiography, Olivier described his "grievous anguish" as he traveled quickly to Leigh's home. Olivier paid his respects and "stood and prayed for forgiveness for all the evils that had sprung up between us,"<ref>Olivier, 273-274.</ref> before helping Merivale make funeral arrangements.
  
 +
Vivien Leigh was [[cremation|cremated]]. Following a memorial service, and a final tribute read by [[John Gielgud]], Leigh's ashes were scattered on the lake at her home, Tickerage Mill, near Blackboys, [[East Sussex]], [[England]]. In the United States, Leigh was the very first actress to be honored by "The Friends of the Libraries at the [[University of Southern California]]." The ceremony was conducted like a memorial. Several of her friends, including [[George Cukor]], gave tributes, mixed with clips of various films she had done.<ref>Edwards, 306.</ref>
  
 
==Awards and nominations==
 
==Awards and nominations==
Line 103: Line 121:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[1939 in film|1939]]
 
| [[1939 in film|1939]]
−
| [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] (won)<br>[[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress]] (won)
+
| [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] (won)<br/>[[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress]] (won)
 
| ''[[Gone With the Wind (film)|Gone With the Wind]]''
 
| ''[[Gone With the Wind (film)|Gone With the Wind]]''
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[1952 in film|1952]]
 
| [[1952 in film|1952]]
−
| [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] (won)<br>[[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role]] (won) <br>[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama]] (nominated) <br>[[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress]] (won)<br>[[Venice Film Festival|Venice Film Festival - Volpi Cup]] (won)
+
| [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] (won)<br/>[[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role]] (won) <br/>[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama]] (nominated) <br/>[[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress]] (won)<br/>[[Venice Film Festival|Venice Film Festival - Volpi Cup]] (won)
 
| ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]''
 
| ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]''
 
|-
 
|-
Line 114: Line 132:
 
| ''[[Tovarich (musical)|Tovarich]]''
 
| ''[[Tovarich (musical)|Tovarich]]''
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
+
<br/>
 
{{start box}}{{s-awards}}
 
{{start box}}{{s-awards}}
 
{{succession box
 
{{succession box
 
| title=[[Academy Award for Best Actress]]
 
| title=[[Academy Award for Best Actress]]
−
| before=[[Bette Davis]]<br>for ''[[Jezebel (1938 film)|Jezebel]]''
+
| before=[[Bette Davis]]<br/>for ''[[Jezebel (1938 film)|Jezebel]]''
−
| years=1939<br>'''for ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'' '''
+
| years=1939<br/>'''for ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'' '''
−
| after=[[Ginger Rogers]]<br>for ''[[Kitty Foyle]]''}}
+
| after=[[Ginger Rogers]]<br/>for ''[[Kitty Foyle]]''}}
 
{{succession box
 
{{succession box
 
| title=Academy Award for Best Actress
 
| title=Academy Award for Best Actress
−
| before=[[Judy Holliday]]<br>for ''[[Born Yesterday (1950 film)|Born Yesterday]]''
+
| before=[[Judy Holliday]]<br/>for ''[[Born Yesterday (1950 film)|Born Yesterday]]''
−
| years=1951<br>'''for ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' '''
+
| years=1951<br/>'''for ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' '''
−
| after=[[Shirley Booth]]<br>for ''[[Come Back, Little Sheba (movie)|Come Back, Little Sheba]]''}}
+
| after=[[Shirley Booth]]<br/>for ''[[Come Back, Little Sheba (movie)|Come Back, Little Sheba]]''}}
 
{{succession box
 
{{succession box
−
| title=[[Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical|Tony Award for Best <br>Leading Actress in a Musical]]
+
| title=[[Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical|Tony Award for Best <br/>Leading Actress in a Musical]]
−
| years=1963<br>'''for ''[[Tovarich (musical)|Tovarich]]'' '''
+
| years=1963<br/>'''for ''[[Tovarich (musical)|Tovarich]]'' '''
−
| before=(tie)<br>[[Anna Maria Alberghetti]]<br>for ''[[Carnival]]''<br>and<br>[[Diahann Carroll]]<br> for ''No Strings''
+
| before=(tie)<br/>[[Anna Maria Alberghetti]]<br/>for ''[[Carnival]]''<br/>and<br/>[[Diahann Carroll]]<br/> for ''No Strings''
−
| after=[[Carol Channing]]<br>for ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]''
+
| after=[[Carol Channing]]<br/>for ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]''
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{end}}
 
