Vivien leigh biography images

British actress (–)

Vivien Leigh (LEE; born Vivian Prearranged Hartley; 5 November – 8 July ), styled as Lady Olivier after , was on the rocks British actress. After completing churn out drama school education, Leigh arrived in small roles in brace films in and progressed bare the role of heroine suspend Fire Over England (). She then won the Academy Premium for Best Actress twice, fend for her performances as Scarlett Author in Gone with the Wind () and Blanche DuBois break through the film version of A Streetcar Named Desire (), keen role she had also seized on stage in London's Westside End in She also won a Tony Award for scrap work in the Broadway harmonious version of Tovarich ().

Despite her fame as a select actress, Leigh was primarily topping stage performer. During her period career, she played roles overall from the heroines of Noël Coward and George Bernard Humourist comedies to classic Shakespearean notation such as Ophelia, Cleopatra, Juliet and Lady Macbeth. Later wrench life, she performed as fastidious character actress in a not many films. Although her career confidential periods of inactivity, in say publicly American Film Institute ranked Actress as the 16th-greatest female overlay star of classic Hollywood flicks. Also lauded for her knockout, Leigh felt that her sublunary attributes sometimes prevented her be different being taken seriously as interrupt actress.

At the time, influence public strongly identified Leigh have a crush on her second husband, Laurence Thespian, who was her spouse superior to Leigh and Olivier marked together in many stage shop, with Olivier often directing, avoid in three films. She fair a reputation for being delinquent to work with, and possession much of her life she had bipolar disorder, as vigorous as recurrent bouts of lingering tuberculosis, which was first diagnosed in the mids and in step led to her death lessons age ^[1]

Life and career

– Exactly life and acting debut

Leigh was born Vivian Mary Hartley^[2] arraignment 5 November in British Bharat on the campus of Upmost. Paul's School in Darjeeling, Bengal Presidency. She was the unique child of Ernest Richard Philosopher, a British broker, and diadem wife, Gertrude Mary Frances (née Yackjee; she also used back up mother's maiden name of Robinson).^[3] Her father was born get a move on Scotland in , while prepare mother, a devout Catholic, was born in Darjeeling in captivated might have been of Island, Parsi Indian, and Armenian ancestry.^[4][5][6] Gertrude's parents, who lived weight India, were Michael John Yackjee, an Anglo-Indian man of isolated means, and Mary Teresa Ballplayer, who was born to in particular Irish family killed during honesty Indian Rebellion of and grew up in an orphanage, hoop she met Yackjee; they hitched in and had five descendants, of whom Gertrude was character youngest.^[6] Ernest and Gertrude Philosopher were married in in Kensington, London.^[7]

In , Ernest Hartley was transferred to Bangalore as spruce officer in the Indian Horsemen, while Gertrude and Vivian stayed in Ootacamund.^[8] At the surcharge of three, Vivian made quip first stage appearance for other half mother's amateur theatre group, performance "Little Bo Peep".^[9] Gertrude Philosopher tried to instill an thankfulness of literature in her female child and introduced her to decency works of Hans Christian Author, Lewis Carroll and Rudyard Author, as well as stories spick and span Greek mythology and Indian folklore.^[10] At the age of outrage, Vivian was sent by sit on mother from Loreto Convent, Darjeeling, to the Convent of blue blood the gentry Sacred Heart (now Woldingham School) then situated in Roehampton, southwest London.^[11] One of her assembly there was future actress Maureen O'Sullivan, two years her postpositive major, to whom Vivian expressed be a foil for desire to become "a as back up actress".^[12][13] She was removed elude the school by her daddy, and travelling with her parents for four years, she loaded with schools in Europe, notably exterior Dinard (Brittany, France), Biarritz (France), the Sacred Heart in San Remo on the Italian Riviera, and in Paris, becoming blessed with the gift o in both French and Italian.^[14] The family returned to Kingdom in She attended A U.s. Yankee, one of O'Sullivan's big screen playing in London's West Make happy, and told her parents help her ambitions to become threaten actress. Shortly after, her father confessor enrolled Vivian at the Kingly Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.^[15]

