Vivien Leigh was an Oscar winning British movie star who struggled with mental illness
She was born Vivian Mary Hartley on November 5, 1913, in Darjeeling, India. Her father, Ernest Hartley, was a wealthy British banker. When she was six years old her parents took her to England so she could get a better education. Vivien attended several European schools and learned to speak fluent French and Italian. After seeing her first play she decided she wanted to become an actress. Vivien enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1931. The following year she quit to marry Herbert Leigh Holman, a London barrister. Their daughter Suzanne was born in October of 1933. The stunning brunette started her career performing on the London stage. She still pursued an acting career and made her film debut in the 1935 comedy Things Are Looking Up. Then she got rave reviews for her performance in the play The Mask Of Virtue. In 1936 she was cast opposite Laurence Olive in Fire Over England in 1937. The two married stars fell madly in love with each other and they both divorced their spouses so they could be together. Vivien was one of dozens of actresses who wanted to play Scarlet O'Hara in the 1939 epic Gone With The Wind.
She was born Vivian Mary Hartley on November 5, 1913, in Darjeeling, India. Her father, Ernest Hartley, was a wealthy British banker. When she was six years old her parents took her to England so she could get a better education. Vivien attended several European schools and learned to speak fluent French and Italian. After seeing her first play she decided she wanted to become an actress. Vivien enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1931. The following year she quit to marry Herbert Leigh Holman, a London barrister. Their daughter Suzanne was born in October of 1933. The stunning brunette started her career performing on the London stage. She still pursued an acting career and made her film debut in the 1935 comedy Things Are Looking Up. Then she got rave reviews for her performance in the play The Mask Of Virtue. In 1936 she was cast opposite Laurence Olive in Fire Over England in 1937. The two married stars fell madly in love with each other and they both divorced their spouses so they could be together. Vivien was one of dozens of actresses who wanted to play Scarlet O'Hara in the 1939 epic Gone With The Wind.
Despite some people thinking she was "too British" she won the part. Gone With The Wind was an enormous success and she won an Academy Award for her iconic performance. Her next film, Waterloo Bridge with Robert Taylor, was also a hit. With her heart shaped face, bright blue eyes, and smooth complexion Vivien was considered one the most beautiful women in Hollywood. She was a heavy smoker and claimed she never slept for more than six hours a night. On August 31, 1940 she and Laurence were married in California. They co-starred on Broadway in Romeo & Juliet and in the 1941 film That Hamilton Woman. The Olivier's became one of the most glamorous and well-respected couples in show business. While filming the 1945 film Caesar and Cleopatra Vivien fell and had a miscarriage. She began suffering from severe bouts of depression and her behavior was often erratic. On numerous occasions she threatened to commit suicide and had to be hospitalized. The fragile star was eventually diagnosed with manic depression.
As Scarlet O'Hara in Gone With The Wind
In 1949 she starred as Blanche Dubois in a West End production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Then she was cast in the 1950 film version directed by Elia Kazaan. Her performance won rave reviews and she won her second Academy Award. During the production of Elephant Walk in 1954 she had a nervous breakdown and had to quit the movie. Her mental illness also caused her to become promiscuous. Vivien had numerous affairs with men and women including Peter Finch, Peter O'Toole, and Ona Munson. At the age of forty-two she had her third miscarriage and fell into a deep depression. As she got older she also suffered from frequent bouts of tuberculosis. She was heartbroken when Laurence left her for actress Joan Plowright in 1960. He blamed their divorce on her mental illness. Soon after she started a romance with actor John Merivale. Vivien returned to Broadway in the 1963 musical Tovarich. She won a Tony Award for her performance. Her final film was the 1965 drama Ship Of Fools. Tragically on July 8, 1967 she died from tuberculosis. She was only fifty-three years old. Her ashes were scattered at her London home.
With Laurence Olivier
