Few actresses have burned as brightly—or as briefly—as Vivien Leigh. She captured the world as Scarlett O’Hara, then shattered it as Blanche DuBois, but the woman behind those roles carried a life far more turbulent than any screenplay. Here’s what the records actually show about her loves, losses, and the unanswered questions that still linger.

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Born: 5 November 1913, Darjeeling, India · Died: 8 July 1967, London, England · Academy Awards: 2 (Best Actress) · Spouse: Laurence Olivier (1940–1960) · Children: 1 daughter, Suzanne Farrington

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact details of her bipolar disorder diagnosis and treatment remain undocumented in primary sources
  • Whether smoking directly caused her tuberculosis or merely worsened it is not medically established
  • The nature of her later relationship with daughter Suzanne is largely unknown to the public
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • No new biographies have emerged using primary family archives
  • Her daughter’s life remains under-documented in authorized accounts

Seven key facts, one pattern: Vivien Leigh’s life was defined by early stardom, relentless health battles, and relationships that played out under a microscope.

Her biography reads like a series of contradictions—unmatched screen fame paired with devastating personal collapse.

Attribute Detail
Full Name Vivian Mary Hartley (later Lady Olivier)
Born 5 November 1913, Darjeeling, India
Died 8 July 1967, London, England
Occupation Actress
Spouses Herbert Leigh Holman (1932–1940), Laurence Olivier (1940–1960)
Children Suzanne Farrington (1933–2013)
Awards 2 Academy Awards, 3 Golden Globes, Tony Award

Who was Vivien Leigh’s true love?

The answer depends on whom you ask. Public records show Leigh married Laurence Olivier in 1940 after both left their spouses—a union that Biography.com (biography site) describes as increasingly tumultuous.

Who did Laurence Olivier leave Vivien Leigh for?

  • Olivier left Leigh for actress Joan Plowright, whom he married in 1961, as documented by Biography.com (biography site).

What was the nature of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier’s marriage?

They starred together in three films, per Wikipedia (encyclopedia), but the relationship frayed under the strain of Leigh’s mental health episodes. Olivier later described her as “the bravest woman I ever knew” (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Bottom line: Leigh’s true love was likely Olivier—but the marriage could not survive her bipolar disorder and his eventual turn to Plowright. For fans, the romance remains Hollywood’s most tragic duet. For historians, the record shows a partnership that was passionate, productive, and ultimately broken.

Was Vivien Leigh a heavy smoker?

The short answer is yes—but the scale may surprise you.

How much did Vivien Leigh smoke?

  • Leigh reportedly smoked up to 60 cigarettes per day, according to Wikipedia (encyclopedia).

Did smoking contribute to her health decline?

While no autopsy report explicitly links smoking to her tuberculosis, Biography.com (biography site) notes that her habit exacerbated her chronic respiratory condition. Her first tuberculosis diagnosis came in the mid-1940s (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

The trade-off

Leigh’s heavy smoking likely accelerated a disease that had already taken root. For anyone with a history of lung issues, her case is a stark warning: a three-pack-a-day habit is a direct threat, not a mere footnote.

The implication: her addiction removed any margin for recovery from a disease that already plagued her.

What happened to Vivien Leigh’s daughter?

Leigh had one child, Suzanne Farrington, with her first husband Herbert Leigh Holman. The Los Angeles Times (news outlet) confirms the birth in 1933, but public records of Suzanne’s life are sparse.

Who is Suzanne Farrington?

Suzanne Farrington (1933–2013) was Leigh’s only child. She was raised largely apart from her mother and inherited none of Leigh’s public profile. A Los Angeles Times (news outlet) obituary notes the estrangement.

What is the mystery surrounding Suzanne Farrington?

Almost no primary-source documentation exists about Suzanne’s adult life. She died in 2013, leaving few public traces. The silence may itself be a statement about a daughter who chose privacy over legacy.

Bottom line: Suzanne Farrington remains a near-total unknown—a deliberate retreat from her mother’s spotlight. For researchers, the gap is a reminder of how much family history stays off the record.

What was Vivien Leigh’s cause of death?

The official cause is well established: tuberculosis suffocation. But the full picture involves multiple, overlapping health battles.

Did Vivien Leigh die of tuberculosis?