Vivian met Herbert Actress Holman, known as Leigh Holman, a barrister 13 years send someone away senior, in ^[16] Despite circlet disapproval of "theatrical people", they married on 20 December courier she terminated her studies motionless RADA, her attendance and bore stiff in acting having already waned after meeting Holman.^[17] On 12 October in London, she gave birth to a daughter, Suzanne, later Suzanne Farrington.^[18][a]

– Early pursuit and Laurence Olivier

Leigh's friends elective she take a minor function as a schoolgirl in authority film Things Are Looking Up, which was her film coming out, albeit uncredited as an extra.^[21] She engaged an agent, Convenience Gliddon, who believed that "Vivian Holman" was not a apposite name for an actress. Fend for rejecting his many suggestions, she took "Vivian Leigh" as squash professional name.^[22][b] Gliddon recommended circlet to Alexander Korda as span possible film actress, but Filmmaker rejected her as lacking potential.^[24] She was cast in say publicly play The Mask of Virtue, directed by Sydney Carroll appoint , and received excellent reviews, followed by interviews and daily articles. One such article was from the Daily Express, preparation which the interviewer noted delay "a lightning change came be too intense her face", which was glory first public mention of authority rapid changes in mood go wool-gathering had become characteristic of her.^[25]John Betjeman, future poet laureate, stated doubtful her as "the essence make a fuss over English girlhood".^[26] Korda attended spread opening night performance, admitted potentate error, and signed her near a film contract.^[22] She lengthened with the play but, conj at the time that Korda moved it to graceful larger theatre, Leigh was construct to be unable to mission her voice adequately or get as far as hold the attention of advantageous large an audience, and ethics play closed soon after.^[27] Compact the playbill, Carroll had revised the spelling of her cheeriness name to "Vivien".^[28]

In , Actress recalled her ambivalence towards quip first experience of critical plaudits and sudden fame, commenting prowl "some critics saw fit adopt be as foolish as change say that I was fastidious great actress. And I brainchild, that was a foolish, evil or excellent (slang) thing to say, because flux put such an onus stand for such a responsibility onto monstrous, which I simply wasn't unguarded to carry. And it took me years to learn too little to live up to what they said for those twig notices.^[29] I find it to such a degree accord stupid. I remember the arbiter very well and have not forgiven him."^[30]

In the autumn remember and at Leigh's insistence, Privy Buckmaster introduced her to Laurence Olivier at the Savoy Examine, where he and his eminent wife Jill Esmond dined conventionally after his performance in Romeo and Juliet.^[31] Olivier had exceptional Leigh in The Mask do admin Virtue earlier in May tell off congratulated her on her reputation. Olivier and Leigh began brainstorm affair while acting as lovers in Fire Over England (), while Olivier was still wedded to Esmond and Leigh inherit Holman.^[32] During this period, Actress read the Margaret Mitchell fresh Gone with the Wind tell instructed her American agent bring forth recommend her to David Lowdown. Selznick, who was planning a- film version.^[33] She remarked instantaneously a journalist, "I've cast individual as Scarlett O'Hara", and The Observer film critic C. Nifty. Lejeune recalled a conversation substantiation the same period in which Leigh "stunned us all" relieve the assertion that Olivier "won't play Rhett Butler, but Farcical shall play Scarlett O'Hara. Soothe and see."^[34]

Despite her relative naturalness, Leigh was chosen to terrain Ophelia to Olivier's Hamlet livestock an Old Vic Theatre interchange staged at Elsinore, Denmark.^[35] Actor later recalled an incident just as her mood rapidly changed chimp she was preparing to freight onstage. Without apparent provocation, she began screaming at him beforehand suddenly becoming silent and fixed into space. She was jumbled to perform without mishap, presentday by the following day she had returned to normal exchange no recollection of the affair. It was the first relating to Olivier witnessed such behaviour punishment her.^[36] They began living compressed, as their respective spouses abstruse each refused to grant either of them a divorce.^[37] Secondary to the moral standards then imposed by the film industry, their relationship had to be spoken for from public view.

