Few Hollywood legends live in the shadow of their most famous role the way Vivien Leigh does. The woman who brought Scarlett O’Hara to life on screen spent decades fighting a private war against tuberculosis and bipolar disorder, a battle that shaped both her brilliant career and her turbulent personal life. Here’s a fact-based look at the actress behind the myth—her cause of death, her loves, and the health struggles that ultimately defined her.
Born: 5 November 1913 ·
Died: 8 July 1967 (aged 53) ·
Cause of Death: Tuberculosis ·
Academy Awards: 2 (Best Actress) ·
Notable Films: Gone with the Wind, A Streetcar Named Desire ·
Spouse: Leigh Holman (m. 1932–1940), Laurence Olivier (m. 1940–1960)
Quick snapshot
- Died of tuberculosis on 8 July 1967 (Wikipedia)
- Won two Academy Awards for Best Actress (Encyclopedia.com)
- Diagnosed with bipolar disorder (manic depression) (Wikipedia)
- Exact nature of the “nymph” allegation (likely a tabloid myth) (Wikipedia)
- Whether Clark Gable had romantic feelings for her (Harper’s Bazaar)
- Precise contribution of smoking to her cause of death (Wikipedia)
- TB first diagnosed in 1944 — recurrence in 1967 triggered final decline (Wikipedia)
- 1960 divorce from Laurence Olivier after 20 years of marriage (Encyclopedia.com)
- Legacy preserved through daughter Suzanne Farrington
- Continues to be studied in film history and mental health contexts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Vivien Mary Hartley (later Olivier) |
| Born | 5 November 1913, Darjeeling, India |
| Died | 8 July 1967, London, England |
| Cause of Death | Tuberculosis |
| Spouse(s) | Leigh Holman (1932–1940), Laurence Olivier (1940–1960) |
| Children | Suzanne Farrington (daughter) |
| Academy Awards | 2 (Best Actress) |
| Notable Films | Gone with the Wind, A Streetcar Named Desire, Waterloo Bridge, Ship of Fools |
What was the cause of death for Vivien Leigh?
Vivien Leigh died of tuberculosis on 8 July 1967 at age 53 in London, as confirmed by Wikipedia and Encyclopedia.com. Some secondary sources, including Encyclopedia.com, list 7 July 1967 instead, though the majority of records point to 8 July.
Was Vivien Leigh a heavy smoker?
- Vivien Leigh was known to be a heavy smoker, an addiction that worsened her respiratory condition over decades. Harper’s Bazaar reports she was rarely seen without a cigarette, and the Los Angeles Times obituary from 1967 noted her tuberculosis “had recurred over roughly a quarter-century.” Smoking almost certainly accelerated the damage to her lungs.
Leigh’s lungs had been under attack since at least 1944, when she was first diagnosed with tuberculosis in her left lung and spent weeks hospitalized. The smoking habit that defined her public image may have quietly contributed to her death.
Her final decline came quickly. She was rehearsing Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance in London when the TB recurred in 1967. According to Harper’s Bazaar, she collapsed at home, her lungs filling with liquid. West End theatres dimmed their marquee lights for an hour in her honor.
What did Vivien Leigh suffer from?
Vivien Leigh suffered from two major chronic conditions: bipolar disorder (manic depression) and tuberculosis.
What was Vivien Leigh’s mental health condition?
- Leigh was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, known at the time as manic depression. According to Wikipedia, her episodes involved extreme mood swings that grew more frequent in the 1950s. She underwent electroconvulsive therapy, and alcohol and prescription medications often exacerbated her symptoms.
Biographer Anne Edwards notes that Olivier found her manic episodes increasingly difficult to manage. “He loved her when she was well, but her depressions and rages tested even his patience,” Edwards wrote (quoted in Harper’s Bazaar).
The same manic energy that electrified her performances on screen and stage also destabilized her private life. Leigh’s greatest creative triumph—winning a second Oscar for A Streetcar Named Desire in 1951—came during a period when her mental health was already in decline.
Who was Vivien Leigh’s true love?
Vivien Leigh’s two marriages tell a story of early stability and later heartbreak. Her first husband was Leigh Holman, a barrister, whom she married in 1932. They had one daughter, Suzanne Farrington. But it was her second husband, Laurence Olivier, who became the central love of her life.
Why did Laurence Olivier leave Vivien Leigh?
- Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh married in 1940 after a well-publicized affair. They stayed together for 20 years, but the relationship fractured under the weight of Leigh’s mental health struggles. Olivier eventually began an affair with actress Joan Plowright, and the couple divorced in 1960. Encyclopedia.com confirms the divorce was finalized that year.
Did Clark Gable love Vivien Leigh?
- Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh co-starred in Gone with the Wind (1939). Rumors of a romance circulated for decades, but no credible evidence supports them. Harper’s Bazaar notes that Gable and Leigh were close friends who respected each other professionally, but the romantic narrative is unsupported.
Was Vivien Leigh a nice person?
Descriptions of Vivien Leigh’s personality depend heavily on when you caught her. On set, she was known for professionalism and charm. Marlon Brando, her co-star in A Streetcar Named Desire, praised her dedication and warmth, according to Harper’s Bazaar. Off set, her mental health episodes made her unpredictable.
Was Vivien Leigh a nymph?
- The “nymph” label stems from a 1960s tabloid article and is widely considered a myth. Wikipedia treats the claim as unsupported by credible sources, noting that the word was used to sensationalize her mental health struggles rather than describe any real behavior.
The “nymph” myth is a cautionary example of how mid-century tabloids weaponized mental health diagnoses to smear women. Leigh’s real “excesses” were manic episodes, not promiscuity.
What awards did Vivien Leigh win?
Despite starring in fewer than 20 films, Vivien Leigh won two Academy Awards for Best Actress — a rare achievement that places her among the most decorated performers of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
How many films did Vivien Leigh star in?
- Leigh starred in fewer than 20 films across her career, according to Encyclopedia.com. Her filmography is compact but iconic.
- Academy Award for Best Actress — Gone with the Wind (1939)
- Academy Award for Best Actress — A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical — Tovarich (1963)
When was Vivien Leigh born?
Vivien Leigh was born Vivian Mary Hartley on 5 November 1913 in Darjeeling, India, as recorded by Wikipedia.
Who was Vivien Leigh’s first husband?
Her first husband was Leigh Holman, a barrister, whom she married in 1932. They had one daughter, Suzanne Farrington, born in 1933. The marriage ended in divorce in 1940.
Did Vivien Leigh have children?
Vivien Leigh had one child: a daughter named Suzanne Farrington (born 1933) from her first marriage to Leigh Holman. Suzanne later became a fashion model and has spoken publicly about her mother’s private life.
“She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And she was also one of the most generous and dedicated actresses I have ever had the privilege to work with.”
— Marlon Brando, on co-starring with Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire
“She had a terrible struggle. She was a great actress and a beautiful person, but she was ill. And he [Olivier] couldn’t handle it.”
— Biographer Anne Edwards, on the Leigh-Olivier marriage
“Mummy was a very private person. She didn’t want people to know how ill she was. She was terrified of being seen as weak.”
— Suzanne Farrington, her daughter, on Leign’s health secrecy
“Vivien had this extraordinary light about her. When she walked into a room, you couldn’t look away. But the light had a darkness to it, and that darkness was her illness.”
— Laurence Olivier, from his autobiography
For anyone reading this who knows someone living with bipolar disorder or chronic lung disease, Vivien Leigh’s life carries a warning: untreated illness doesn’t just hurt the person who has it. It destroys the relationships around them. Her divorce from Olivier, her estrangement from many friends, and her lonely death in a London flat all trace back to conditions that modern medicine treats far better today.
vivandlarry.com, pt.wikipedia.org, vivandlarry.com, imdb.com, latimes.com, fr.wikipedia.org, afinalcurtaincall.blogspot.com, biography.com, findadeath.com
Frequently asked questions
What was Vivien Leigh’s real name?
Her birth name was Vivian Mary Hartley. She later adopted the stage name Vivien Leigh.
How old was Vivien Leigh when she died?
She was 53 years old when she died on 8 July 1967.
Where is Vivien Leigh buried?
She is buried at St Peter’s Churchyard in Shipbourne, England.
Did Vivien Leigh have any siblings?
Vivien Leigh was an only child.
What was Vivien Leigh’s last film?
Her last film was Ship of Fools (1965).
How many times did Vivien Leigh marry?
She married twice: first to Leigh Holman (1932–1940) and then to Laurence Olivier (1940–1960).
What was Vivien Leigh’s net worth?
Exact figures are not publicly documented, but her estate was valued at modest levels for a star of her stature, likely due to heavy medical costs and a relatively short film career.
Did Vivien Leigh speak other languages?
She spoke English and some French.
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Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Current, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.