Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh born November 5 1913 Darjeeling Indiadied July 8 1967 London England was an English actress renowned for her roles in Hollywood and British theater She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress portraying Scarlett OHara in Gone with the Wind 1939 and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 both performances that solidified her place among the greatest actresses of classic cinema Leigh was the only child of Ernest Hartley a British broker and Gertrude Yackjee who had AngloIndian and Armenian ancestry She spent her childhood between England and Europe attending convent schools before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art RADA in London in 1932 setting the stage for her acting career Her film debut came in Things Are Looking Up 1934 followed by roles in British films such as Fire Over England 1937 where she starred alongside Laurence Olivier Their professional collaboration soon became a highprofile romance capturing public fascination Leighs breakthrough role was Scarlett OHara in Gone with the Wind 1939 a part for which she beat hundreds of actresses in a legendary casting search The film became one of the most celebrated in cinematic history and her performance earned international acclaim securing her first Academy Award Leigh continued to star in films such as Waterloo Bridge 1940 and That Hamilton Woman 1941 frequently working with Olivier whom she married in 1940 Their union lasted 20 years during which they became one of the most revered couples in theater and film starring together in Shakespearean productions and three films In 1951 she won her second Academy Award for A Streetcar Named Desire where her portrayal of Blanche DuBois was deeply personal reflecting her own struggles with mental health Leigh suffered from bipolar disorder which profoundly affected her career and personal relationships She also battled chronic tuberculosis first diagnosed in the mid1940s which ultimately led to her death on July 8 1967 at the age of 53 After divorcing Olivier in 1960 she found companionship with actor John Merivale who remained by her side until her passing Despite periods of career instability Leigh remains one of the most celebrated actresses of her time In 1999 the American Film Institute AFI ranked her as the 16th greatest female movie star of classic Hollywood cinema She also won a Tony Award for Tovarich 1963 proving her talent extended beyond film Her beauty talent and dedication made her an enduring icon and her performances continue to be studied and celebrated worldwide