Did you know Vivien Leigh, Oscar winning actress from Gone With The Wind, has Indian roots?

Born on November 5, 1913, in the picturesque hills of Darjeeling, India, Vivien Leigh would have celebrated her 100th birthday today. In honour of this iconic actress, we take a journey through her remarkable life and enduring legacy. Vivien Leigh's journey to stardom was as captivating as the roles she portrayed on the silver screen. With an English stockbroker for a father and an Irish mother, Leigh's background was a blend of cultures, foreshadowing her international appeal. From a young age, she displayed a remarkable stage presence, performing in her mother's theater group at just three years old.

Vivien Leigh's Indian heritage

Vivien Leigh, known for her iconic portrayals of two Southern characters, was born as Vivian Mary Hartley in Darjeeling, British India, in 1913, and she spent her formative years in Calcutta. Her mother, also born in India, had a mixed-race background, while her father, who was born in Scotland while his Yorkshire family was visiting, moved to India and became prosperous as an exchange broker. Interestingly, her father, an amateur actor, introduced her to the world of theater, igniting her passion for the stage.

Vivien Leigh's early life

At the age of 6, the Hartleys sent young Vivian to England for a Catholic education, and her schooling continued in various countries, including France, Italy, and Germany during her teenage years. It was while attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London that she crossed paths with a dashing lawyer named Leigh Holman, whom she married in 1932. Following this marriage and becoming a mother, she embarked on a career in both stage and film, adopting the name Vivien Leigh.

However, the turning point in both her personal and professional life occurred when she encountered Laurence Olivier, a charismatic actor who, like Leigh, was married with a child. Their intensely passionate love affair began in 1936 while they were working on the film Fire Over England and eventually led to divorces from their respective spouses, culminating in their own marriage in 1940.

Vivien Leigh's passion

Leigh's passion for acting led her to England, where she pursued her dream of becoming "a great actress." This dream was shared with her schoolmate Maureen O'Sullivan. She honed her craft at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and soon found herself engaged to Herbert Leigh Holman. However, it was her iconic portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind that catapulted her to stardom and earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Vivien Leigh's struggles

Leigh's off-screen life was marked by intense personal struggles. Laurence Olivier once described her bouts of despair, painting a picture of a woman often "inconsolable ... sitting on the corner of the bed, wringing her hands and sobbing." She also battled tuberculosis, which ultimately led to her premature death at the age of 53. Yet, her artistry remained undiminished.