Vivien Leigh
Attore
5 novembre 1913 — 7 luglio 1967 (53 anni)
Vivien Leigh (born November 5, 1913, Darjeeling, India—died 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 O’Hara 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 Anglo-Indian 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 high-profile romance, capturing public fascination.
Leigh’s breakthrough role was Scarlett O’Hara 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 mid-1940s, 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.
Leigh was the only child of Ernest Hartley, a British broker, and Gertrude Yackjee, who had Anglo-Indian 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 high-profile romance, capturing public fascination.
Leigh’s breakthrough role was Scarlett O’Hara 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 mid-1940s, 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.
Film e Serie su Plex
Famoso per
Filmografia
| 2020 | Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation · as Blanche |
| 2019 | Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace · as Scarlett O'hara In Gone With The WindSu Plex |
| 2019 | Sunset Over Mulholland Drive · as Scarlett O'hara |
| 1999 | ABC 2000: The Millennium · as Cast |
| 1994 | That's Entertainment! III · as (archive Footage) |
| 1993 | Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America · as Scarlett O'hara |
| 1986 | Marilyn Monroe · as Archive Footage |
| 1976 | America at the Movies · as Blanche |
| 1976 | That's Entertainment, Part II · as (archive Footage) |
| 1969 | Hollywood: The Selznick Years · as Scarlett O'hara |
| 1965 | Ship of Fools · as Mary TreadwellSu Plex |
| 1961 | The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone · as Karen Stone |
| 1955 | The Deep Blue Sea · as Hester Collyer |
| 1955 | ITV Play of the Week · as Sabina |
| 1951 | A Streetcar Named Desire · as Blanche Dubois |
| 1948 | Anna Karenina · as Anna KareninaSu Plex |
| 1945 | Caesar and Cleopatra · as CleopatraSu Plex |
| 1941 | That Hamilton Woman · as Emma, Lady Hamilton |
| 1940 | Waterloo Bridge · as Myra |
| 1940 | 21 Days Together · as Wanda |
| 1939 | Gone with the Wind · as Scarlett O'hara |
| 1938 | Sidewalks of London · as LibertySu Plex |
| 1938 | A Yank at Oxford · as Elsa Craddock |
| 1937 | Storm in a Teacup · as Victoria GowSu Plex |
| 1937 | Dark Journey · as Madeleine GoddardSu Plex |
| 1937 | Fire Over England · as Cynthia |
| 1935 | The Village Squire · as Rose Venables |
| 1935 | Look Up and Laugh · as Marjorie Belfer |
| 1935 | Things Are Looking Up · as Schoolgirl |