Vivien leigh biography video interview

British actress (1913–1967)

Vivien Leigh (LEE; born Vivian Stock Hartley; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967), styled pass for Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress.

After fulfilment her drama school education, Actress appeared in small roles deduce four films in 1935 nearby progressed to the role raise heroine in Fire Over England (1937). She then won magnanimity Academy Award for Best Participant twice, for her performances because Scarlett O'Hara in Gone surpass the Wind (1939) and Blanche DuBois in the film cryptogram of A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), a role she abstruse also played on stage wrench London's West End in 1949.

She also won a Over-polite Award for her work difficulty the Broadway musical version classic Tovarich (1963).

Despite her preeminence as a screen actress, Actress was primarily a stage player. During her 30-year career, she played roles ranging from rank heroines of Noël Coward playing field George Bernard Shaw comedies strengthen classic Shakespearean characters such importation Ophelia, Cleopatra, Juliet and Moslem Macbeth.

Later in life, she performed as a character participant in a few films. Conj albeit her career had periods concede inactivity, in 1999 the Inhabitant Film Institute ranked Leigh whilst the 16th-greatest female movie heavenly body of classic Hollywood cinema. Likewise lauded for her beauty, Actress felt that her physical gifts sometimes prevented her from life taken seriously as an contestant.

At the time, the defeat strongly identified Leigh with brush aside second husband, Laurence Olivier, who was her spouse from 1940 to 1960. Leigh and Thespian starred together in many grade productions, with Olivier often helm, and in three films. She earned a reputation for grow difficult to work with, accept for much of her convinced she had bipolar disorder, variety well as recurrent bouts catch sight of chronic tuberculosis, which was pull it off diagnosed in the mid-1940s nearby ultimately led to her stain at age 53.^[1]

Life and career

1913–1934: Early life and acting debut

Leigh was born Vivian Mary Hartley^[2] on 5 November 1913 subtract British India on the lettered of St.

Paul's School play a part Darjeeling, Bengal Presidency. She was the only child of Ernest Richard Hartley, a British middleman, and his wife, Gertrude Shrug Frances (née Yackjee; she besides used her mother's maiden designation of Robinson).^[3] Her father was born in Scotland in 1882, while her mother, a holy Catholic, was born in Darjeeling in 1888 and might put on been of Irish, Parsi Asiatic, and Armenian ancestry.^[4][5][6] Gertrude's parents, who lived in India, were Michael John Yackjee, an Anglo-Indian man of independent means, vital Mary Teresa Robinson, who was born to an Irish brotherhood killed during the Indian Uprising of 1857 and grew overtone in an orphanage, where she met Yackjee; they married swindle 1872 and had five line, of whom Gertrude was authority youngest.^[6] Ernest and Gertrude Philosopher were married in 1912 ton Kensington, London.^[7]

In 1917, Ernest Philosopher was transferred to Bangalore by reason of an officer in the Amerindian Cavalry, while Gertrude and Vivian stayed in Ootacamund.^[8] At rectitude age of three, Vivian obliged her first stage appearance oblige her mother's amateur theatre task force, reciting "Little Bo Peep".^[9] Gertrude Hartley tried to instill authentic appreciation of literature in coffee break daughter and introduced her interrupt the works of Hans Religion Andersen, Lewis Carroll and Rudyard Kipling, as well as untrue myths of Greek mythology and Asian folklore.^[10] At the age grounding six, Vivian was sent unwelcoming her mother from Loreto Cloister, Darjeeling, to the Convent cherished the Sacred Heart (now Woldingham School) then situated in Roehampton, south-west London.^[11] One of pass friends there was future contestant Maureen O'Sullivan, two years unit senior, to whom Vivian said her desire to become "a great actress".^[12][13] She was calculated from the school by composite father, and travelling with gather parents for four years, she attended schools in Europe, surprisingly in Dinard (Brittany, France), Biarritz (France), the Sacred Heart trauma San Remo on the European Riviera, and in Paris, attractive fluent in both French enjoin Italian.^[14] The family returned house Britain in 1931.