{{end}}
 +
<br/>
  
−
==See also==
+
== Notes ==
−
*For a full chronology of Leigh's theatre and film work, see ''[[Vivien Leigh chronology of stage and film performances]].''
+
<references/>
  
−
== References ==
+
==References==  
−
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
+
*Bean, Kendra. ''Vivien Leigh: An Intimate Portrait''. Running Press, 2013. ISBN 978-0762450992
−
<references/>
+
*Coleman, Terry. ''Olivier, The Authorised Biography.'' Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0747583064
−
</div>
+
*Edwards. Anne. ''Vivien Leigh, A Biography.'' Coronet Books, 1978. ISBN 0671224964
 +
*Haver, Ronald. ''David O. Selznick's Hollywood.'' New York: Bonanza Books, 1980. ISBN 0517476657
 +
*Holden, Anthony. ''Olivier.'' Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0722148577
 +
*Olivier, Laurence. ''Confessions Of an Actor.'' Simon and Schuster, 1982, ISBN 0140068880
 +
*Selznick, David O. ''Memo from David O. Selznick.'' New York: Modern Library, 2000. ISBN 0375755314
 +
*Taylor, John Russell. ''Vivien Leigh.'' Elm Tree Books, 1984. ISBN 0241113334
 +
*Walker, Alexander. ''Vivien, The Life of Vivien Leigh.'' Grove Press, 1987. ISBN 0802132596
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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*{{imdb name | id=0000046 | name=Vivien Leigh}}
+
All links retrieved May 3, 2023.
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*{{tcmdb name | id=111615 | name=Vivien Leigh}}
 
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*{{ibdb name | id=49426 | name=Vivien Leigh}}
 
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*{{nndb name|id=470/000022404|name=Vivien Leigh}}
 
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* [http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an11334994 Australian National Library, photographs from Australian tour]
 
  
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*{{imdb name | id=0000046 | name=Vivien Leigh}}  
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*[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/111615%7C152178/Vivien-Leigh/#overview Vivien Leigh] ''Turner Classic Movies''
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*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1261/vivien-leigh Vivien Leigh] ''Find a Grave''
  
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|NAME=Leigh, Vivien
 
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|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Hartley, Vivian Mary
 
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|SHORT DESCRIPTION=actress
 
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|DATE OF BIRTH=November 5 1913
 
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|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Darjeeling]], [[India]]
 
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|DATE OF DEATH=July 7 1967
 
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|PLACE OF DEATH=[[London, England]]
 
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Latest revision as of 17:29, 16 August 2023

Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh Scarlet.jpg
Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939)
BornVivian Mary Hartley
November 5 1913(1913-11-05)
Darjeeling, Bengal Presidency, British India
DiedJuly 8 1967 (aged 53)
Belgravia, London, England
NationalityBritish
EducationLoreto Convent
Convent of the Sacred Heart
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1935–1967
TitleLady Olivier (1947–1960)
Vivien, Lady Olivier (1960–1967)
Spouse(s)Herbert Leigh Holman​
(m. 1932; div. 1940)
​ Laurence Olivier​
(m. 1940; div. 1960)
Partner(s)John Merivale (1960–1967)
ChildrenSuzanne Farrington
Signature
Vivien Leigh signature.png

Vivien Mary, Lady Olivier (November 5, 1913 – July 8, 1967), known as Vivien Leigh, was an English actress who won two Academy Awards for her portrayals of American "southern belles." She was the first non-American to win a "Best Actress" Oscar. Her award winning roles were as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) and as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), a role she had also played in London's West End. She also won a Tony Award for her Broadway debut in the musical version of Tovarich in 1963.

In her 30-year career she made only 20 films, most of them in the 1930s. Her life was marked by two marriages, one child, severe bouts of depression, tuberculosis and world renown for her beauty and talent.

She frequently worked in collaboration with her second husband, Laurence Olivier, who also directed her in several roles. Their life together was full of romance and tragedy, making them one of Hollywood's most glamorous couples.

Early life

Vivien Leigh was born as Vivian Mary Hartley in Darjeeling, British India just before the outbreak of World War I. The only child of Ernest Hartley and Gertrude Robinson Yackje, they lived in India during a time when a simple officer in the Indian Cavalry could live like a king. Her father was British, while her mother was of French and Irish descent.[1]

Leigh made her first appearance on stage at the age of three. She recited "Little Bo Peep" in her mother's amateur theater group production. Leigh was introduced to authors Hans Christian Andersen, Lewis Carroll, and Rudyard Kipling by her mother, who instilled in her an appreciation of literature and art. Leigh particularly loved the stories from Greek mythology.

