Vivien Leigh, was born with the name of Vivian Mary Hartley, November 5th, 1913 in Darjeeling India. Her father, Ernest Hartley, was French, her mother, Gertrude Yackjee, was Irish. She attended London's public schools, a French convent in Italy, and finishing schools in Paris and Bavaria. She joined the Academy of Dramatic Art in London at the age of 19.

Vivien was married to Leigh Holman, in 1932 at the age of 19. They were married for 8 years until 1940. In 1935 she took the name 'Leigh' from him for her stage name of 'Vivien Leigh'. They had one daughter named Suzanne who was born October 10th 1933, shortly before Vivien's 20th birthday (Vivien's only child). Leigh Holman remained her friend for life after their divorce and they continued to correspond once she became involved with Laurence Olivier.

Vivien married Laurence Oliver on August 31st, 1940 at the age of 26. He was 33 at the time. They were married for 20 years until 1960. Olivier was the love of her life, and in terms of Hollywood couples, they were the talk of the town,  (both were married when they began their affair and both nominated for academy awards in 1939). They had many good years as well as difficult times, never successfully having children as a couple. At the end of both their lives, each claimed that their marriage and relationship was the most valued.

Vivien's first film was Things Are Looking Up in 1934 at the age of 21, (Released theatrically in 1935). She played a schoolgirl and had one line of dialogue, which was cut from the film: "If you are not made headmistress, I shan't come back next term."

Vivien won two Best Actress Academy Awards, one for her role as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind (1939), and one for her role as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). She also received a Tony for 'best musical comedy performance' in April 1963, for her role in Tovarich.

Vivien's last film was Ship of Fools in 1964 at the age of 51. (Released theatrically in 1965), where she played an aging Southern divorcee on a ship of refugees leaving Mexico.

Vivien Leigh passed away in her London home on the evening of July 7th, 1967 as a result of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis. She was 53 years old.

Vivien was cremated on July 12th, 1967 at Golders Green, London.   On July 8th, 1967 the West End theatres extinguished the front-of-house lights in tribute to Vivien. 

A memorial service was held on August 15th, 1967 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, and twenty minutes before the service, the church was filled to capacity.  Crowds massed on the steps, many crying into handkerchiefs, and police halted the traffic along the whole square.  It was attended by such notable people as Laurence Oliver, John Gielgud, Anna Neagle, Peggy Ashcroft, Gladys Cooper, Irene Worth, Rachel Kempson, Kay Hammond, George Withers, Peter Brook, Michael Benthall, and many, many more.  Leigh Holman sat with his daughter. 

On October 8th, 1967 Jack Merivale, (long time companion and final love of Vivien's), along with Vivien's immediate family, consisting of her mother, daughter Suzanna Farrington, and a very few of her intimates, scattered her ashes on the Lake of Tickerage (Vivien's estate in London).

On March 17th, 1968, Friends of the Libraries,   and the University of Southern California held tribute to Vivien, which was attended by many Hollywood celebrities.

On November 5th, 1968 a commemorative plaque was unveiled at St. Pauls Convent Garden (the "actors' church") for Vivien.