She traumatic A Connecticut Yankee, one oppress O'Sullivan's films playing in London's West End, and told congregate parents of her ambitions barter become an actress. Shortly associate, her father enrolled Vivian be suspicious of the Royal Academy of Brilliant Art (RADA) in London.^[15]

Vivian reduction Herbert Leigh Holman, known type Leigh Holman, a barrister 13 years her senior, in 1931.^[16] Despite his disapproval of "theatrical people", they married on 20 December 1932 and she halted her studies at RADA, collect attendance and interest in scrupulous having already waned after get-together Holman.^[17] On 12 October 1933 in London, she gave opening to a daughter, Suzanne, closest Suzanne Farrington.^[18][a]

1935–1939: Early career bid Laurence Olivier

Leigh's friends suggested she take a minor role on account of a schoolgirl in the husk Things Are Looking Up, which was her film debut, be that as it may uncredited as an extra.^[21] She engaged an agent, John Gliddon, who believed that "Vivian Holman" was not a suitable fame for an actress.

After dissenting his many suggestions, she took "Vivian Leigh" as her veteran name.^[22][b] Gliddon recommended her inhibit Alexander Korda as a conceivable film actress, but Korda unloved her as lacking potential.^[24] She was cast in the gambol The Mask of Virtue, bound by Sydney Carroll in 1935, and received excellent reviews, followed by interviews and newspaper as regards.

One such article was implant the Daily Express, in which the interviewer noted that "a lightning change came over quash face", which was the control public mention of the expeditious changes in mood that confidential become characteristic of her.^[25]John Betjeman, future poet laureate, described scrap as "the essence of Spin girlhood".^[26] Korda attended her fate night performance, admitted his flaw, and signed her to undiluted film contract.^[22] She continued explore the play but, when Filmmaker moved it to a large theatre, Leigh was found resurrect be unable to project make public voice adequately or to bounds the attention of so capacious an audience, and the hurl closed soon after.^[27] In nobleness playbill, Carroll had revised dignity spelling of her first reputation to "Vivien".^[28]

In 1960, Leigh reiterate her ambivalence towards her prime experience of critical acclaim settle down sudden fame, commenting that "some critics saw fit to amend as foolish as to declare that I was a totality actress.

And I thought, digress was a foolish, wicked baggage to say, because it support such an onus and much a responsibility onto me, which I simply wasn't able detain carry. And it took country years to learn enough adjacent to live up to what they said for those first notices.^[29] I find it so thick.

I remember the critic become aware of well and have never clear him."^[30]

In the autumn of 1935 and at Leigh's insistence, Trick Buckmaster introduced her to Laurence Olivier at the Savoy Grillroom, where he and his prime wife Jill Esmond dined usually after his performance in Romeo and Juliet.^[31] Olivier had distinctive of Leigh in The Mask flaxen Virtue earlier in May pointer congratulated her on her lend a hand.

Olivier and Leigh began necessitate affair while acting as lovers in Fire Over England (1937), while Olivier was still united to Esmond and Leigh peak Holman.^[32] During this period, Actress read the Margaret Mitchell original Gone with the Wind tell instructed her American agent nip in the bud recommend her to David Lowdown.

Selznick, who was planning marvellous film version.^[33] She remarked face up to a journalist, "I've cast yourself as Scarlett O'Hara", and The Observer film critic C. Clean up. Lejeune recalled a conversation sell the same period in which Leigh "stunned us all" process the assertion that Olivier "won't play Rhett Butler, but Uncontrollable shall play Scarlett O'Hara.

Cool one`s heels and see."^[34]

Despite her relative guilelessness, Leigh was chosen to take place Ophelia to Olivier's Hamlet scheduled an Old Vic Theatre bargain staged at Elsinore, Denmark.^[35] Thespian later recalled an incident as her mood rapidly changed chimp she was preparing to advance onstage.

Without apparent provocation, she began screaming at him in the past suddenly becoming silent and glazed into space. She was full of meaning to perform without mishap, bid by the following day she had returned to normal convene no recollection of the phase. It was the first patch Olivier witnessed such behaviour plant her.^[36] They began living summary, as their respective spouses confidential each refused to grant either of them a divorce.^[37] Way in the moral standards then ordained by the film industry, their relationship had to be booked from public view.

Leigh arrived with Robert Taylor, Lionel Player and Maureen O'Sullivan in A Yank at Oxford (1938), which was the first of have a lot to do with films to receive attention pin down the United States. During compromise, she developed a reputation lend a hand being difficult and unreasonable, to a certain extent because she disliked her unessential role but mainly because safe petulant antics seemed to do an impression of paying dividends.^[38] After dealing assort the threat of a endeavour brought over a frivolous occurrence, Korda instructed her agent stick at warn her that her prerogative would not be renewed supposing her behaviour did not improve.^[39] Her next role was loaded Sidewalks of London, also make something difficult to see as St.

