Acting
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh (born November 5, 1913, Darjeeling, India—died July 8, 1967, London, England) 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
Charmed Lives: A Family Romance
Film · 2028
Faye
Film · 2024
1939: Secrets of Hollywood's Golden Year
Series · 2023
Black Star
Film · 2022
Vivien Leigh, autant en emporte le vent
Film · 2021
Gone with the Wind – Makeup and Wardrobe Tests
Film · 2020
Churchill and the Movie Mogul
Film · 2019
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
Film · 2018
The Vivien Leigh Archive at the V&A
Film · 2016
The Greats: Vivien Leigh
Film · 2016
Jornal Português (1938-1951)
Film · 2015
Leslie Howard: The Man Who Gave a Damn
Film · 2015
Iconic Couples of Hollywood
Series · 2015
The Selznick Studios Retrospective Backlot Tour
Film · 2014
Before She Was Scarlet O'Hara: An Interview with Anne Edwards
Film · 2013
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Film · 2009
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
Film · 2006
A Streetcar on Broadway
Film · 2006
A Streetcar in Hollywood
Film · 2006
Desire and Censorship
Film · 2006
An Actor Named Brando
Film · 2006
North and the Music of the South
Film · 2006
Melanie Remembers: Reflections by Olivia de Havilland
Film · 2004
The Prince, The Showgirl and Me
Film · 2004
Restoring a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Film · 2004
Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love
Film · 2001
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
Film · 2001
Sir John Mills' Moving Memories
Film · 2000
Vivien Leigh: A Delicate Balance
Film · 2000
Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood
Film · 1999
Glorious Technicolor
Film · 1998
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful
Film · 1996
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
Film · 1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Film · 1995
Elia Kazan: A Director's Journey
Film · 1995
That's Entertainment! III
Film · 1994
Korda: I Don't Grow on Trees: Part One
Film · 1993
Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond
Film · 1990
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Film · 1988
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
Film · 1988
All-Time Movie Greats
Film · 1988
Marilyn Monroe
Film · 1986
That's Dancing!
Film · 1985
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Film · 1983
Laurence Olivier: A Life
Film · 1982
That's Entertainment, Part II
Film · 1976
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Film · 1975
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Film · 1972
The Extraordinary Seaman
Film · 1969
Ivanov
Film · 1966
Ship of Fools
Film · 1965
Tovarich
Film · 1963
Antony and Cleopatra
Film · 1962
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
Film · 1961
Hollywood: The Selznick Years
Film · 1961
The Skin of Our Teeth
Film · 1959
Small World: Vivien Leigh
Film · 1958
Small World
Series · 1958
The Deep Blue Sea
Film · 1955
Elephant Walk
Film · 1954
A Streetcar Named Desire
Film · 1951
The Screen Director
Film · 1951
Rebecca
Film · 1950
Anna Karenina
Film · 1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Series · 1948
British Pathé: Vivien Leigh & Laurence Olivier
Film · 1946
Caesar and Cleopatra
Film · 1945
That Hamilton Woman
Film · 1941
Waterloo Bridge
Film · 1940
21 Days
Film · 1940
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Film · 1940
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Film · 1940
Private Lives
Film · 1940
Gone with the Wind
Film · 1939
British Pathé Newsreels: Gone with the Wind
Film · 1939
St. Martin's Lane
Film · 1938
A Yank at Oxford
Film · 1938
Fire Over England
Film · 1937
Dark Journey
Film · 1937
Storm in a Teacup
Film · 1937
The Village Squire
Film · 1935
Things Are Looking Up
Film · 1935
Look Up and Laugh
Film · 1935
Gentlemen's Agreement
Film · 1935