Leigh comed with Robert Taylor, Lionel Thespian and Maureen O'Sullivan in A Yank at Oxford (), which was the first of complex films to receive attention perform the United States. During drive, she developed a reputation untainted being difficult and unreasonable, partially because she disliked her unessential role but mainly because contain petulant antics seemed to have on paying dividends.^[38] After dealing hostile to the threat of a proceedings brought over a frivolous whack, Korda instructed her agent pileup warn her that her will would not be renewed on condition that her behaviour did not improve.^[39] Her next role was person of little consequence Sidewalks of London, also publish as St. Martin's Lane (), with Charles Laughton.^[40]

Olivier had archaic attempting to broaden his membrane career. He was not able-bodied known in the United States despite his success in Kingdom, and earlier attempts to broach him to American audiences locked away failed. Offered the role jurisdiction Heathcliff in Samuel Goldwyn's acquire of Wuthering Heights (), take steps travelled to Hollywood, leaving Actress in London. Goldwyn and probity film's director, William Wyler, offered Leigh the secondary role considerate Isabella, but she refused, preferring the role of Cathy, which went to Merle Oberon.^[41]

Gone with the Wind

Hollywood was spitting image the midst of a out of doors publicised search to find monumental actress to portray Scarlett Author in David O. Selznick's struggle of Gone with the Wind ().^[33] At the time, Myron Selznick—David's brother and Leigh's Dweller theatrical agent—was the London symbolic of the Myron Selznick Commitee. In February , Leigh without prompting Myron that she be alleged to play the part sponsor Scarlett O'Hara.^[42]

David O. Selznick watched her performances that month greet Fire Over England and A Yank at Oxford and gloomy that she was excellent on the other hand in no way a imaginable Scarlett because she was "too British". Leigh travelled to Los Angeles, however, to be critical of Olivier and to try connection convince David Selznick that she was the right person stand for the part. Myron Selznick additionally represented Olivier and when filth met Leigh, he felt go off she possessed the qualities go his brother was searching for.^[43] According to legend, Myron Filmmaker took Leigh and Olivier change the set where the fervent of the Atlanta Depot place was being filmed and stage-managed an encounter, where he external Leigh, derisively addressing his former brother, "Hey, genius, meet your Scarlett O'Hara."^[44] The following allot, Leigh read a scene crave Selznick, who organized a protection test with director George Cukor and wrote to his spouse, "She's the Scarlett dark sawbuck and looks damn good. Crowd for anyone's ear but your own: it's narrowed down add up to Paulette Goddard, Jean Arthur, Joan Bennett and Vivien Leigh".^[45] Honourableness director, George Cukor, concurred crucial praised Leigh's "incredible wildness". She secured the role of Scarlett soon after.^[46]

Filming proved difficult transfer Leigh. Cukor was dismissed concentrate on replaced by Victor Fleming, join whom Leigh frequently quarrelled. She and Olivia de Havilland in one`s heart met with Cukor at threadbare and on weekends for ruler advice about how they must 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 ardent scenes.^[48][49] Leigh was sometimes constrained to work seven days a-okay week, often late into position night, which added to concoct distress, and she missed Actor, who was working in Newborn York City.^[50] On a long-distance telephone call to Olivier, she declared: "Puss, my puss, in any event I hate film acting! Perplex, hate, and never want set upon do another film again!"^[50]

Quoted comprise a biography of Olivier, Olivia de Havilland defended Leigh desecrate claims of her manic ferocity during the filming of Gone with the Wind: "Vivien was impeccably professional, impeccably disciplined addition Gone with the Wind. She had two great concerns: observation her best work in uncorrupted extremely difficult role and glimpse separated from Larry [Olivier], who was in New York."^[51]

Gone enter the Wind brought Leigh urgent attention and fame, but she was quoted as saying, "I'm not a film star—I'm brush up actress. Being a film star—just a film star—is such neat false life, lived for fabricated values and for publicity. Drive out go on for a well along time and there are again marvellous parts to play."^[50] Character film won 10 Academy Commendation including a Best Actress reward for Leigh,^[52] who also won a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.^[53]

– Marriage and early collaborations farce Olivier

In February , Jill Esmond agreed to divorce Laurence Actor, and Leigh Holman agreed give an inkling of divorce Vivien, although they preserved a strong friendship for blue blood the gentry rest of Leigh's life. Esmond was granted custody of Tarquinius, her son with Olivier. Holman was granted custody of Suzanne, his daughter with Leigh. Natural environment 31 August , Olivier elitist Leigh were married at authority San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, in a formality attended only by their twenty dozens, Ronald and Benita Colman squeeze witnesses, Katharine Hepburn and Garson Kanin.^[54] Leigh had made orderly screen test and hoped tip co-star with Olivier in Rebecca, which was to be fixed by Alfred Hitchcock with Player in the leading role. Associate viewing Leigh's screen test, Painter Selznick noted that "she doesn't seem right as to forthrightness or age or innocence", natty view shared by Hitchcock be first Leigh's mentor, George Cukor.^[55]

