Member-only story

Dark Star: The Definitive Biography of Vivien Leigh

Caleb Long

·5.4k Followers· Follow

Published in Dark Star: A Biography Of Vivien Leigh

4 min read · 3 weeks before

721 View Claps

53 Respond

Save

Listen

Vivien Leigh was one of the most iconic actresses of all time. She won two Academy Awards for her performances in Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire, and her beauty and talent captivated audiences around the world. But behind the glamorous facade, Leigh was a complex and troubled woman who struggled with mental illness and addiction.

Dark Star: A Biography of Vivien Leigh

by Kristen Green

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6135 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	501 pages

Dark Star is the definitive biography of Vivien Leigh. Based on exclusive interviews with Leigh's family and friends, as well as on extensive research, this book provides a fresh and insightful look at the life and career of one of Hollywood's greatest stars.

Early Life and Career

Vivien Leigh was born in Darjeeling, India, in 1913. Her father was a British army officer, and her mother was an Irish actress. Leigh spent her early years in India and England, and she began acting in amateur theatricals at a young age.

In 1935, Leigh made her professional debut in the film The Village Squire. She quickly gained attention for her beauty and talent, and she soon became one of the most popular actresses in British cinema.

Hollywood Stardom

In 1939, Leigh was cast as Scarlett O'Hara in the epic film Gone with the Wind. Her performance was a triumph, and she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Leigh's success in Gone with the Wind made her a Hollywood star. She went on to star in a number of other classic films, including A Streetcar Named Desire, Anna Karenina, and Cleopatra.

Personal Life

Leigh's personal life was as dramatic as her career. She was married twice, first to the actor Laurence Olivier and then to the actor Peter Finch. Both of her marriages were stormy, and she struggled with mental illness and addiction.

Leigh died of tuberculosis in 1967, at the age of 53. She is buried in the churchyard of St. Martin's Church in Titchfield, Hampshire, England.

Legacy

Vivien Leigh is one of the most iconic actresses of all time. Her beauty, talent, and charisma captivated audiences around the world. But behind the glamorous facade, Leigh was a complex and troubled woman who struggled with mental illness and addiction.

Dark Star is the definitive biography of Vivien Leigh. This book provides a fresh and insightful look at the life and career of one of Hollywood's greatest stars.