British actress Vivien Leigh (1913–1967) was born in Darjeeling, India; her family returned to England when she was six years old. In addition to her British schooling, Leigh was also educated in France, Italy, and Germany, and became multilingual. Classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, her film debut was in an uncredited role in the 1935 comedy Things Are Looking Up.
While studying Shakespearean drama at The Old Vic, she met Laurence Olivier, who would become her most frequent artistic collaborator. Even though her film roles brought her global name recognition and acclaim, the bulk of her work was in theatrical productions, frequently with Olivier as her director and/or co-star. Many of their productions on the British stage were based on the works of William Shakespeare. In 1943, as part of the Old Vic Spring Party, they toured North Africa for three months entertaining British troops. In 1961, they were part of The Old Vic Tour of Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South America.
She appeared in 19 theatrically released films, twice winning the Academy Award for Best Actress, both times for her dramatic depictions of women from the American South. Her first Oscar was in 1939, for her performance in Gone with the Wind as Margaret Mitchell's protagonist Scarlett O'Hara. She won the role after a two-year search for the ideal actress had eliminated many of Hollywood's top talents. Her second Oscar was in 1951, for A Streetcar Named Desire. Playwright Tennessee Williams saw her on the London stage, and after conveying his impressions to co-producer Irene Mayer Selznick, Leigh was signed for the role of Blanche DuBois in the 1949 London production of the play. After playing the role of DuBois for 326 performances, Leigh was flown to Los Angeles to begin filming the movie version.
Her star was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960.
Stage Title Date Theatre Role Director Notes/Playwright(s) 1935 Q Theatre GiustaMatthew ForsythDebonnaire SylvesterT. P. Wood Ambassadors Theatre Henriette Duquesnoy Maxwell Wray Carl Sternheim and Ashley Dukes Richard II 1936 Oxford University Dramatic Society Queen Anne John GielgudGlen Byam Shaw William Shakespeare His Majesty's Theatre Jenny MereMaurice Colbourne Clemence Dane Henry VIII Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park Anne Boleyn Robert Atkins William Shakespeare Because We Must 1937 Wyndham's Theatre Pamela Golding-Ffrench Norman Marshall Ingaret Giffard Bats in the Belfry Ambassadors Theatre Jessica Morton A. R. Whatmore Diana Morgan and Robert MacDermot Hamlet Kronborg Castle, Elsinore Ophelia Tyrone Guthrie William ShakespeareA Midsummer Night's Dream Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park Titania William Shakespeare Jeanne de CasalisSerena Blandish1938 Gate Theatre Serena Blandish Esme Percy S. N. Behrman and Enid Bagnold Romeo and Juliet1940 51st Street Theatre, New York City, also San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Juliet Laurence Olivier William Shakespeare1942 Haymarket Theatre Jennifer Dubedat Irene Hentschel George Bernard Shaw "Old Vic Spring Party — A Revue"1943 3-month tour of North Africa entertaining troops Herself and as Scarlett O'HaraJohn Gielgudworks by Lewis Carroll and Clemence Dane 1945 Phoenix Theatre Sabina Laurence Olivier Thornton Wilder 1946 Piccadilly Theatre Richard III1948 Old Vic Company Tour of Australia and New Zealand Lady Anne Lady TeazleRichard Brinsley Sheridan Sabina Thornton Wilder1949 New Theatre for the Old Vic Company Lady TeazleRichard Brinsley Sheridan Richard III Lady Anne Laurence Olivier Thornton Wilder AntigoneAntigone Sophocles Aldwych Theatre Blanche DuBois Tennessee WilliamsCaesar and Cleopatra 1951 St James's Theatre Cleopatra Michael Benthall George Bernard Shawalternated nightly with Antony and Cleopatra Antony and Cleopatra William Shakespearealternated nightly with Caesar and CleopatraCaesar and Cleopatra Ziegfeld Theatre, New York City George Bernard Shawalternated nightly with Antony and Cleopatra Antony and Cleopatra William Shakespearealternated nightly with Caesar and Cleopatra 1953 Phoenix Theatre Mary Morgan Laurence Olivier Terence Rattigan Twelfth Night1955 Stratford-upon-Avon Viola John Gielgud William ShakespeareMacbeth Lady Macbeth Glen Byam Shaw Titus AndronicusLavinia Peter Brook South Sea Bubble1956 Lyric Theatre Lady Alexandra Shotter William Chappell Noël Coward Titus Andronicus1957 European Tour, followed by Stoll Theatre, London Lavinia Peter Brook William Shakespeare Duel of Angels 1958 Apollo Theatre Paola Jean-Louis Barrault Jean GiraudouxChristopher Fry Look After Lulu!1959 Royal Court Theatre, then New Theatre Lulu d'ArvilleTony Richardson Georges Feydeau translated by Noël Coward Duel of Angels1960 Helen Hayes Theatre, New York City Paola Robert Helpmann Jean Giraudoux Christopher Fry Twelfth Night1961Old Vic Company Tour of Australia, New Zealand and South AmericaViolaRobert HelpmannWilliam Shakespeare Duel of AngelsPaolaJean GiraudouxLady of the CamelliasMarguerite GautierAlexandre DumasTovarich 1963 Broadway Theatre, New York CityGrand Duchess Tatiana I Peter Glenville Robert E. Sherwood La Contessa1965 Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester Contessa Sanziani Robert Helpmann Paul Osborn and Maurice Druon Ivanov1966 Shubert Theatre, New York City Anna Petrova John Gielgud Anton Chekhov
Films TitleYearRoleDirectorNotes Things Are Looking UpSchoolgirluncreditedAlbert de CourvilleStafford DickensGaumont British Picture Corporation Rose VenablesReginald DenhamBritish and Dominions Imperial StudiosGentlemen's AgreementPhil StanleyGeorge PearsonLook Up and LaughMarjorie Belfer Basil DeanAssociated Talking Pictures Fire Over EnglandCynthiaWilliam K. HowardLondon Film ProductionsDark JourneyMadeleineVictor Saville Storm in a TeacupVictoria Gow Ian DalrympleVictor SavilleElsa Craddock Jack ConwayMGM-British St. Martin's Lane Libby Tim Whelanreleased in US as Sidewalks of LondonMayflower Pictures Gone with the Wind Scarlett O'Hara Victor FlemingAcademy Award for Best ActressDavid O. Selznick producer First American filmWaterloo Bridge Myra Lester Mervyn LeRoyMGM 21 Days Wanda Wallen Basil Deanaka 21 Days Together, Three Weeks Together and The First and the Last, originally filmed in 1937; release delayed until after Gone with the WindLondon Film Productions That Hamilton Woman Emma, Lady HamiltonAlexander Korda Alexander Korda FilmsCaesar and CleopatraCleopatra Gabriel PascalGabriel Pascal ProductionsAnna KareninaAnna KareninaJulien DuvivierProducers Alexander KordaHerbert Mason Blanche DuBois Elia KazanAcademy Award for Best ActressCharles K. Feldman Hester Collyer Anatole LitvakLondon Films Karen Stone José QuinteroSeven Arts ProductionsShip of FoolsMary TreadwellStanley KramerStanley Kramer Productions
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