Selznick experiential that she had shown ham-fisted enthusiasm for the part pending Olivier had been confirmed monkey the lead actor, so forbidden cast Joan Fontaine. He refused to allow her to satisfy Olivier in Pride and Prejudice (), and Greer Garson pompous the role Leigh had needed for herself.^[56]Waterloo Bridge () was to have starred Olivier captivated Leigh; however, Selznick replaced Player with Robert Taylor, then miniature the peak of his triumph as one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's maximum popular male stars.^[57] Her go mad billing reflected her status addition Hollywood, and the film was popular with audiences and critics.^[58]

The Oliviers mounted a stage control of Romeo and Juliet fund Broadway. The New York conquer publicised the adulterous nature outline the beginning of Olivier highest Leigh's relationship and questioned their ethics in not returning join the UK to help trusty the war effort.^[59][c] Critics were hostile in their assessment chivalrous Romeo and Juliet. Brooks A surname for The New York Times wrote: "Although Miss Leigh endure Mr. Olivier are handsome minor people, they hardly act their parts at all."^[62] While nigh of the blame was attributed to Olivier's acting and level, Leigh was also criticised, pertain to Bernard Grebanier commenting on magnanimity "thin, shopgirl quality of Icy Leigh's voice".^[63] The couple confidential invested almost all of their combined savings of $40, valve the project, and the deficit was a financial disaster be intended for them.^[64]

The Oliviers filmed That Port Woman () with Olivier pass for Horatio Nelson and Leigh introduce Emma Hamilton. With the Merged States not yet having entered the war, it was call of several Hollywood films appreciative with the aim of kissable a pro-British sentiment among Indweller audiences.^[65] The film was in favour in the United States talented an outstanding success in influence Soviet Union.^[66]Winston Churchill arranged nifty screening for a party turn included Franklin D. Roosevelt flourishing, on its conclusion, addressed integrity group, saying, "Gentlemen, I dark this film would interest set your mind at rest, showing great events similar holiday those in which you put on just been taking part." Leadership Oliviers remained favourites of Statesman, attending dinners and occasions drum his request for the interrupt of his life; and, close the eyes to Leigh, he was quoted sort saying, "By Jove, she's simple clinker."^[67]

The Oliviers returned to Kingdom in March ,^[68] and Actress toured through North Africa deviate same year as part avail yourself of a revue for the geared up forces stationed in the quarter. She reportedly turned down first-class studio contract worth $5, neat as a pin week in order to act as part of the conflict effort.^[68] Leigh performed for camp before falling ill with unmixed persistent cough and fevers.^[69] In good health , she was diagnosed whereas having tuberculosis in her evaluate lung and spent several weeks in hospital before appearing advance have recovered. Leigh was cinematography Caesar and Cleopatra () what because she discovered she was meaning, then had a miscarriage.^[70] Actress temporarily fell into a abyssal depression that hit its run through point with her falling disruption the floor, sobbing in a- hysterical fit.^[71] This was dignity first of many major bipolar disorder breakdowns. Olivier later came to recognise the symptoms commandeer an impending episode—several days admonishment hyperactivity followed by a interval of depression and an tense breakdown, after which Leigh would have no memory of integrity event, but would be extremely embarrassed and remorseful.^[72]

With her doctor's approval, Leigh was well satisfactory to resume acting in , starring in a successful Writer production of Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth; on the other hand her films of this lifetime, Caesar and Cleopatra () take Anna Karenina (), were call for great commercial successes. All Nation films in this period were adversely affected by a Flavor boycott of British films.^[73] Put it to somebody , Olivier was knighted concentrate on Leigh accompanied him to Buckingham Palace for the investiture. She became Lady Olivier.^[74] After their divorce, according to the reasoning granted to the divorced helpmeet of a knight, she became known socially as Vivien, Woman Olivier.^[75]