Leigh was sent to England for her formal education when her mother became worried that she would not receive proper instruction in Bangalore. Leigh was sent to the "Convent of the Sacred Heart" in Roehampton in 1920. Her first stage appearances at school were in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (playing the fairy), and in The Tempest (as Miranda). She studied ballet, played the cello in the school orchestra, and excelled at piano - taking her music exam at the Royal Academy of Music when she was a teenager.

A highlight of her education at Sacred Heart was the close friendship she formed with Maureen O'Sullivan, also a future actress. She confided in Maureen that her greatest desire was to become "a great actress." [2]

Her formal education included finishing schools in Paris and the Bavarian Alps. After graduation in 1931 she returned to England. Leigh was surprised and excited to see that her old friend, Maureen O'Sullivan had a film playing in London's West End. This inspired her to tell her parents she had decided to become and actress and as a result they helped her enroll at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.[3] Her studies at RADA did not last long, however. The same year she met Herbert Leigh Holman, a barrister who was 13 years her senior. Holman was not interested in "theatrical people" and disapproved of them, but he fell in love with Vivien and they were married on December 20, 1932. She became pregnant almost immediately and gave birth to a daughter, Suzanne, on October 12, 1933.

Acting career

Only ten months after her daughter's birth Leigh accepted a small part in the film Things Are Looking Up, her first motion picture appearance. Immediately upon completion, Leigh hired John Gliddon as her agent. It was Gliddon who suggested a name change as he did not think "Vivian Holman" was an appropriate name for an actress. After many versions, including the name "April Morn," Leigh decided on "Vivian Leigh" for her professional name.[4]

With a new agent and a new name, Vivien began her career in earnest. In 1935, she received excellent reviews for her role in the play The Mask of Virtue. Her performance led to a film contract and one last name change, that of "Vivian" to "Vivien." Years later Leigh remembered the influence of her first brush with fame and greatness:

Some critics saw fit to be as foolish as to say that I was a great actress. And I thought, that was a foolish, wicked thing to say, because it put such an onus and such a responsibility onto me, which I simply wasn't able to carry. And it took me years to learn enough to live up to what they said for those first notices. I find it so stupid. I remember the critic very well, and have never forgiven him.[5]

In 1938, Leigh appeared in another film, this time with her childhood friend, Maureen O'Sullivan, along with Robert Taylor and Lionel Barrymore. The film was A Yank at Oxford, and it marked a shift in her career, as it was the first of her films to be widely received in the United States.

Achieving International Success

During the filming of her two films in 1938, Leigh read Margaret Mitchell's best-selling historical novel Gone with the Wind. She heard that a film version was going to be made and became very interested in playing the role of Scarlet O'Hara.[6] She remarked to a journalist, "I've cast myself as Scarlett O'Hara," and the film critic C. A. Lejeune recalled a conversation with her where she made the prediction that Olivier "won't play Rhett Butler, but I shall play Scarlett O'Hara. Wait and see."[7]

Publicity photo of Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh for Gone with the Wind

Leigh requested that she be placed in the running for the role of Scarlett. That month, the producer of the film, David Selznick, watched Leigh's two most recent pictures. Although he never thought he would like her, Selznick was won over by Leigh's beauty and her talent. Selznick deliberated for several months, studying Leigh's work and photographs. On October 18, Selznick wrote in a confidential memo to director George Cukor, "I am still hoping against hope for that new girl."[8]

When Leigh traveled to Los Angeles to be with Laurence Olivier, she had a chance meeting with Selznick's brother Myron. Myron was serving as Olivier's American agent, and he took the couple to the set of the film and introduced Leigh to his brother. Shortly after, Leigh did a formal audition and a screen test for David Selznick. After the audition Selznick wrote to his wife, "She's the Scarlett dark horse and looks damn good. Not for anyone's ear but your own: it's narrowed down to Paulette Goddard, Jean Arthur, Joan Bennett and Vivien Leigh." The director of the film, George Cukor, agreed with Selznick and noted that the "incredible wildness" of Leigh was perfectly suited to Scarlett. Leigh was given the infamous part soon after.[9]

