Fierce Facts About Vivien Leigh, Hollywood's Tragic Star
Vivien Leigh was a fighter. She fought for the role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind and fought to be with the man she loved. But her most vicious battle was with mental illness: Few people realize that Leigh struggled with bipolar disorder. Prepare to give a damn: Here are fierce facts about the unforgettable Vivien Leigh.
Vivien Leigh Facts
1. She Has Surprising Roots
Leigh's birthday is suitably explosive. Little "Vivian Mary Hartley" entered the world on Guy Fawkes' day of 1913.
Although she'd be known as the ultimate Southern Belle, Leigh was actually born in Darjeeling, India to a Scottish father and an Irish mother. However, some sources say that Leigh's mother may have also been Armenian or Indian.
To succeed in Hollywood, Leigh would keep that part of her heritage secret.
2. She Knew She Was Destined For Greatness
When Leigh was six years old, her parents shipped her off to an English boarding school where she didn't see her own mother for two long years. Since Leigh couldn't confide in her parents, she revealed her dreams to her school friends.
She said she'd be “a great actress someday". Leigh was right, but she didn't realize the awful toll that Hollywood would take on her.
3. She Got Married Fast
In the 1930s, Leigh fell head over heels for Herbert Leigh Holman, a lawyer who was a whopping 13 years older than her. Even though Leigh had been studying acting at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, she dropped out to be with Holman.
The mismatched couple got married on December 20, 1932, and unfortunately, their honeymoon phase wouldn't last long.
