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Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh

  • Recitazione
  • 5 novembre 1913 – 7 luglio 1967 · a 53 anni
  • Darjeeling, Bengal Presidency, British India [now West Bengal, India]

Vivien Leigh (born November 5, 1913, Darjeeling, India—died July 8, 1967, London, England) was an English actress renowned for her roles in Hollywood and British theater. She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, portraying Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), both performances that solidified her place among the greatest actresses of classic cinema. Leigh was the only child of Ernest Hartley, a British broker, and Gertrude Yackjee, who had Anglo-Indian and Armenian ancestry. She spent her childhood between England and Europe, attending convent schools before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London in 1932, setting the stage for her acting career. Her film debut came in Things Are Looking Up (1934), followed by roles in British films such as Fire Over England (1937), where she starred alongside Laurence Olivier. Their professional collaboration soon became a high-profile romance, capturing public fascination. Leigh’s breakthrough role was Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939), a part for which she beat hundreds of actresses in a legendary casting search. The film became one of the most celebrated in cinematic history, and her performance earned international acclaim, securing her first Academy Award. Leigh continued to star in films such as Waterloo Bridge (1940) and That Hamilton Woman (1941), frequently working with Olivier, whom she married in 1940. Their union lasted 20 years, during which they became one of the most revered couples in theater and film, starring together in Shakespearean productions and three films. In 1951, she won her second Academy Award for A Streetcar Named Desire, where her portrayal of Blanche DuBois was deeply personal, reflecting her own struggles with mental health. Leigh suffered from bipolar disorder, which profoundly affected her career and personal relationships. She also battled chronic tuberculosis, first diagnosed in the mid-1940s, which ultimately led to her death on July 8, 1967, at the age of 53. After divorcing Olivier in 1960, she found companionship with actor John Merivale, who remained by her side until her passing. Despite periods of career instability, Leigh remains one of the most celebrated actresses of her time. In 1999, the American Film Institute (AFI) ranked her as the 16th greatest female movie star of classic Hollywood cinema. She also won a Tony Award for Tovarich (1963), proving her talent extended beyond film. Her beauty, talent, and dedication made her an enduring icon, and her performances continue to be studied and celebrated worldwide.

Titoli più noti

  • Serie TV6.8

    The Ed Sullivan Show

    1948 · 23 votes

  • Film7.9

    Gone with the Wind

    Via col vento

    1939 · 4.5K votes

  • Film7.5

    Waterloo Bridge

    Il ponte di Waterloo

    1940 · 185 votes

  • Film7.6

    A Streetcar Named Desire

    Un tram che si chiama desiderio

    1951 · 1.5K votes

  • Film6.8

    A Yank at Oxford

    Un americano a Oxford

    1938 · 12 votes

  • Serie TV7.5

    Couples mythiques du cinéma

    Iconic Couples of Hollywood

    2015 · 2 votes

  • Serie TV7.3

    Small World

    1958 · 3 votes

  • Film6.9

    The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

    La primavera romana della signora Stone

    1961 · 39 votes

Filmografia27

  1. 2024
  2. 2023
  3. 2021
  4. 2018
  5. 2015
  6. 2009
  7. 1994
  8. 1985
  9. 1976
  10. 1975
  11. 1965
  12. 1961
  13. 1958
  14. 1954
  15. 1951
  16. 1948
  17. 1945
  18. 1941
  19. 1940
  20. 1939
  21. 1938
  22. 1937