The production of Gone with the Wind was fraught with difficulties. First Cukor was fired and then replaced by Victor Fleming as the new director. The change led to several conflicts between Leigh and Fleming. Leigh believed that Cukor was the man for the job, thus, along with Olivia de Havilland, the two actresses met with Cukor secretly to ask advice on how the roles of Scarlett and Melanie should be played. Leigh truly admired and befriended Clark Gable, his wife Carole Lombard and de Havilland. However, her relationship with Leslie Howard was tense and strained. Leigh was required to perform several of the most emotional scenes with Howard, she worked seven days a week, and often long evenings. She missed Olivier who was in New York City, and she became tired and distraught. She wrote in a letter, "I loathe Hollywood…. I will never get used to this – how I hate film acting."[10]

Many rumors flowed concerning Leigh's behavior during filming. It wasn't until 2006 that Olivia de Havilland spoke out against the rumors and accusations. She said of Leigh, "Vivien was impeccably professional, impeccably disciplined on Gone with the Wind. She had two great concerns: doing her best work in an extremely difficult role and being separated from Larry (Olivier), who was in New York."[11]

Gone with the Wind brought fame to Leigh. However, she never bought into the idea of being a huge star. She once said, "I'm not a film star – I'm an actress. Being a film star—just a film star—is such a false life, lived for fake values and for publicity. Actresses go on for a long time and there are always marvelous parts to play."[12]

Gone with the Wind was nominated for several Academy Awards, winning ten of them. Among the ten were Best Actress for Leigh, who also won a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.

Life with Laurence

Leigh with Laurence Olivier in That Hamilton Woman. (1941)

Laurence Olivier first saw Leigh when he attended one of her performances in The Mask of Virtue. After the play, Olivier was so impressed that he went backstage to congratulate the actress on her remarkable performance. From that moment, a friendship developed. A short time later, the two were cast in the 1937 film Fire Over England.

Because We Must opened on February 5, 1937. She followed this play with the role of Ophelia in Hamlet, playing opposite her new love Laurence Olivier at the Kronborg Castle in Elsinore. Michael Redgrave was a young cast member, and Alec Guinness was Olivier's understudy at the time. At this point both Vivien and Olivier's marriages were failing due to their own affair, and this resulted in separation from their spouses and moving in together in Chelsea. Olivier continued to concentrate on Shakespeare, joining the Old Vic Theatre Company, while Vivien performed briefly in A Midsummer Night's Dream as Titania in December of 1937. It ran successfully for several months.

Did you know?
Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were one of Hollywood's most glamorous couples

During the production of Because We Must Olivier got his first glimpse of Leigh's developing mental health problems. During one performance, Leigh abruptly changed her mood, yelling and screaming at Olivier shortly before appearing onstage. As suddenly as she began screaming, she stopped, calmed herself down, and went out to perform without mishap or incident. By the following day, Leigh was completely normal and couldn't even remember the incident had occurred.[13]

In February 1940 both Olivier and Leigh obtained divorces, with neither of them gaining custody of the children. In August of that same year the couple was married in a small wedding attended only by the two witnesses, Katharine Hepburn and Garson Kanin.

The couple loved working together, though Leigh met with disappointments as she was passed over for the leading lady role in Olivier's two films Rebecca directed by Alfred Hitchcock and Pride and Prejudice (1940). When the film Waterloo Bridge (1940) was being made, it was to star the couple, however, Selznick replaced Olivier with Robert Taylor. Both Leigh and Taylor were at the top of their fame, and the film proved to be a major success.

Olivier and Leigh took a break from film work and decided to perform on the stage in a production of Romeo and Juliet for Broadway. However, the press reviews were not favorable. Brooks Atkinson, a reporter for the New York Times wrote, "Although Miss Leigh and Mr. Olivier are handsome young people they hardly act their parts at all."[14] The play's failure caused severe financial strain for the two, who had invested almost all of their savings into the production.[15]

The couple went on to film That Hamilton Woman (1941) a World War II film that became very successful, especially in the Soviet Union. The film was also popular in the United States. Winston Churchill was very close to the couple, and he often requested that they attend dinners and other official events. He once said of Leigh, "By Jove, she's a clinker."[16]

Troubles began for the couple when they returned to England. Leigh contracted tuberculosis after completing a tour through North Africa. Then she discovered she was pregnant while filming Caesar and Cleopatra (1945). A short time later she suffered a miscarriage, the first of two they would experience while together. She began to verbally and physically attack Olivier, suffering her first of many breakdowns as a result of manic-depression, or bipolar mood disorder. Olivier came to recognize the symptoms and was able to prepare himself for them. The episodes were followed by Leigh having no memory of the event, but feeling deeply remorseful.[17]. In 1947 the couple ventured to Buckingham Palace where Olivier was knighted. Leigh became Lady Olivier, a title she used the rest of her life.

