Vivian Leigh (1913 - 1967)

Biography from Katz's Film Encyclopedia

Convent-educated in England and on the Continent, she made her British film debut in 1934, her London stage debut the following year. An appearance opposite Laurence Olivier in the film FIRE OVER ENGLAND (1937) led to a well-publicized romance between the two married stars. They finally married each other in 1940, following simultaneous divorces from their respective spouses.

Happy and content

The year before, Miss Leigh had achieved fame and worldwide popularity as Scarlett O'Hara in Hollywood's GONE WITH THE WIND, a role for which she had been chosen from among hundreds of aspirants and for which she received her first Academy Award, as well as the New York critics' 'best-actress' prize.

Lost and Lonely

She won her second Oscar and was again the New York critics' winner for the role of Blanche du Bois in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951). Delicate and small-framed, she was plagued by tuberculosis and physical exhaustion through much of her career. She is remembered as one of the most exquisite beauties ever to grace the screen.

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