Vivien Leigh (born Vivian Mary Hartley; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967), later known as Lady Olivier following her 1947 union with Laurence Olivier, was a British actress widely esteemed as one of the greatest performers of the 20th century. She gained global acclaim by earning two Academy Awards for Best Actress: first for her legendary portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) and second for her unforgettable role as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), a part she had also portrayed to high praise on stage in London’s West End in 1949 (for which she also received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival).
Leigh additionally secured a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the Broadway production of Tovarich (1963). While celebrated as a cinematic icon, she viewed herself mainly as a stage actress, excelling in various characters, from the clever heroines of Noël Coward and George Bernard Shaw comedies to Shakespearean classics such as Ophelia, Cleopatra, Juliet, and Lady Macbeth. Later during her career, she embraced strong character roles in cinema. Despite periods of dormancy due to health issues, the American Film Institute ranked her as the 16th-greatest female film star of classic Hollywood in 1999.
Here is a brief summary of key information regarding Vivien Leigh:
| Real Name | Vivian Mary Hartley |
| Stage Name | Vivien Leigh |
| Date of Birth | 5 November 1913 |
| Date of Death | 8 July 1967 |
| Age at Death | 53 years old |
| Height | 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m) |
| Birthplace | Darjeeling, Bengal Presidency, British India |
| Children | One daughter: Suzanne Farrington (née Holman, born 12 October 1933) |
Biography
Vivien Leigh was born Vivian Mary Hartley on 5 November 1913 in Darjeeling, Bengal Presidency, British India. She was the sole offspring of Ernest Richard Hartley, a British stockbroker, and Gertrude Mary Frances (née Yackjee, also identified as Robinson), a devout Catholic of possible Irish, Parsi Indian, and Armenian heritage. Her father was born in Scotland in 1882, while her mother was born in Darjeeling in 1888 to Michael John Yackjee (an Anglo-Indian man) and Mary Teresa Robinson (who grew up in an orphanage after her Irish family was murdered during the Indian Rebellion of 1857). Ernest and Gertrude wed in 1912 in Kensington, London.
In 1917, Ernest was reassigned to Bangalore as an officer in the Indian Cavalry, while Gertrude and young Vivian remained in Ootacamund. At the age of three, Vivian made her first stage appearance, reciting “Little Bo Peep” for her mother’s amateur theatre group. Gertrude encouraged her daughter’s passion for literature, introducing her to works by Hans Christian Andersen, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, Greek mythology, and Indian folklore.
At six, Vivian was enrolled at the Convent of the Sacred Heart (now Woldingham School) in Roehampton, Middlesex, where she developed a friendship with future actress Maureen O’Sullivan (two years her senior), to whom she confided her aspiration of becoming “a great actress.” Her father later withdrew her from the school, and for four years she traveled with her parents throughout Europe, attending educational institutions in Dinard (Brittany), Biarritz, San Remo (Italian Riviera), and Paris, becoming fluent in French and Italian. The family returned to Britain in 1931. Vivian watched O’Sullivan’s film, A Connecticut Yankee, in London’s West End, and expressed to her parents a desire to pursue acting. Her father enrolled her at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
Height
Vivien Leigh measured 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 meters) in height. Her petite frame, combined with her striking beauty, expressive features, and graceful demeanor, made her one of the most unforgettable and photogenic actresses of her time.
Career
Vivien Leigh’s professional journey spanned 30 years, characterized by remarkable peaks and significant personal trials. She commenced with minor film roles in 1935 and swiftly advanced to leading roles in Fire Over England (1937). Her breakthrough occurred with Gone with the Wind (1939), where she secured her first Academy Award as Scarlett O’Hara. She followed this with theatrical triumphs and her second Oscar for A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), along with the Volpi Cup and a Tony for Tovarich (1963).
Leigh thrived on stage with Shakespearean parts (Ophelia, Cleopatra, Juliet, Lady Macbeth) as well as in Coward and Shaw comedies. She frequently co-starred with Laurence Olivier in both plays and films, often under his direction. Later, she took on character roles in movies like The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961) and Ship of Fools (1965). Her career faced interruptions due to bipolar disorder and tuberculosis. In 1999, the American Film Institute placed her 16th among classic Hollywood’s greatest female film stars. Leigh believed her beauty sometimes eclipsed her talent, but she demonstrated herself as a multifaceted and formidable actress.
Cause of Death
Vivien Leigh passed away on 8 July 1967 at the age of 53 in her Eaton Square apartment in London. The cause of death was chronic tuberculosis, first diagnosed in the mid-1940s, which resurfaced in May 1967 while she was rehearsing for A Delicate Balance. After a period of rest, she seemed to recover, but on the evening of 7 July, while alone in her bedroom, her lungs filled with fluid as she attempted to reach the bathroom. She collapsed and suffocated. Partner John Merivale discovered her body around midnight.
Her passing was publicly announced on 8 July, and London theatrical lights were dimmed for an hour in honor. A Catholic service was held at St. Mary’s Church, Cadogan Street. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, with her ashes scattered on the lake at her East Sussex residence, Tickerage Mill. A memorial service occurred at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Movies
Vivien Leigh featured in 19 feature films, delivering iconic portrayals in several classics. Her notable movies include:
- Things Are Looking Up (1935) – Schoolgirl (uncredited debut)
- Fire Over England (1937) – Cynthia
- A Yank at Oxford (1938) – Elsa Craddock
- Sidewalks of London (1938) – Libby
- Gone with the Wind (1939) – Scarlett O’Hara (Academy Award winner)
- Waterloo Bridge (1940) – Myra Lester
- That Hamilton Woman (1941) – Emma Hamilton
- Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) – Cleopatra
- Anna Karenina (1948) – Anna Karenina
- A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) – Blanche DuBois (Academy Award winner)
- The Deep Blue Sea (1955) – Hester Collyer
- The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961) – Karen Stone
- Ship of Fools (1965) – Mary Treadwell (L’Étoile de Cristal winner)
Children
Vivien Leigh had one child, a daughter named Suzanne Farrington (née Holman), born on 12 October 1933 in London. Suzanne was the daughter of Leigh’s first spouse, Herbert Leigh Holman, a barrister. Leigh and Holman wed in 1932 and divorced in 1940. Leigh gave birth to Suzanne at the age of 19, shortly after departing from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
After the divorce, custody of Suzanne was awarded to Holman, although Leigh maintained a close bond with her daughter. Suzanne subsequently married and had three children of her own. She led a private life and died in 2015. Leigh had no additional children.
Real Name
Vivien Leigh’s actual name was Vivian Mary Hartley. She was born Vivian Mary Hartley on 5 November 1913 in Darjeeling, British India. She adopted the stage name “Vivien Leigh” early in her career, as suggested by agent John Gliddon, who believed “Vivian Holman” (her married name after her first marriage to Herbert Leigh Holman) was inappropriate for an actress.
The spelling of her first name was altered to “Vivien” in playbills starting in 1935. Following her marriage to Laurence Olivier in 1940, she became known as Lady Olivier from 1947 when Olivier was knighted. She utilized “Vivien Leigh” as her professional name throughout her career.