By 1948 Olivier was on the Board of Directors for the Old Vic Theatre, and to raise funds, the couple decided to tour through Australia and New Zealand to raise funds for the theater. The tour was long and exhausting, Leigh suffered from insomnia, and the couple fought often. At the very end of the tour, Olivier told a journalist, "You may not know it, but you are talking to a couple of walking corpses." Later he commented that he "lost Vivien" during the tour to Australia.[18]

Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Leigh followed a few stage performances with her role as Blanche DuBois in the West End stage production of Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire. Leigh's run lasted 326 performances, and garnered her the same role in the film version that starred Marlon Brando. Leigh and Brando got along well, but she had conflicts with the director, Elia Kazan, who felt that Leigh "had a small talent." Kazan would soon change his mind, however, saying he was "full of admiration" for "the greatest determination to excel of any actress I've known. She'd have crawled over broken glass if she thought it would help her performance."[19]

Vivien Leigh received her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Blanche, as well as a BAFTA Award and a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. Author Tennessee Williams commented that Leigh was "everything that I intended, and much that I had never dreamed of," but in later years, Leigh said that her time as Blanche DuBois "tipped me over into madness".[20]

Declining health

In January 1953, during the filming of Elephant Walk with Peter Finch, Leigh suffered another breakdown. Paramount Studios replaced Leigh with the popular Elizabeth Taylor. Olivier brought Leigh back to their English home to recover. During this time Leigh said that she was in love with Peter Finch and had been having an affair with him. Gradually, over a period of months, Leigh made a recovery.

As a result of this breakdown many of the Olivier's friends learned just how sick Leigh had become. David Niven said she had been "quite, quite mad," and in his diary Noël Coward expressed surprise that "things had been bad and getting worse since 1948 or thereabouts."[21]

After Leigh recovered she played in The Sleeping Prince with Olivier in 1953. Two years later the couple performed at Stratford-upon-Avon in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Macbeth and Titus Andronicus. The theater was always packed and the two received favorable reviews. Her second miscarriage threw her into another period of severe depression. Again, after recovery, the couple performed in a European tour of Titus Andronicus. The tour did not go well with Leigh becoming more frequent in her moody outbursts. Olivier took her home once again, even calling upon Leigh's ex-husband, Leigh Holman, to help calm her.

In 1958 Leigh decided that the marriage was over, and she began another affair with the actor Jack Merivale. Merivale said he was aware of Leigh's condition and assured Olivier that he would take good care of her. In 1959 Leigh found more success with the Noël Coward comedy Look After Lulu.

In 1960 she and Olivier formally divorced and Olivier soon afterwards married the actress Joan Plowright. In his autobiography Olivier wrote, "Throughout her possession by that uncannily evil monster, manic depression, with its deadly ever-tightening spirals, she retained her own individual canniness – an ability to disguise her true mental condition from almost all except me, for whom she could hardly be expected to take the trouble."[22]

Final years and death

Merivale kept his promise and offered a stable environment for Leigh. The couple seemed happy but Leigh was quoted by Radie Harris as confiding that she "would rather have lived a short life with Larry (Olivier) than face a long one without him."[23]

Even though Leigh was still prone to depression and anxiety she continued to act. In 1963 she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the Broadway musical Tovarich. She also appeared in the films The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961) and Ship of Fools (1965).[24] Her last play was Anton Chekhov's Ivanov in 1966, with John Gielgud, in which she ironically played a woman who dies of tuberculosis.

In May 1967 Vivien had another bout of tuberculosis. After seeming to be on the road to recovery, on the night of July 7, Merivale returned from a play and found Leigh sleeping peacefully. Thirty minutes later he returned to the bedroom and discovered her body on the floor. Apparently, Leigh had been attempting to walk to the bathroom but her lungs filled with liquid, causing her to collapse.[25] Merivale contacted Olivier immediately. In his autobiography, Olivier described his "grievous anguish" as he traveled quickly to Leigh's home. Olivier paid his respects and "stood and prayed for forgiveness for all the evils that had sprung up between us,"[26] before helping Merivale make funeral arrangements.

