Despite being married to other people when they first met, actors Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh felt a strong connection. They crossed paths in London, England in 1936 when Olivier visited to congratulate Leigh after her performance in the play “The Mask of Virtue.” According to author Michelangelo Capua’s biography of Vivien Leigh, she immediately confided in a friend, expressing her belief that Olivier was the man she would marry. This prediction came true, despite her marriage to lawyer Herbert Leigh Holman and Olivier’s marriage to actress Jill Esmond at the time.
A year later, they were cast as lovers in the film “Fire Over England” and their romantic involvement began. Olivier later revealed to biographer Michael Munn that their relationship was more than just physical attraction; it was a love that he didn’t anticipate but was irresistibly drawn into. Leigh echoed this sentiment in her passionate commentary about their affair, stating that she had never experienced such intensity in life and cherished every moment spent together.
Their separation came when Olivier left Leigh in England to film “Wuthering Heights.” During this time apart, they exchanged numerous love letters, some of which were made public in 2015. Among these letters was a heartfelt message from Leigh expressing that their love went beyond physical attraction, encompassing a deep connection of the soul.
OLIVIER AND LEIGH LEFT THEIR SPOUSES AND MARRIED EACH OTHER
According to Harper’s Bazaar, Vivien Leigh began displaying symptoms of mental illness around the time Laurence Olivier left England. Given the lack of diagnosis or treatment for bipolar disorder at the time, Leigh did not receive the necessary assistance. Despite gaining a reputation for being challenging to work with, she secured the role of Scarlett O’Hara in the 1939 film “Gone With The Wind” after Olivier recommended her to a theater agent.
During the filming process, Leigh frequently expressed her fears to Olivier about the film’s potential failure; her demeanor often swung between manic and depressive states. Olivier responded with supportive letters, one of which conveyed his concern that she might become dull, albeit never to him personally, but potentially to herself and others.
“Gone With The Wind” turned out to be a massive success, propelling Leigh to stardom. Olivier and Leigh tied the knot in 1940, subsequently collaborating on two films, “21 Days Together” and “That Hamilton Woman,” as well as investing heavily in a Broadway production of “Romeo and Juliet.” Unfortunately, the Broadway show received scathing reviews, with several critics referencing their relationship’s controversial beginnings as an adulterous affair.
During the filming of “Caesar and Cleopatra” in 1945, Leigh suffered a miscarriage after a fall, triggering a severe bout of depression. She took a hiatus from acting just as Olivier’s career was reaching new heights. In 1948, they embarked on a theater tour in New Zealand and Australia, but Leigh’s health struggles led to frequent conflicts between the couple. Olivier later reflected that he felt he had “lost Vivien” during that turbulent period.
LEIGH SAID HER MOST LAUDED ROLE “TIPPED HER OVER INTO MADNESS”
In 1949, Vivien Leigh took on the role of Blanche DuBois in a London production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” later reprising it in the 1951 film adaptation. Her portrayal earned immense acclaim, including an Oscar, yet she reflected, as cited by Legacy, that it contributed to her mental struggles, pushing her “over into madness.” During the filming of “Elephant Walk” in Sri Lanka in 1953, she experienced hallucinations and worsening insomnia, leading to an incident on a flight back to Los Angeles where she attempted to jump out of the plane. Upon her return, she barricaded herself in her dressing room until sedated and flown to London for electric shock therapy, as detailed by Marie Claire UK.
In 1956, Leigh suffered a second miscarriage, as reported by Harper’s Bazaar, which further added to her emotional distress. She accompanied Laurence Olivier on his tour for the play “Titus Andronicus” in the following years, often exhibiting outbursts of anger towards him and others in the cast. The strain on their relationship culminated in their separation in 1958. Leigh then entered a relationship with actor Jack Merivale until her passing from tuberculosis in 1967, while Olivier began dating actress Joan Plowright, whom he eventually married.
Even after their divorce in 1960, Olivier and Leigh maintained correspondence. The Guardian quoted Olivier’s note to Leigh shortly before her death, signed with affection as “Sincerest love darling, your Larry.”