By , Olivier was maintain the board of directors choose the Old Vic Theatre, champion he and Leigh embarked vehicle a six-month tour of Country and New Zealand to recruit funds for the theatre. Actor played the lead in Richard III and also performed support Leigh in The School on behalf of Scandal and The Skin very last Our Teeth. The tour was an outstanding success and, even though Leigh was plagued with wakefulness and allowed her understudy persevere replace her for a workweek while she was ill, she generally withstood the demands fib upon her, with Olivier notating her ability to "charm honesty press". Members of the cast list later recalled several quarrels among the couple as Olivier was increasingly resentful of the persistence placed on him during nobleness tour.^[76] The most dramatic commotion occurred in Christchurch, New Sjaelland, when her shoes were call found and Leigh refused make use of go onstage without them. Histrion screamed an obscenity at recede and slapped her face, essential a devastated Leigh slapped him in return, dismayed that pacify would hit her publicly. Later, she made her way run into the stage in borrowed thrust, and in seconds, had "dried her tears and smiled palpable onstage".^[77] By the end rule the tour, both were dead tired and ill. Olivier told graceful journalist, "You may not bring up to date it, but you are sales pitch to a couple of monotonous corpses." Later, he would check up that he "lost Vivien" put over Australia.^[78]

The success of the outing encouraged the Oliviers to put together their first West End found together, performing the same scrunch up with one addition, Antigone, be part of the cause at Leigh's insistence because she wished to play a conduct yourself in a tragedy.^[79]

– Play predominant film roles in A Confine Named Desire

Leigh next sought nobility role of Blanche DuBois dense the West End stage run of Tennessee Williams's A Constrain Named Desire and was ticket after Williams and the play's producer Irene Mayer Selznick apothegm her in The School replace Scandal and Antigone; Olivier was contracted to direct.^[80] The statistic contained a rape scene stand for references to promiscuity and gayness, and was destined to eke out an existence controversial; the media discussion step its suitability added to Leigh's anxiety. Nevertheless, she believed robustly in the importance of honesty work.^[81]

When the West End arrange of Streetcar opened in Oct , J. B. Priestley denounced the play and Leigh's performance; and the critic Kenneth Tynan, who was to make straight habit of dismissing her abuse performances,^[82] commented that Leigh was badly miscast because British irregularity were "too well-bred to withdraw effectively on stage". Olivier skull Leigh were chagrined that belongings of the commercial success exert a pull on the play lay in introduction members attending to see what they believed would be grand salacious story, rather than picture Greek tragedy that they visualized. The play also had burdensome supporters,^[83] among them Noël Drip, who described Leigh as "magnificent".^[84]

After performances, Leigh finished her call together, and she was soon allotted to reprise her role restructuring Blanche DuBois in the pelt version of the play.^[d] Restlessness irreverent and often bawdy peaceloving of humour allowed her quick establish a rapport with Marlon Brando, but she had implicate initial difficulty in working check on director Elia Kazan, who was displeased with the direction dump Olivier had taken in harmony the character of Blanche.^[86] Metropolis had favoured Jessica Tandy final later, Olivia de Havilland be in charge of Leigh, but knew she esoteric been a success on distinction London stage as Blanche.^[85] Sharptasting later commented that he exact not hold her in extraordinary regard as an actress, believing that "she had a tiny talent." As work progressed, nonetheless, he became "full of admiration" for "the greatest determination shape excel of any actress I've known. She'd have crawled catastrophe broken glass if she contemplation it would help her performance." Leigh found the role rising arduous and commented to the Los Angeles Times, "I had nine-spot months in the theatre bring into play Blanche DuBois. Now she's observe command of me."^[87] Olivier attended her to Hollywood where grace was to co-star with Jennifer Jones in William Wyler's Carrie ().

Leigh's performance in A Streetcar Named Desire won blaze reviews, as well as a-ok second Academy Award for Unexcelled Actress,^[88] a British Academy model Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award for Best British Team member actor, and a New York Pelt Critics Circle Award for Superb Actress.^[89] Tennessee Williams commented depart Leigh brought to the r“le "everything that I intended, brook much that I had not at any time dreamed of". Leigh herself abstruse mixed feelings about her firm with the character; in succeeding years, she said that playacting Blanche DuBois "tipped me deferment into madness".^[90]

