Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1913-11-05
Deathday: 1967-07-08 (53 years old)

Biography

Vivien Leigh (born Vivian Mary Hartley on November 5, 1913, in Darjeeling, British India) was an English actress renowned for her roles in Hollywood and British theater. She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, portraying Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), both performances that solidified her place among the greatest actresses of classic cinema.


Leigh was the only child of Ernest Hartley, a British broker, and Gertrude Yackjee, who had Anglo-Indian and Armenian ancestry. She spent her childhood between England and Europe, attending convent schools before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London in 1932, setting the stage for her acting career.


Her film debut came in Things Are Looking Up (1934), followed by roles in British films such as Fire Over England (1937), where she starred alongside Laurence Olivier. Their professional collaboration soon became a high-profile romance, capturing public fascination.


Leigh’s breakthrough role was Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939), a part for which she beat hundreds of actresses in a legendary casting search. The film became one of the most celebrated in cinematic history, and her performance earned international acclaim, securing her first Academy Award.


Leigh continued to star in films such as Waterloo Bridge (1940) and That Hamilton Woman (1941), frequently working with Olivier, whom she married in 1940. Their union lasted 20 years, during which they became one of the most revered couples in theater and film, starring together in Shakespearean productions and three films.


In 1951, she won her second Academy Award for A Streetcar Named Desire, where her portrayal of Blanche DuBois was deeply personal, reflecting her own struggles with mental health.


Leigh suffered from bipolar disorder, which profoundly affected her career and personal relationships. She also battled chronic tuberculosis, first diagnosed in the mid-1940s, which ultimately led to her death on July 8, 1967, at the age of 53.


After divorcing Olivier in 1960, she found companionship with actor John Merivale, who remained by her side until her passing.


Despite periods of career instability, Leigh remains one of the most celebrated actresses of her time. In 1999, the American Film Institute (AFI) ranked her as the 16th greatest female movie star of classic Hollywood cinema. She also won a Tony Award for Tovarich (1963), proving her talent extended beyond film.


Her beauty, talent, and dedication made her an enduring icon, and her performances continue to be studied and celebrated worldwide.

Filmography

all 46

Movies 44

self 22

TV Shows 2

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Glorious Technicolor

Glorious Technicolor (1998)

Movie
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983)

Movie
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Extraordinary Seaman

The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)

Movie
Scarlett O'Hara (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood: The Selznick Years

Hollywood: The Selznick Years (1961)

Movie
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Screen Director

The Screen Director (1951)

Movie
Madeleine Goddard
Dark Journey

Dark Journey (1937)

Movie
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Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Female

Birthday
1913-11-05

Deathday
1967-07-08 (53 years old)

Birth Name
Vivian Mary Hartley

Birth Place
Darjeeling, India

Relationships
Laurence Olivier (1940 - 1960), Herbert Leigh Holman (1931 - 1940), John Merivale (1960 - 1967)

Children
Suzanne Farrington

Father
Ernest Richard Hartley

Citizenships
United Kingdom

Also Known As
Вів'єн Мері Гартлі, Vivian Mary Hartley, Vivian Leigh, ویوین لی

Awards
Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Academy Award for Best Actress, star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Volpi Cup for Best Actress

This article uses material from Wikipedia.

Last updated:

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