Real Name: Vivian Mary Hartley
Birthdate: November 5,1913
Birthplace:Darjeeling, West Bengal,India
Deathdate: July 7,1967
Deathplace:London, England
Cause of Death:Chronic Tuberculosis
Husbands:
Herbert Leigh Holman (20 December 1932 - February 1940) (divorced); 1 child
Laurence Olivier (31 August 1940 - 2 December 1960) (divorced); 2 children
Nickname:Vivling
Height:5' 3"
Won Tony Award-Best Musical Actress (1963) "Tovarich"
Suffered from manic depression.
Daughter, with Holman, Suzanne (b. 10/12/1933).
Lived with John Merivale from 1959 to her death in 1967.
A heavy smoker, Vivian Leigh was smoking almost 4 packs a day during filming of Gone With The Wind (1939).
Gertrude Hartley, while awaiting the birth of her child in Darjeeling, spent 15 minutes every morning gazing at the Himalayas in the belief that their astonishing beauty would be passed to her unborn child.
After cremation at Golders Green, London, Vivien Leigh's ashes were scattered on the mill pond at her home, Tickerage Mill, at Blackboys in Sussex.
Scarlett O'Hara might have been played by an actress called 'April Morn', a stage name she briefly considered before settling on Vivien Leigh.
Olivier's first wife, Jill Esmond (I), named Vivien as co-respondent in her February 1940 divorce from Olivier on grounds of adultery. Vivien would name Joan Plowright - Olivier's next and last wife - as co-respondent in her 1960 divorce from Olivier, also on grounds of adultery.
The producer of the 1935 play "The Mask of Virtue" suggested to her that she change the 'a' in her first name to an 'e' from "Vivian" to "Vivien."
According to legend, Myron Selznick introduced Vivien to his brother - Gone With the Wind producer David O. Selznick - with the words, "Hey, genius! Meet your Scarlett."
Married Laurence Olivier at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara on August 31st, 1940, with Katharine Hepburn as maid of honor; they honeymooned on actor Ronald Colman's yacht.
A lover of cats, especially Siamese.
Claimed that when she tested for "Gone With the Wind", the costume was still warm from the actress who preceded her.
Was offered the supporting role of Isabella in "Wuthering Heights", but decided to gamble and hold out for the lead role of Cathy. Director William Wyler thought she was crazy to pass up the opportunity, telling her, "You will never get a better part than Isabella for an American debut." (Shortly after, she landed the plum role of Scarlett O'Hara.)
Pictured on one of four 25¢ US commemorative postage stamps issued 23 March 1990 honoring classic films released in 1939. The stamp features Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh as Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara from _Gone with the Wind (1939)_. The other films honored were _Beau Geste (1939)_, _Stagecoach (1939)_, and _Wizard of Oz, The (1939)_.
Her favorite role was that of Myra Lester, which she played in Waterloo Bridge (1940).