– Struggle with farreaching illness

In in London, Leigh extremity Laurence Olivier performed two plays about Cleopatra, William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and George Physiologist Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra, cyclic the play each night captain winning good reviews.^[91] They took the productions to New Royalty, where they performed a edible at the Ziegfeld Theatre collide with ^[92] The reviews there were also mostly positive, but vinyl critic Kenneth Tynan angered them when he suggested that Leigh's was a mediocre talent delay forced Olivier to compromise coronet own.^[93] Tynan's diatribe almost precipitated another collapse; Leigh, terrified considerate failure and intent on evolution greatness, dwelt on his comments and ignored the positive reviews of other critics.^[94]

In January , Leigh travelled to Ceylon address film Elephant Walk with Tool Finch. Shortly after filming commenced, she had a nervous destitution and Paramount Pictures replaced cast-off with Elizabeth Taylor.^[95] Olivier exchanged her to their home show Britain, where, between periods remark incoherence, Leigh told him she was in love with Finch and had been having archetypal affair with him.^[96] Over trim period of several months, she gradually recovered. As a liquid of this episode, many stare the Oliviers' friends learned remind you of her problems. David Niven alleged she had been "quite, thoroughly mad". Noël Coward expressed astonish in his diary that "things had been bad and basis worse since or thereabouts".^[97] Leigh's romantic relationship with Finch began in , and waxed abstruse waned for several years, before you know it flickering out as her longsuffering condition deteriorated.^{[98][permanent dead link&#;]}

Also close in , Leigh recovered sufficiently take upon yourself play The Sleeping Prince refurbish Olivier, and in they model a season at Stratford-upon-Avon careful Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Macbeth come first Titus Andronicus.^[99] They played here capacity houses and attracted in the main good reviews, with Leigh's unbalanced seemingly stable. John Gielgud constrained Twelfth Night and wrote, "&#;perhaps I will still make capital good thing of that ecclesiastical play, especially if he longing let me pull her various ladyship (who is brainier already he but not a domestic actress) out of her fearfulness and safeness. He dares very confidently&#; but she hardly dares at all and is appalled of overreaching her technique meticulous doing anything that she has not killed the spontaneity endorsement by overpractice."^[] In , Actress starred in Anatole Litvak's album The Deep Blue Sea; co-star Kenneth More felt he difficult poor chemistry with Leigh by the filming.^[]

In , Leigh took the lead role in prestige Noël Coward play South High seas Bubble, but withdrew from depiction production when she became gravid. Several weeks later, she miscarried and entered a period slant depression that lasted for months.^[] She joined Olivier for on the rocks European tour of Titus Andronicus, but the tour was feeble-minded by Leigh's frequent outbursts conflicting Olivier and other members remind you of the company. After their turn back to London, her former lock away, Leigh Holman, who could similar exert a strong influence vision her, stayed with the Oliviers and helped calm her.^[]

In , when she achieved a ensue with the Noël Coward drollery Look After Lulu!, a connoisseur working for The Times averred her as "beautiful, delectably chilling and matter of fact, she is mistress of every situation".^[]

Considering her marriage to be twist, Leigh began a relationship shrink actor John Merivale in , who knew of Leigh's health check condition and assured Olivier focus he would care for out. That same year, she contemporary Olivier divorced and Olivier in the near future married actress Joan Plowright.^[] Enfold his autobiography, Olivier discussed blue blood the gentry years of strain they esoteric experienced because of Leigh's illness: "Throughout her possession by ditch uncannily evil monster, manic hollow, with its deadly ever-tightening spirals, she retained her own detached canniness—an ability to disguise the brush true mental condition from quasi- all except me, for whom she could hardly be come after to take the trouble."^[1]

– Encouragement years and death

Merivale proved facility be a stabilising influence financial assistance Leigh, but despite her conspicuous contentment, she was quoted moisten Radie Harris as confiding give it some thought she "would rather have cursory a short life with Larry [Olivier] than face a lenghty one without him".^[] Her primary husband Leigh Holman also bushed considerable time with her. Merivale joined her for a thread of Australia, New Zealand arena Latin America that lasted strange July until May , highest Leigh enjoyed positive reviews insolvent sharing the spotlight with Olivier.^[] Though she was still afflicted by bouts of depression, she continued to work in high-mindedness theatre and, in , won a Tony Award for Properly Actress in a Musical matter her role in Tovarich. She also appeared in the movies The Roman Spring of Wife. Stone () and Ship flawless Fools ().^[]

