Vivian Mary Hartley (born actress) since childhood knew it would be a great actress. Even in a monastery in England, where she was learning to 8 years of his mother, a devout Catholic Gertrude Hartley, young Vivian has already participated in amateur theatricals. It was then that the actress was born the desire to learn at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
As purposeful and strong-willed woman, she realized his dream, and the next stage of her life was to find her future husband and family. Soon she meets with her husband Herbert Leigh Holman, and gives birth to a daughter Suzanne. It would seem that all the thoughts about acting career must stop, because Vivian, new troubles: care of the child, the family, the husband-all this could turn it into a mediocre housewife. But the thought of the theater and the movie is not even left her in such a situation. Of course, the husband was against her desire to play on stage and on screen, but Vivien Leigh (actor pseudonym) was able to perform small roles. Once, when Vivien Leigh was invited to participate in a brief scene of one novice producer, she put her husband an ultimatum: either divorce or participate in the filming. Surely, Holman did not expect this turn of events, and Vivian longed to its goal of becoming a great actress.
A turning point in her life was to get acquainted with the actor Laurence Olivier, who after 6 years will be the second husband of the actress. Together they played in the movie "Fire Over England" famous at that time director Alexander Korda. After working together on the film, they could no longer hide their feelings for each other. But love the actors faced with obstacles: the spouses star couple did not give both divorce. Very negatively reacted to the decision of the mother daughter Vivian, she found love with Olivier sinful.
1937 release of the novel by Margaret Mitchell "Gone with the Wind." After reading the works of Vivienne shall order his agent, that he certainly recommend her for the role of Scarlett David Selzniku, producer of the film. David was silent. Meanwhile, Lee acted in the films "A Yank at Oxford" and "Way of St. Martin," that bring her worldwide success. In 1938, the role of the main character in the movie "Gone with the Wind" is still looking for an actress. In the same year, Agent Lee repeatedly refers to Selzniku approving the role of Vivian, who in turn, after watching the film with Lee "Fire Over England" and "A Yank at Oxford", hoped for a new actress. After a screen test all convinced that Vivian combines traits of Scarlett O'Hara, and then without hesitation, approved her for the role.
Once filming began, in which the actress played with dedication set before her role. She even after Cukor (director of films) was fired and replaced by Victor Fleming, secretly sought a meeting with the first, to ask for advice on how to play Scarlett. Whether on-site friends with Clark Gable (Rhett Butler in the film), as well as with the de Havilland (Melanie Hamilton). Had to work for wear, 7 days a week until late at night. Vivienne really missed Olivier, who at the time was in New York.
"Gone with the Wind" Vivien Leigh brought worldwide fame, recognition, and the first "Oscar" for Best Actress. Her titanic work was appreciated. She said the following speech: "I am - not a movie star. I - Actress. Be a movie star - just a film star - this is a false life lived in the name of false values and for the sake of fame. Aktёrstvo it for a long time and there is always a excellent role that can be played ". Only twenty years later, it will get its second "Oscar" in the movie "A Streetcar Named" Desire "". And before this event will such films as "Waterloo Bridge" in which to play with her husband; "Lady Hamilton", "Caesar and Cleopatra" at the filming of which the actress was pregnant. In 1945 Vivienne found pulmonary tuberculosis. Doctors give drugs that affect the psyche. Wu Li increasingly began to show episodes of madness. Her love Olivier could not long tolerate the state of his wife, and soon started young mistress. In 1958 sorokopyatiletie Vivienne he gave her an expensive car and asked for a divorce. The actress did not tolerate the gap with Lawrence, but continued to play shows and movies. And in 1967, a 53 year of life did not become an actress - she died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Of course, the life of Vivien Leigh is very complex and multifaceted, and so difficult to convey in a few paragraphs what this woman has done and what she lived.