Vivien Leigh was born in the mountains above Calcutta, India, to a successful British businessman and his wife. Her early life was marked by frequent moves between India and England, where she was sent to a convent school at the age of six. Despite being two years younger than her classmates, Vivien found comfort in a cat that the nuns allowed her to keep in her dormitory.
At the convent school, Vivien befriended an eight-year-old girl named Maureen O'Sullivan, who would later become a successful actress in her own right. Together, the two girls would recreate their imaginations, dreaming of places they had left behind and places they would someday like to visit.
Vivien's parents eventually returned to India, but her mother brought her back to England for a play in London. Vivien was enchanted by the performance and would go on to see the same play 16 times in the next six months. Her father, a leading man in amateur theatricals, instilled in her a love of acting from a young age.
After leaving the convent school, Vivien attended a boarding school in England, where she developed a passion for the stage. She made her professional debut in a school play, playing a male role alongside her classmates. Her favorite actor was Leslie Howard, and she would later marry an English barrister who bore a striking resemblance to him.
Vivien's early film career was marked by small roles, including a part in the 1935 film "Things Are Looking Up." However, it was her stage work that truly brought her to the attention of the public. She starred in a production of "The Green Sash," and her performance earned her a reputation as a talented young actress.
Vivien's big break came when she was cast in the 1937 film "Fire Over England," alongside Laurence Olivier. The two actors fell in love during the filming, and their romance would last for over two decades. Vivien's performance in the film earned her critical acclaim, and she went on to star in a string of successful films, including "Gone with the Wind" and "A Streetcar Named Desire."
Throughout her career, Vivien was known for her intense preparation and dedication to her craft. She was a perfectionist who demanded a great deal from herself and those around her. Her marriage to Laurence Olivier was marked by both passion and turmoil, and the couple's relationship was often fraught with tension.
Despite her personal struggles, Vivien continued to act on stage and screen, earning numerous awards and nominations for her performances. Her final major film role was in "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" in 1961, and she passed away at the age of 53 in 1967.
