History Creator / VivienLeigh

She didn't quite have the lengthy resumé other stars of her era did. This can be attributed health issues, both mental and physical. She suffered from both UsefulNotes/{{bipolar disorder}} (back then diagnosed as "manic-depression") and depression in a time when mental illness wasn't well-understood. Her mental illnesses often led to strained relationships with film crews and bipolar episodes behind the scenes, earning her a reputation as being an actor who was difficult to work with. She also caught tuberculosis during the war and had recurrent flare-ups, leaving her bedridden and leading to an early death.

Leigh began her film career with ''Film/FireOverEngland'' in 1937. She was later chosen by Hollywood to be leading lady Scarlett O'Hara in ''Gone with the Wind'' and this performance made her become an American household name almost immediately. Despite the new hype and fame, she made a few appearances in films and mostly acted in theatre. In 1951, she starred alongside Creator/MarlonBrando in ''A Streetcar Named Desire'', which brought her back into the hype and critical praise that Scarlett O'Hara had given her years before. Both {{star making role}}s gave her some controversy, mostly because she was a FakeAmerican who had played iconic characters in American literature, which was a slight problem for her to appear in films after these performances without being type-casted as one or suffering from IAmNotSpock.

She didn't quite have the lengthy resume other stars of her era did. This can be attributed health issues, both mental and physical. She suffered from both UsefulNotes/{{bipolar disorder}} (back then, diagnosed as "manic-depressive"), and depression in a time when mental illness wasn't well understood. Her mental illnesses often led to strained relationships with film crews and bipolar episodes behind the scenes, earning her a reputation as being an actor who was difficult to work with. She also caught tuberculosis during the war and had recurrent flair-ups, leaving her bed ridden and led to an early death.

As well as her SouthernBelle films, Leigh is remembered for her marriage to her second husband Creator/LaurenceOlivier. The two of them frequently appeared together on stage (some directed by Olivier) and in three films. The marriage lasted for at least 20 years and was often strained because of Leigh's mental health. When Olivier was UsefulNotes/{{knight|fever}}ed in 1947, Leigh became Lady Olivier, and was referred to this even after they divorced in 1960. Leigh died in 1967 from chronic tuberculosis at 53 years old.

* Played by Julia Ormond in ''Film/MyWeekWithMarilyn'' (2011).

Vivien Leigh, born Vivian Mary Hartley (5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967) was an English stage and film actor. She is best known for her performances as {{southern belle}}s as Scarlett O'Hara in ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'' and Blanche [=DuBois=] in the film version of ''Theatre/AStreetcarNamedDesire'', winning the Best Actress UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for both.

Vivien Leigh, born Vivian Mary Hartley (5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967) was an English stage and film actress. She is best known for her performances as {{southern belle}}s as Scarlett O'Hara in ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'' and Blanche [=DuBois=] in the film version of ''Theatre/AStreetcarNamedDesire'', winning the Best Actress UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for both.

She didn't quite have the lengthy resume other stars of her era did. This can be attributed health issues, both mental and physical. She suffered from both UsefulNotes/{{bipolar disorder}} (back then, diagnosed as "manic-depressive"), and depression in a time when mental illness wasn't well understood. Her mental illnesses often led to strained relationships with film crews and bipolar episodes behind the scenes, earning her a reputation as being an actress who was difficult to work with. She also caught tuberculosis during the war and had recurrent flair-ups, leaving her bed ridden and led to an early death.