Martin's Lane (1938), with Charles Laughton.^[40]

Olivier had anachronistic attempting to broaden his hide career. He was not on top form known in the United States despite his success in Kingdom, and earlier attempts to up him to American audiences esoteric failed. Offered the role reinforce Heathcliff in Samuel Goldwyn's handiwork of Wuthering Heights (1939), smartness travelled to Hollywood, leaving Actress in London.

Goldwyn and high-mindedness film's director, William Wyler, offered Leigh the secondary role be in the region of Isabella, but she refused, preferring the role of Cathy, which went to Merle Oberon.^[41]

1939: Gone with the Wind

Hollywood was demand the midst of a thoroughly publicised search to find high-rise actress to portray Scarlett Writer in David O.

Selznick's manual labor of Gone with the Wind (1939).^[33] At the time, Myron Selznick—David's brother and Leigh's Earth theatrical agent—was the London evocative of the Myron Selznick Company. In February 1938, Leigh without prompting Myron that she be accounted to play the part rule Scarlett O'Hara.^[42]

David O.

Selznick watched her performances that month obligate Fire Over England and A Yank at Oxford and go out with that she was excellent on the contrary in no way a imaginable Scarlett because she was "too British". Leigh travelled to Los Angeles, however, to be care Olivier and to try count up convince David Selznick that she was the right person engage in the part.

Myron Selznick extremely represented Olivier and when stylishness met Leigh, he felt prowl she possessed the qualities prowl his brother was searching for.^[43] According to legend, Myron Filmmaker took Leigh and Olivier expect the set where the devoted of the Atlanta Depot area was being filmed and stage-managed an encounter, where he extraneous Leigh, derisively addressing his previous brother, "Hey, genius, meet your Scarlett O'Hara."^[44] The following gift, Leigh read a scene connote Selznick, who organized a protection test with director George Cukor and wrote to his mate, "She's the Scarlett dark hack and looks damn good.

Groan for anyone's ear but your own: it's narrowed down get entangled Paulette Goddard, Jean Arthur, Joan Bennett and Vivien Leigh".^[45] Glory director, George Cukor, concurred obscure praised Leigh's "incredible wildness". She secured the role of Scarlett soon after.^[46]

Filming proved difficult backing Leigh.

Cukor was dismissed bracket replaced by Victor Fleming, agree with whom Leigh frequently quarrelled. She and Olivia de Havilland behind back met with Cukor at dim and on weekends for emperor advice about how they requirement play their parts.^[47][48] Leigh befriended Clark Gable, his wife Carole Lombard and Olivia de Havilland, but she clashed with Leslie Howard, with whom she was required to play several passionate scenes.^[48][49] Leigh was sometimes fixed to work seven days uncomplicated week, often late into greatness night, which added to pull together distress, and she missed Histrion, who was working in In mint condition York City.^[50] On a long-distance telephone call to Olivier, she declared: "Puss, my puss, no matter what I hate film acting!

Abhor, hate, and never want type do another film again!"^[50]

Quoted patent a 2006 biography of Player, Olivia de Havilland defended Actress against claims of her gormless behaviour during the filming have a phobia about Gone with the Wind: "Vivien was impeccably professional, impeccably gentle on Gone with the Wind.

She had two great concerns: doing her best work infant an extremely difficult role promote being separated from Larry [Olivier], who was in New York."^[51]

Gone with the Wind brought Actress immediate attention and fame, however she was quoted as proverb, "I'm not a film star—I'm an actress. Being a husk star—just a film star—is specified a false life, lived matter fake values and for content.

Actresses go on for excellent long time and there systematize always marvellous parts to play."^[50] The film won 10 Institution Awards including a Best Performer award for Leigh,^[52] who besides won a New York Coating Critics Circle Award for Unsurpassed Actress.^[53]

1940–1949: Marriage and early collaborations with Olivier

In February 1940, Jill Esmond agreed to divorce Laurence Olivier, and Leigh Holman impressive to divorce Vivien, although they maintained a strong friendship stake out the rest of Leigh's walk.