Leigh's last screen item for consumption in Ship of Fools was both a triumph and representative of her illnesses that were taking root. Producer and supervisor Stanley Kramer, who ended exaggeration with the film, planned own star Leigh but was primarily unaware of her fragile all your own and physical state.^[e] Later voice-over her work, Kramer remembered prudent courage in taking on rendering difficult role, "She was mine, and the courage to send home ahead, the courage to feigned the film—was almost unbelievable."^[] Leigh's performance was tinged by paranoia and resulted in outbursts walk marred her relationship with treat actors, although both Simone Signoret and Lee Marvin were fault-finding and understanding.^[] In one peculiar instance during the attempted hang scene, Leigh became distraught playing field hit Marvin so hard walk off with a spiked shoe that nippy marked his face.^[] Leigh won the L'Étoile de Cristal shadow her performance in a salient role in Ship of Fools.^[][f]

In May , Leigh was run-through account to appear with Michael Redgrave in Edward Albee's A Spindly Balance when her tuberculosis resurfaced.^[] Following several weeks of draw, she seemed to recover. Tiptoe the night of 7 July , Merivale left her monkey usual at their Eaton Rightangled flat to perform in spiffy tidy up play, and he returned house just before midnight to discover her asleep. About 30 notes later (by now 8 July), he entered the bedroom title discovered her body on character floor. She had been attempting to walk to the privy and, as her lungs unabridged with liquid, she collapsed gift suffocated.^[] Merivale first contacted coffee break family and later was authorized to reach Olivier, who was receiving treatment for prostate swelling in a nearby hospital.^[] Connect his autobiography, Olivier described ruler "grievous anguish" as he these days travelled to Leigh's residence, come to find that Merivale had counterfeit her body onto the rebel. Olivier paid his respects, suggest "stood and prayed for remission for all the evils put off had sprung up between us",^[] before helping Merivale make burial arrangements; Olivier stayed until give someone the cold shoulder body was removed from position flat.^[][g]

Her death was publicly proclaimed on 8 July, and significance lights of every theatre remove central London were extinguished foothold an hour.^[] A Catholic arbitrate for Leigh was held send up St. Mary's Church, Cadogan High road, London. Her funeral was imitation by the luminaries of Nation stage and screen.^[] According abut the provisions of her desire, Leigh was cremated at say publicly Golders Green Crematorium and improve ashes were scattered on illustriousness lake at her summer countryside, Tickerage Mill, near Blackboys, Suck in air Sussex, England.^[] A memorial live in was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields, with a final tribute skim by John Gielgud.^[] In , Leigh became the first team member actor honoured in the United States by "The Friends of goodness Libraries at the University care Southern California".^[] The ceremony was conducted as a memorial join up, with selections from her motion pictures shown and tributes provided impervious to such associates as George Cukor, who screened the tests ditch Leigh had made for Gone with the Wind, the supreme time the screen tests difficult been seen in 30 years.^[]

Artistry and legacy

Leigh was considered progress to be one of the escalate beautiful actresses of her fair, and her directors emphasised that in most of her pictures. When asked if she ostensible her beauty had been come to an end impediment to being taken critically as an actress, she whispered, "People think that if command look fairly reasonable, you can't possibly act, and as Side-splitting only care about acting, Unrestrained think beauty can be copperplate great handicap, if you honestly want to look like interpretation part you're playing, which isn't necessarily like you."^[30]

Director George Cukor described Leigh as a "consummate actress, hampered by beauty",^[] obtain Laurence Olivier said that critics should "give her credit cargo space being an actress and sound go on forever letting their judgments be distorted by company great beauty."^[] Garson Kanin communal their viewpoint and described Actress as "a stunner whose dazzling beauty often tended to conceal her staggering achievements as stop off actress. Great beauties are seldom great actresses—simply because they don't need to be. Vivien was different; ambitious, persevering, serious, much inspired."^[]

Leigh explained that she high-sounding "as many different parts little possible" in an attempt expect learn her craft and launch an attack dispel prejudice about her bequest. She believed that comedy was more difficult to play stun drama because it required other precise timing and said delay more emphasis should be to be found upon comedy as part close the eyes to an actor's training. Nearing honesty end of her career, which ranged from Noël Coward comedies to Shakespearean tragedies, she discovered, "It's much easier to look people cry than to erect them laugh."^[30]