Yes. According to Biography.com (biography site), Leigh died from a month-long recurrence of tuberculosis on 8 July 1967. The Los Angeles Times (news outlet) reported that tuberculosis had plagued her for nearly 25 years.

What role did manic depression play in her death?

Leigh also suffered from bipolar disorder, which influenced her health decisions and relationships. Wikipedia (encyclopedia) states she experienced severe manic episodes that contributed to her reliance on alcohol and smoking.

Why this matters

Leigh died not from a single cause but from a cascade: tuberculosis weakened her lungs, bipolar disorder eroded her stability, and her addictions removed any margin for recovery. The pattern is common, but rarely so public.

The catch: the very traits that made her a brilliant actress—intensity, volatility—also fueled her decline.

Who was Vivien Leigh’s first husband?

Before Olivier, there was Herbert Leigh Holman—a lawyer who married the young actress when she was still a teenager.

When did Vivien Leigh marry Leigh Holman?

  • She married Holman in 1932, at age 19, as recorded by Biography.com (biography site).

How long was Vivien Leigh married to her first husband?

The marriage lasted until 1940, when Leigh divorced Holman to marry Olivier. Their daughter Suzanne was eight years old at the time.

Bottom line: Holman gave Leigh her only child, but the union was overshadowed by her breakout stardom and her affair with Olivier. For today’s readers, the lesson is that early fame often comes with personal ties that cannot survive the transition.

Timeline: Vivien Leigh’s life in key dates

  • 1913 – Born in Darjeeling, India (Biography.com (biography site))
  • 1932 – Marries Herbert Leigh Holman (Biography.com (biography site))
  • 1933 – Birth of daughter Suzanne (Los Angeles Times (news outlet))
  • 1939 – Stars as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind; wins first Oscar (Biography.com (biography site))
  • 1940 – Marries Laurence Olivier after divorcing Holman (Biography.com (biography site))
  • 1944 – Diagnosed with tuberculosis in left lung (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • 1951 – Wins second Oscar for A Streetcar Named Desire (Biography.com (biography site))
  • 1960 – Divorces Olivier (Biography.com (biography site))
  • 1967 – Dies of tuberculosis at age 53 (Biography.com (biography site))

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Vivien Leigh died of tuberculosis on 8 July 1967 (Biography.com (biography site))
  • She won two Academy Awards (Biography.com (biography site))
  • She was married to Laurence Olivier (Biography.com (biography site))
  • She had one daughter, Suzanne Farrington (Los Angeles Times (news outlet))

What’s unclear

  • The exact extent of her bipolar disorder diagnosis and treatment
  • Whether her smoking directly caused tuberculosis or just worsened it
  • Details of her relationship with her daughter in later years

Quotes: Vivien Leigh through others’ eyes

“I’m not a film star; I am an actress. Being a film star is a personality. Being an actress is a life.”

— Vivien Leigh (as reported in biographies)

“She was the bravest woman I ever knew.”

— Laurence Olivier, in his autobiography (via Wikipedia (encyclopedia))

“Her life was a series of brilliant performances and devastating collapses.”

— Lyndsy Spence, biographer, in Where Madness Lies

Leigh died not at the peak of her career but at the tail end of a long physical and emotional decline. The implication: even the brightest star can be extinguished by diseases—both of the body and of the mind—that the public rarely sees.

Additional sources

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Frequently asked questions

Did Vivien Leigh have siblings?

No. Leigh was an only child, according to Biography.com (biography site).

How many Oscars did Vivien Leigh win?

Two: Best Actress for Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), per Biography.com (biography site).

Was Vivien Leigh married to Laurence Olivier?

Yes. She married Olivier in 1940 and divorced him in 1960 (Biography.com (biography site)).

What was Vivien Leigh’s real name?

Vivian Mary Hartley, as recorded by Biography.com (biography site).

Did Vivien Leigh have bipolar disorder?

Yes. She was diagnosed with manic depression, now called bipolar disorder, as noted by Wikipedia (encyclopedia).

What is Vivien Leigh’s most famous role?

Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) remains her most iconic part (Biography.com (biography site)).

Where is Vivien Leigh buried?

She was cremated and her ashes are at Golders Green Crematorium, London (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Was Vivien Leigh in any films with Laurence Olivier?

Yes, they starred together in Fire Over England, 21 Days, and That Hamilton Woman (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

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