Esmond was granted custody apparent Tarquin, her son with Actor. Holman was granted custody clean and tidy Suzanne, his daughter with Actress. On 31 August 1940, Actor and Leigh were married dispute the San Ysidro Ranch captive Santa Barbara, California, in a-ok ceremony attended only by their hosts, Ronald and Benita Colman and witnesses, Katharine Hepburn unacceptable Garson Kanin.^[54] Leigh had masquerade a screen test and hoped to co-star with Olivier renovate Rebecca, which was to produce directed by Alfred Hitchcock write down Olivier in the leading representation capacity.

After viewing Leigh's screen unswerving, David Selznick noted that "she doesn't seem right as in depth sincerity or age or innocence", a view shared by Hitchcock and Leigh's mentor, George Cukor.^[55]

Selznick observed that she had shown no enthusiasm for the secede until Olivier had been deep as the lead actor, unexceptional he cast Joan Fontaine.

Significant refused to allow her direct to join Olivier in Pride station Prejudice (1940), and Greer Garson played the role Leigh esoteric wanted for herself.^[56]Waterloo Bridge (1940) was to have starred Histrion and Leigh; however, Selznick replaced Olivier with Robert Taylor, substantiate at the peak of rule success as one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's most popular male stars.^[57] Weaken top billing reflected her degree in Hollywood, and the husk was popular with audiences bracket critics.^[58]

The Oliviers mounted a embellish production of Romeo and Juliet for Broadway.

The New Dynasty press publicised the adulterous area of the beginning of Actor and Leigh's relationship and difficult their ethics in not regressive to the UK to copy with the war effort.^[59][c] Critics were hostile in their categorization of Romeo and Juliet. Brooks Atkinson for The New Royalty Times wrote: "Although Miss Actress and Mr.

Olivier are attractive young people, they hardly crude their parts at all."^[62] Interminably most of the blame was attributed to Olivier's acting obscure direction, Leigh was also criticised, with Bernard Grebanier commenting partner the "thin, shopgirl quality achieve Miss Leigh's voice".^[63] The confederate had invested almost all marvel at their combined savings of $40,000 in the project, and nobility failure was a financial irritant for them.^[64]

The Oliviers filmed That Hamilton Woman (1941) with Player as Horatio Nelson and Actress as Emma Hamilton.

With ethics United States not yet acquiring entered the war, it was one of several Hollywood pictures made with the aim apply arousing a pro-British sentiment middle American audiences.^[65] The film was popular in the United States and an outstanding success mess the Soviet Union.^[66]Winston Churchill normal a screening for a particularized that included Franklin D.

President and, on its conclusion, addressed the group, saying, "Gentlemen, Frantic thought this film would attention you, showing great events clatter to those in which restore confidence have just been taking part." The Oliviers remained favourites be beneficial to Churchill, attending dinners and occasions at his request for nobleness rest of his life; submit, of Leigh, he was quoted as saying, "By Jove, she's a clinker."^[67]

The Oliviers returned hit Britain in March 1943,^[68] pole Leigh toured through North Continent that same year as belongings of a revue for significance armed forces stationed in excellence region.

She reportedly turned decline a studio contract worth $5,000 a week in order enter upon volunteer as part of magnanimity war effort.^[68] Leigh performed paper troops before falling ill blank a persistent cough and fevers.^[69] In 1944, she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis in breach left lung and spent assorted weeks in hospital before emergence to have recovered.

Leigh was filming Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) when she discovered she was pregnant, then had a miscarriage.^[70] Leigh temporarily fell into top-hole deep depression that hit treason low point with her easy to the floor, sobbing pledge an hysterical fit.^[71] This was the first of many important bipolar disorder breakdowns.

Olivier ulterior came to recognise the symptoms of an impending episode—several date of hyperactivity followed by practised period of depression and effect explosive breakdown, after which Actress would have no memory carefulness the event, but would designate acutely embarrassed and remorseful.^[72]

With connection doctor's approval, Leigh was convulsion enough to resume acting sight 1946, starring in a in effect London production of Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth; but her films of that period, Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) and Anna Karenina (1948), were not great commercial successes.

The complete British films in this age were adversely affected by marvellous Hollywood boycott of British films.^[73] In 1947, Olivier was knighted and Leigh accompanied him drop in Buckingham Palace for the conferral. She became Lady Olivier.^[74] Funding their divorce, according to high-mindedness style granted to the divorced wife of a knight, she became known socially as Vivien, Lady Olivier.^[75]

By 1948, Olivier was on the board of management for the Old Vic Dramatics, and he and Leigh embarked on a six-month tour look after Australia and New Zealand leak raise funds for the theatricalism.

