I've been waiting a long time for an excuse to write about Vivien Leigh, but I've decided that regardless of whether or not there's an anniversary of one of her films or an event in her life; I'm going to do it.
PLEASE READ: Vivian changed her name to Vivien in the early days of her acting career; hence the reason why I use both the names Vivian and Vivien.
Vivian Mary Hartley was born in Darjeeling, India on 5th November 1913 to parents Ernest Hartley and Gertrude Robinson Yackjee. Ernest was working as an officer in the Indian Cavalry whilst Gertrude was playing the role of the perfect housewife at home, preparing for baby Vivian to arrive. Gertrude enjoyed the pleasures of living in exotic India and revelled in her position in Indian high society. Despite this, Gertrude made sure that her home was a constant reminder of her British roots, surrounding her family with all the things you'd expect to see in one of the queen's palaces. It was into this strange world that Vivien emerged.
Years later, Vivien would say that her first memory was of beautiful exotic flowers, due to Gertrude's demand that flowers needed to be constant in their home. These early years were possibly the only years of Vivien's life that were not riddled with either personal tragedy or bad health, it was the most peaceful time of her life. Ernest took to his daughter straight away and began a great bond that would last until he died. Gertrude on the other hand had a slightly stricter approach to parenthood, although don't let this lead you to believe that Vivien and Gertrude didn't get along, Vivien and Gertrude loved each other dearly and Vivien would always ask her mother's opinion on a decision before she made it. While Gertrude Prepared Vivien for a privileged life and taught her to act accordingly, Ernest would read Vivien children's adaptations of Greek mythology and Indian folklore. Indeed, Vivien was always older than her years, and even as a small child she showed the signs of someone many years older and wiser than she was.
She began to develop her interest in acting thanks to her father, who had once hoped to be an actor himself and was a member of a amateur dramatics group. At the age of three, she made her acting debut, reciting 'Little Bo Peep' to an audience. This was the start of a love affair with the stage, soon to be followed by a slightly less enthusiastic relationship with the screen.
In 1920, Vivien was placed in the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton, England where she was the youngest ever student. Due to her young age Vivien was allowed to keep a pet kitten - which was usually strictly against the rules of the convent. Whilst at the Convent of the Sacred Heart Vivien met Maureen O'Sullivan, who would also grow up to be a Hollywood actress, and the two of them became best friends. Although Vivien would have much rather been at home in India with her parents, the Convent of the Sacred Heart did offer her something which she enjoyed. It gave her a chance to act, giving her the opportunity to take part in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest, she also studied ballet and was a keen player of the cello. It was here that Vivien leaned to speak French fluently and learnt many things about Ancient Egypt - a great interest of hers.
In 1929 fifteen year old Vivien moved to a convent near the Italian Riviera, however she soon left the convent as she despised it. She moved instead to a finishing school in Paris, again, she was the youngest ever student there. Whilst in Paris Vivien touched up on her French, but more importantly she received acting lessons that taught her things she would carry round with her for the rest of her life. That Christmas Vivien played the lead role of a heroine in the school's production. The next two years of Vivien's life were at another school, this time in the Bavarian Alps.
Vivien finished her education in June of 1931 and introduced herself to high class society. Not long after she met Leigh Holman, who was to become her first husband. Leigh was at the time engaged to another woman, an elder sister of one of Vivien's friends in fact. But in true Scarlett O'Hara style Vivien declared that he would become her husband, and she wasn't wrong. After a relatively short courtship Leigh and Vivien were married five days before Christmas of 1932.
Twelve months earlier Vivien had begun to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, in the hope of fulfilling her dreams of being an actress, and now a married woman Vivien returned to RADA with her whole life ahead of her. In October 1933 Vivien gave birth to daughter Suzanne and settled in at home with Leigh playing her worst cast role - the role of a housewife. During this time Vivien received word of an opportunity to play a small role in an upcoming film entitled Things Are Looking Up. Vivien got the part and even though it was small she say it as the start of a career in the business. Much to her dismay her one line in the film was cut, upsetting Vivien a great deal. In September of 1934 Vivien went to see a play called Theatre Royal starring an upcoming theatre actor named Laurence Olivier. Vivien was mesmerised by his stage presence and returned several times to see the play. Vivien spent the next two months of her life on the stage and made a small appearance in two minor films - The Village Squire and Gentleman's Agreement. Vivien was in a 1935 film called Look Up and Laugh, it was the first film in which she had played a memorable role. Whilst filming Look Up And Laugh Vivien auditioned for a leading role in a new play entitled The Mask of Virtue.
The Mask of Virtue opened on May 15th 1935 and was a great success, putting Vivien's name out there in the world of theatre. It was perhaps in part due to her success in this play that Vivien was introduced to Laurence Olivier towards the end of 1935. Vivien's next film project was Fire Over England in which she played the joint main role alongside Laurence Olivier. More importantly Fire Over England marked the start of Vivien's affair with Laurence. Almost immediately after filming ended, Vivien began filming Dark Journey, in which she played the main role.
PART TWO COMING SOON.
For people who love Old Hollywood, this is the blog for you!
