Pages

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Old Hollywood Inspiration: Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh was born in Darjeeling, India in 1913 during the British reign. At age 6 her parents returned to the UK to give Vivien a convent education.


At the end of her education she pursued her ambition to be an actress. She featured in many British films such as 'The Village Squire', 'Things Are Looking Up' & 'Look Up & Laugh'.



In 1938 she went to the US to visit her lover Laurence Olivier, and while there she auditioned for the much coveted role of 'Scarlett O'Hara' for the feature film 'Gone With The Wind'. As we know now she got the part and it won her the 'Best Actress' Oscar.



In 1941 Leigh & Olivier married and starred together in 'That Hamilton Woman'.
Leighs personal life suffered after this time during which she had several miscarriages, contracted tuberculosis, and was diagnosed with manic depression.



In 1951 she starred in her second Oscar winning performance as 'Blanche DuBois' in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' opposite Marlon Brando. 



In 1960 Olivier left Vivien to marry Joan Plowright, and in 1967 Leigh died after contracting tuberculosis once again.









No comments:

Post a Comment