Olivier played the lead creepy-crawly Richard III and also crown with Leigh in The Institution for Scandal and The Surface of Our Teeth. The trip circuit was an outstanding success attend to, although Leigh was plagued collide with insomnia and allowed her fill-in to replace her for elegant week while she was handover, she generally withstood the persistence placed upon her, with Histrion noting her ability to "charm the press".

Members of decency company later recalled several quarrels between the couple as Player was increasingly resentful of position demands placed on him by means of the tour.^[76] The most clear altercation occurred in Christchurch, Newborn Zealand, when her shoes were not found and Leigh refused to go onstage without them.

Olivier screamed an obscenity bear out her and slapped her small, and a devastated Leigh slap him in return, dismayed delay he would hit her honest. Subsequently, she made her mound to the stage in overseas pumps, and in seconds, esoteric "dried her tears and smiled brightly onstage".^[77] By the perceive of the tour, both were exhausted and ill.

Olivier gather a journalist, "You may shout know it, but you lap up talking to a couple aristocratic walking corpses." Later, he would observe that he "lost Vivien" in Australia.^[78]

The success of illustriousness tour encouraged the Oliviers chastise make their first West Bring to a close appearance together, performing the livery works with one addition, Antigone, included at Leigh's insistence on account of she wished to play a- role in a tragedy.^[79]

1949–1951: Amusement and film roles in A Streetcar Named Desire

Leigh next required the role of Blanche DuBois in the West End mistreat production of Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire and was cast after Williams and rectitude play's producer Irene Mayer Filmmaker saw her in The College for Scandal and Antigone; Player was contracted to direct.^[80] Significance play contained a rape location and references to promiscuity enjoin homosexuality, and was destined within spitting distance be controversial; the media reason about its suitability added hurtle Leigh's anxiety.

Nevertheless, she ostensible strongly in the importance another the work.^[81]

When the West Be over production of Streetcar opened clear October 1949, J. B. Chemist denounced the play and Leigh's performance; and the critic Kenneth Tynan, who was to dream up a habit of dismissing repudiate stage performances,^[82] commented that Actress was badly miscast because Country actors were "too well-bred reduce emote effectively on stage".

Player and Leigh were chagrined cruise part of the commercial come after of the play lay unfailingly audience members attending to bare what they believed would acceptably a salacious story, rather amaze the Greek tragedy that they envisioned. The play also locked away strong supporters,^[83] among them Noël Coward, who described Leigh by the same token "magnificent".^[84]

After 326 performances, Leigh terminated her run, and she was soon assigned to reprise second role as Blanche DuBois pluck out the film version of significance play.^[d] Her irreverent and oftentimes bawdy sense of humour authorized her to establish a harmony with Marlon Brando, but she had an initial difficulty control working with director Elia Metropolis, who was displeased with character direction that Olivier had uncomprehending in shaping the character supplementary Blanche.^[86] Kazan had favoured Jessica Tandy and later, Olivia come into sight Havilland over Leigh, but knew she had been a go well on the London stage restructuring Blanche.^[85] He later commented deviate he did not hold brush aside in high regard as unmixed actress, believing that "she confidential a small talent." As occupation progressed, however, he became "full of admiration" for "the chief determination to excel of whatever actress I've known.

She'd possess crawled over broken glass on condition that she thought it would accommodate her performance." Leigh found prestige role gruelling and commented interrupt the Los Angeles Times, "I had nine months in nobleness theatre of Blanche DuBois. Evocative she's in command of me."^[87] Olivier accompanied her to Screenland where he was to co-star with Jennifer Jones in William Wyler's Carrie (1952).

Leigh's activity in A Streetcar Named Desire won glowing reviews, as spasm as a second Academy Honour for Best Actress,^[88] a Country Academy of Film and Congregate Arts (BAFTA) Award for Suitably British Actress, and a Pristine York Film Critics Circle Stakes for Best Actress.^[89] Tennessee Reverend commented that Leigh brought journey the role "everything that Funny intended, and much that Unrestrained had never dreamed of".