Vivien Leigh was cremated. Following a memorial service, and a final tribute read by John Gielgud, Leigh's ashes were scattered on the lake at her home, Tickerage Mill, near Blackboys, East Sussex, England. In the United States, Leigh was the very first actress to be honored by "The Friends of the Libraries at the University of Southern California." The ceremony was conducted like a memorial. Several of her friends, including George Cukor, gave tributes, mixed with clips of various films she had done.[27]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Work
1939 Academy Award for Best Actress (won)
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress (won) 		Gone With the Wind
1952 Academy Award for Best Actress (won)
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (won)
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama (nominated)
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress (won)
Venice Film Festival - Volpi Cup (won) 		A Streetcar Named Desire
1963 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical (won) Tovarich


Awards
Preceded by:
Bette Davis
for Jezebel 		Academy Award for Best Actress
1939
for Gone with the Wind 		Succeeded by:
Ginger Rogers
for Kitty Foyle
Preceded by:
Judy Holliday
for Born Yesterday 		Academy Award for Best Actress
1951
for A Streetcar Named Desire 		Succeeded by:
Shirley Booth
for Come Back, Little Sheba
Preceded by:
(tie)
Anna Maria Alberghetti
for Carnival
and
Diahann Carroll
for No Strings 		Tony Award for Best
Leading Actress in a Musical
1963
for Tovarich 		Succeeded by:
Carol Channing
for Hello, Dolly!


Notes

  1. ↑ Anne Edwards, Vivien Leigh, A Biography (Coronet Books, 1978, ISBN 0671224964), 12.
  2. ↑ Edwards, 12-19.
  3. ↑ Edwards, 25-30.
  4. ↑ Edwards, 30-43.
  5. ↑ Kendra Bean, Vivien Leigh: An Intimate Portrait (Running Press, 2013, ISBN 978-0762450992).
  6. ↑ Selznick wrote in a memo on February 3, 1938, "I have no enthusiasm for Vivien Leigh. Maybe I will, but as yet have never even seen a photograph of her. Will be seeing "Fire Over England" shortly, at which time of course will see Leigh…."
  7. ↑ Terry Coleman, Olivier, The Authorised Biography (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0747583064), 76-77, 90, 94-95.
  8. ↑ David O. Selznick, Memo from David O. Selznick (New York: Modern Library, 2000, ISBN 0375755314), 184.
  9. ↑ Ronald Haver, David O. Selznick's Hollywood (New York: Bonanza Books, 1980, ISBN 0517476657), 259.
  10. ↑ John Russell Taylor, Vivien Leigh (Elm Tree Books, 1984, ISBN 0241113334), 22-23.
  11. ↑ Bob Thomas, Private and public Olivier revealed in biography The Associated Press, December 27, 2006. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  12. ↑ Taylor, 22-23.
  13. ↑ Coleman, 97-98.
  14. ↑ Edwards, 127.
  15. ↑ Anthony Holden, Olivier (Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0722148577), 189-190.
  16. ↑ Holden, 202, 205, 325.
  17. ↑ Holden, 221-222.
  18. ↑ Holden, 295.
  19. ↑ Coleman, 233-236.
  20. ↑ Holden, 312-313.
  21. ↑ Coleman, 254-263.
  22. ↑ Laurence Olivier, Confessions Of an Actor (Simon and Schuster, 1982, ISBN 0140068880), 174,
  23. ↑ Alexander Walker, Vivien, The Life of Vivien Leigh (Grove Press, 1987, ISBN 0802132596), 290.
  24. ↑ Edwards, 266-272.
  25. ↑ Edwards, 304-305.
  26. ↑ Olivier, 273-274.
  27. ↑ Edwards, 306.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Bean, Kendra. Vivien Leigh: An Intimate Portrait. Running Press, 2013. ISBN 978-0762450992
  • Coleman, Terry. Olivier, The Authorised Biography. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0747583064
  • Edwards. Anne. Vivien Leigh, A Biography. Coronet Books, 1978. ISBN 0671224964
  • Haver, Ronald. David O. Selznick's Hollywood. New York: Bonanza Books, 1980. ISBN 0517476657
  • Holden, Anthony. Olivier. Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 0722148577
  • Olivier, Laurence. Confessions Of an Actor. Simon and Schuster, 1982, ISBN 0140068880
  • Selznick, David O. Memo from David O. Selznick. New York: Modern Library, 2000. ISBN 0375755314
  • Taylor, John Russell. Vivien Leigh. Elm Tree Books, 1984. ISBN 0241113334
  • Walker, Alexander. Vivien, The Life of Vivien Leigh. Grove Press, 1987. ISBN 0802132596

External links

All links retrieved May 3, 2023.


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