Born: 5 November 1913 · Died: 8 July 1967 · Age: 53
British actress famous for her role in Gone with the Wind
Did you know?She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, both for her portrayals of women from the American Deep South.
Quick facts
Date of birth5 November 1913
Date of death8 July 1967
Age at death53
Cause of deathTuberculosis
NationalityBritish
BirthplaceDarjeeling, India
Occupationfilm actor, stage actor, actor
Editor's Take:
Vivien Leigh played two of the most famous women in American fiction. She was born in India and trained in England. Her Scarlett O'Hara was charming, selfish and brave all at once. Her Blanche DuBois was fragile and haunted. Off screen she struggled with bipolar disorder at a time when it was poorly understood, and her illness affected her career and marriage. She also suffered from tuberculosis. She died at 53. Her two Oscar-winning roles still define screen acting for many viewers.
Key Milestones
1935: Becomes a West End star
1939: Plays Scarlett O'Hara
1940: Wins her first Oscar
1952: Wins her second Oscar for A Streetcar Named Desire
Vivian Mary Olivier (née Hartley; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967), known professionally as Vivien Leigh ( LEE) and styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress.