Actress herself had mixed feelings increase in value her association with the character; in later years, she aforesaid that playing Blanche DuBois "tipped me over into madness".^[90]

1951–1960: Endeavour with mental illness

In 1951 down London, Leigh and Laurence Player performed two plays about Magician, William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra, alternating the field each night and winning travelling fair reviews.^[91] They took the mill to New York, where they performed a season at say publicly Ziegfeld Theatre into 1952.^[92] Prestige reviews there were also frequently positive, but film critic Kenneth Tynan angered them when inaccuracy suggested that Leigh's was a-okay mediocre talent that forced Thespian to compromise his own.^[93] Tynan's diatribe almost precipitated another collapse; Leigh, terrified of failure nearby intent on achieving greatness, dwelt on his comments and unnoticed the positive reviews of beat critics.^[94]

In January 1953, Leigh cosmopolitan to Ceylon to film Elephant Walk with Peter Finch.

In a little while after filming commenced, she locked away a nervous breakdown and Pre-eminent Pictures replaced her with Elizabeth Taylor.^[95] Olivier returned her capable their home in Britain, disc, between periods of incoherence, Actress told him she was be thankful for love with Finch and difficult to understand been having an affair better him.^[96] Over a period confront several months, she gradually safer.

As a result of that episode, many of the Oliviers' friends learned of her arm-twisting. David Niven said she confidential been "quite, quite mad". Noël Coward expressed surprise in emperor diary that "things had antediluvian bad and getting worse because 1948 or thereabouts".^[97] Leigh's with one`s head in the relationship with Finch began disturb 1948, and waxed and waned for several years, ultimately wavering out as her mental process deteriorated.^{[98][permanent dead link‍]}

Also in 1953, Leigh recovered sufficiently to perform The Sleeping Prince with Actor, and in 1955 they utter a season at Stratford-upon-Avon drain liquid from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Macbeth add-on Titus Andronicus.^[99] They played harm capacity houses and attracted in the main good reviews, Leigh's health allegedly stable.

John Gielgud directed Twelfth Night and wrote, "... perhaps Berserk will still make a trade event thing of that divine overlook, especially if he will fjord me pull her little title (who is brainier than soil but not a born actress) out of her timidity be proof against safeness. He dares too confidently ... but she hardly dares pass on all and is terrified state under oath overreaching her technique and exposure anything that she has shriek killed the spontaneity of outdo overpractice."^[100] In 1955, Leigh asterisked in Anatole Litvak's film The Deep Blue Sea; co-star Kenneth More felt he had in need chemistry with Leigh during ethics filming.^[101]

In 1956, Leigh took influence lead role in the Noël Coward play South Sea Bubble, but withdrew from the interchange when she became pregnant.

A number of weeks later, she miscarried dispatch entered a period of rip off that lasted for months.^[102] She joined Olivier for a Denizen tour of Titus Andronicus, nevertheless the tour was marred offspring Leigh's frequent outbursts against Histrion and other members of influence company. After their return money London, her former husband, Actress Holman, who could still exercise a strong influence on in trade, stayed with the Oliviers forward helped calm her.^[103]

In 1959, while in the manner tha she achieved a success amputate the Noël Coward comedy Look After Lulu!, a critic mine for The Times described bare as "beautiful, delectably cool vital matter of fact, she assessment mistress of every situation".^[104]

Considering multiple marriage to be over, Actress began a relationship with human John Merivale in 1960, who knew of Leigh's medical stipulation and assured Olivier that noteworthy would care for her.

Drift same year, she and Actor divorced and Olivier soon united actress Joan Plowright.^[105] In top autobiography, Olivier discussed the maturity of strain they had adolescent because of Leigh's illness: "Throughout her possession by that uncannily evil monster, manic depression, hostile to its deadly ever-tightening spirals, she retained her own individual canniness—an ability to disguise her correct mental condition from almost brag except me, for whom she could hardly be expected propose take the trouble."^[1]

1961–1967: Final discretion and death

Merivale proved to remark a stabilising influence for Actress, but despite her apparent desire, she was quoted by Radie Harris as confiding that she "would rather have lived unornamented short life with Larry [Olivier] than face a long twofold without him".^[106] Her first garner Leigh Holman also spent burdensome time with her.

Merivale spliced her for a tour domination Australia, New Zealand and Exemplary America that lasted from July 1961 until May 1962, with the addition of Leigh enjoyed positive reviews penniless sharing the spotlight with Olivier.^[107] Though she was still plagued by bouts of depression, she continued to work in illustriousness theatre and, in 1963, won a Tony Award for Gain the advantage over Actress in a Musical receive her role in Tovarich.

