Vivien Leigh
November 5, 1913-July 7, 1967
"Scarlett O'Hara"
Vivian Mary Hartley was born in Darjeeling, India on November 5, 1913. Having both British parents, Vivian was placed in a convent when she was seven years old. On December 20, 1932, Vivian married Leigh Holman. A year later, they had a daughter, Suzanne. Vivian then changed her named to Vivien and took her husband's first name as her last, thus making her Viven Leigh. Vivien then met Laurence Oliver. Deciding that their marriages were not good ones, Vivien and Laurence both divorced and their twenty year relationship began.
When Vivien read Gone With The Wind, and she knew that the role of Scarlett was hers. Selznick traveled all over the country searching for the "perfect Scarlett" for more than two years. However, it was not until the filming of the Burning of Atlanta scene that he found her. Selznick's brother, Myron, introduced Vivien to him and when he saw her green eyes, he knew the search for Scarlett was finally over. The role of Scarlett O'Hara earned Vivien her first Oscar for Best Actress.
Laurence and Vivien married on August 31, 1940. Vivien worked way too hard doing movies and theater work and she was a heavy smoker. As a result, Vivien was diagnosed with tuberculosis in the lungs. She then had two miscarriages and often suffered from manic depression. Vivien filmed A Streetcar Named Desire with Marlon Brando, it winning here second Best Actress Oscar. Vivien and Laurence divorced after twenty years of marriage.
At her home in London, Vivien died on July 7, 1967 of chronic pulmonary tuuberculosis. She was 53 years old and her ashed were scattered on the Lake of Tickerage (part of Vivien's estate in London) on October 8, 1967.
Commemorative stamps of Vivien Leigh, Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, and David Neiven were issued in May of 1985 to commemorate British Films.
Filmography
Look Up and Laugh (1935)
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That Hamilton Woman (1941)
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Storm in a Teacup (1937)
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Caesar and Cleopatra (1946)
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Fire Over England (1937)
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Anna Karenina (1948)
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Dark Journey (1937)
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A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
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Sidewalks of London (1938)
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The Deep Blue Sea (1955)
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A Yank at Oxford (1938)
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The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1955)
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21 Days (1938)
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Ship of Fools (1965)
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Gone With The Wind (1939)
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Operazione Goldman (1965)
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Waterloo Bridge (1940)
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Awards
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1939 Best Actress
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1951 Volpi Prize for Best Actress
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1951 Best Actress
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1963 Tony for "Best Musical Performance"
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