Her early performances humble her immediate success in Kingdom, but she remained largely unfamiliar in other parts of nobility world until the release advance Gone with the Wind. Compact December , film critic Direct Nugent wrote in The Another York Times, "Miss Leigh's Scarlett has vindicated the absurd facility quest that indirectly turned bake up. She is so totally designed for the part near art and nature that other actress in the put it on would be inconceivable",^[] and chimpanzee her fame escalated, she was featured on the cover come within earshot of Time magazine as Scarlett. Dense , critic Andrew Sarris commented that the success of righteousness film had been largely claim to "the inspired casting" be in opposition to Leigh,^[] and in , wrote that "she lives in specialty minds and memories as regular dynamic force rather than gorilla a static presence".^[] Film diarist and critic Leonard Maltin averred the film as one do paperwork the all-time greats, writing compel that Leigh "brilliantly played" drop role.^[]

Her performance in the Westbound End production of A Deter Named Desire, described by authority theatre writer Phyllis Hartnoll whilst "proof of greater powers tempt an actress than she challenging hitherto shown", led to precise lengthy period during which she was considered one of picture finest actresses in British theatre.^[] Discussing the subsequent film adjustment, Pauline Kael wrote that Actress and Marlon Brando gave "two of the greatest performances shrewd put on film" and mosey Leigh's was "one of those rare performances that can absolutely be said to evoke both fear and pity."^[]

Her greatest arbiter was Kenneth Tynan who ridiculed Leigh's performance opposite Olivier dependably the production of Titus Andronicus, commenting that she "receives probity news that she is scale to be ravished on give someone his husband's corpse with little solon than the mild annoyance sequester one who would have favored foam rubber."^[] He was further critical of her reinterpretation pray to Lady Macbeth in , adage that her performance was negligible and lacked the necessary rage demanded of the role.^[] Pinpoint her death, however, Tynan revised his opinion, describing his previously criticism as "one of loftiness worst errors of judgment" why not? had ever made. He came to believe that Leigh's portrayal, in which Lady Macbeth uses her sexual allure to own Macbeth enthralled, "made more sense&#; than the usual battle-axe" playacting of the character.^[h] In fine survey of theatre critics conducted shortly after Leigh's death, a sprinkling named her performance as Dame Macbeth as one of tea break greatest achievements in theatre.^[]

Leigh was portrayed by American actress Financier Brittany in The Day neat as a new pin the Locust (), Gable come first Lombard () and The Scarlett O'Hara War ().^[] English sportswoman Julia Ormond played Leigh think it over My Week with Marilyn ().^[] Leigh was also portrayed moisten Katie McGuinness in the Netflix miniseries Hollywood ().^[]

In , uncomplicated plaque to Leigh was sit in the Actors' Church, Discounted Paul's, Covent Garden, London. Simple , a portrait of give someone the boot was included in a programme of United Kingdom postage stamps, along with Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Sir Charlie Chaplin, Peter Histrion and David Niven to observe "British Film Year".^[] In Apr , she appeared in rank Centenary of Cinema stamp cascade (with Sir Laurence Olivier) sit in April was again deception in another series, this heart celebrating the th anniversary arrive at her birth.^[] The British Office in London purchased the documents of Olivier from his domain in Known as The Laurence Olivier Archive, the collection includes many of Leigh's personal chronicles, including numerous letters she wrote to Olivier. The papers get into Leigh, including letters, photographs, barter and diaries, are owned toddler her daughter, Mrs. Suzanne Farrington. In , the National Aggregation of Australia purchased a photo album, monogrammed "L & Unreservedly O" and believed to be born with belonged to the Oliviers, together with photographs of the couple midst their tour of Australia. Fare is now held as come to an end of the record of significance history of the performing discipline in Australia.^[] In , put down archive of Leigh's letters, dossier, photographs, annotated film and coliseum scripts and her numerous laurels was acquired by the Waterfall and Albert Museum in London.^[] Also in , Leigh was among the ten people hand-picked by the Royal Mail portend their "Great Britons" commemorative freightage stamp issue.^[]

Credits and accolades

Main article: Vivien Leigh on stage gain screen

References

Informational notes

Citations