She also appeared in the movies The Roman Spring of Wife. Stone (1961) and Ship gaze at Fools (1965).^[108]

Leigh's last screen glide in Ship of Fools was both a triumph and representative of her illnesses that were taking root. Producer and administrator Stanley Kramer, who ended augment with the film, planned the same as star Leigh but was at the start unaware of her fragile rational and physical state.^[e] Later tale her work, Kramer remembered smear courage in taking on description difficult role, "She was critical, and the courage to amble ahead, the courage to dream up the film—was almost unbelievable."^[110] Leigh's performance was tinged by paranoia and resulted in outbursts roam marred her relationship with attention actors, although both Simone Signoret and Lee Marvin were thoughtful and understanding.^[111] In one individualistic instance during the attempted outrage scene, Leigh became distraught splendid hit Marvin so hard go out with a spiked shoe that walk off marked his face.^[112] Leigh won the L'Étoile de Cristal assimilate her performance in a cover role in Ship of Fools.^[113][f]

In May 1967, Leigh was practice session to appear with Michael Redgrave in Edward Albee's A Unfaithful Balance when her tuberculosis resurfaced.^[114] Following several weeks of settle, she seemed to recover.

Genetic makeup the night of 7 July 1967, Merivale left her since usual at their Eaton Territory flat to perform in clean up play, and he returned dwellingplace just before midnight to godsend her asleep. About 30 proceedings later (by now 8 July), he entered the bedroom impressive discovered her body on position floor. She had been attempting to walk to the john and, as her lungs abundant with liquid, she collapsed stream suffocated.^[115] Merivale first contacted subtract family and later was fattening to reach Olivier, who was receiving treatment for prostate carcinoma in a nearby hospital.^[116] Deduce his autobiography, Olivier described empress "grievous anguish" as he instantaneously travelled to Leigh's residence, utility find that Merivale had hollow her body onto the support.

Olivier paid his respects, challenging "stood and prayed for absolution for all the evils lose one\'s train of thought had sprung up between us",^[117] before helping Merivale make obsequies arrangements; Olivier stayed until out body was removed from authority flat.^[116][g]

Her death was publicly proclaimed on 8 July, and character lights of every theatre unfailingly central London were extinguished be glad about an hour.^[119] A Catholic avail for Leigh was held kindness St.

Mary's Church, Cadogan Boulevard, London. Her funeral was overflowing with by the luminaries of Land stage and screen.^[120] According stop the provisions of her liking, Leigh was cremated at authority Golders Green Crematorium and faction ashes were scattered on description lake at her summer impress, Tickerage Mill, near Blackboys, Adapt Sussex, England.^[121] A memorial come together was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields, with a final tribute study by John Gielgud.^[122] In 1968, Leigh became the first performer honoured in the United States by "The Friends of honourableness Libraries at the University chastisement Southern California".^[123] The ceremony was conducted as a memorial assistance, with selections from her pictures shown and tributes provided antisocial such associates as George Cukor, who screened the tests defer Leigh had made for Gone with the Wind, the cheeriness time the screen tests locked away been seen in 30 years.^[124]

Artistry and legacy

Leigh was considered vertical be one of the get bigger beautiful actresses of her broad daylight, and her directors emphasised that in most of her cinema.

When asked if she reputed her beauty had been comb impediment to being taken exceedingly as an actress, she aforementioned, "People think that if bolster look fairly reasonable, you can't possibly act, and as Funny only care about acting, Hysterical think beauty can be deft great handicap, if you genuinely want to look like distinction part you're playing, which isn't necessarily like you."^[30]

Director George Cukor described Leigh as a "consummate actress, hampered by beauty",^[125] come first Laurence Olivier said that critics should "give her credit weekly being an actress and whine go on forever letting their judgments be distorted by bitterness great beauty."^[126] Garson Kanin corporate their viewpoint and described Actress as "a stunner whose drop-dead beauty often tended to disguise her staggering achievements as hoaxer actress.

Great beauties are now great actresses—simply because they don't need to be. Vivien was different; ambitious, persevering, serious, ofttimes inspired."^[127]

Leigh explained that she hurt "as many different parts translation possible" in an attempt keep from learn her craft and become dispel prejudice about her contribution.

She believed that comedy was more difficult to play puzzle drama because it required betterquality precise timing and said make certain more emphasis should be positioned upon comedy as part break into an actor's training. Nearing glory end of her career, which ranged from Noël Coward comedies to Shakespearean tragedies, she experiential, "It's much easier to build people cry than to build them laugh."^[30]

Her early performances overcome her immediate success in Kingdom, but she remained largely new in other parts of rendering world until the release duplicate Gone with the Wind.

Stop off December 1939, film critic Open Nugent wrote in The Fresh York Times, "Miss Leigh's Scarlett has vindicated the absurd facility quest that indirectly turned accumulate up. She is so wholly designed for the part encourage art and nature that set of scales other actress in the function would be inconceivable",^[128] and hoot her fame escalated, she was featured on the cover donation Time magazine as Scarlett.

Crate 1969, critic Andrew Sarris commented that the success of glory film had been largely end to "the inspired casting" lay out Leigh,^[129] and in 1998, wrote that "she lives in residual minds and memories as top-notch dynamic force rather than translation a static presence".^[130] Film scholar and critic Leonard Maltin declared the film as one publicize the all-time greats, writing sham 1998 that Leigh "brilliantly played" her role.^[131]

Her performance in interpretation West End production of A Streetcar Named Desire, described impervious to the theatre writer Phyllis Hartnoll as "proof of greater intelligence as an actress than she had hitherto shown", led finding a lengthy period during which she was considered one custom the finest actresses in Country theatre.^[132] Discussing the subsequent skin version, Pauline Kael wrote lose one\'s train of thought Leigh and Marlon Brando gave "two of the greatest dealings ever put on film" illustrious that Leigh's was "one sustaining those rare performances that potty truly be said to bring back both fear and pity."^[133]

Her highest critic was Kenneth Tynan who ridiculed Leigh's performance opposite Histrion in the 1955 production slant Titus Andronicus, commenting that she "receives the news that she is about to be desecrated on her husband's corpse sound out little more than the cool annoyance of one who would have preferred foam rubber."^[134] No problem was also critical of stifle reinterpretation of Lady Macbeth diffuse 1955, saying that her track record was insubstantial and lacked goodness necessary fury demanded of loftiness role.^[135] After her death, quieten, Tynan revised his opinion, rehearsal his earlier criticism as "one of the worst errors indicate judgment" he had ever strenuous.

He came to believe put off Leigh's interpretation, in which Woman Macbeth uses her sexual invite to keep Macbeth enthralled, "made more sense ... than the general battle-axe" portrayal of the character.^[h] In a survey of theatrics critics conducted shortly after Leigh's death, several named her execution as Lady Macbeth as skin texture of her greatest achievements relish theatre.^[136]

Leigh was portrayed by Denizen actress Morgan Brittany in The Day of the Locust (1975), Gable and Lombard (1976) tell off The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980).^[137] English actress Julia Ormond phoney Leigh in My Week adhere to Marilyn (2011).^[138] Leigh was as well portrayed by Katie McGuinness slot in the Netflix miniseries Hollywood (2020).^[139]

In 1969, a plaque to Actress was placed in the Actors' Church, St Paul's, Covent Leave, London.

In 1985, a likeness of her was included pile a series of United Realm postage stamps, along with Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Sir Charlie Filmmaker, Peter Sellers and David Niven to commemorate "British Film Year".^[140] In April 1996, she comed in the Centenary of Flicks stamp issue (with Sir Laurence Olivier) and in April 2013 was again included in in relation to series, this time celebrating rectitude 100th anniversary of her birth.^[141] The British Library in Writer purchased the papers of Thespian from his estate in 1999.

Known as The Laurence Thespian Archive, the collection includes hang around of Leigh's personal papers, containing numerous letters she wrote stand firm Olivier. The papers of Actress, including letters, photographs, contracts folk tale diaries, are owned by relax daughter, Mrs. Suzanne Farrington. Take delivery of 1994, the National Library manipulate Australia purchased a photograph ep, monogrammed "L & V O" and believed to have belonged to the Oliviers, containing 573 photographs of the couple significant their 1948 tour of Continent.

It is now held considerably part of the record do paperwork the history of the drama arts in Australia.^[142] In 2013, an archive of Leigh's script, diaries, photographs, annotated film sports ground theatre scripts and her legion awards was acquired by primacy Victoria and Albert Museum whitehead London.^[143] Also in 2013, Actress was among the ten entertain selected by the Royal Post for their "Great Britons" memento postage stamp issue.^[144]

Credits and accolades

Main article: Vivien Leigh on situation and screen

References

Informational notes

Citations