The Breakdown of Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh's 1953 breakdown was recorded by her friend David Niven. Leigh experienced biopolar episodes before, but her 1953 breakdown was on the heels of cruel statements made by the critic Kenneth Tynan, who was also friends and later employed by her husband Sir Laurence Olivier. Leigh, or Lady Olivier as she was known in 1953, experienced industry pressure over her intense love with Olivier. Forbidden to see him during the filming of Gone with the Wind (1939) the Oliviers were happily reunited onscreen in That Hamilton Woman (1941) and onstage in Shakespearean classics (Romeo & Juliet, Caesar & Cleopatra). Leigh's tuberculosis diagnosis in 1944 when she worked herself to exhaustion in North Africa wasn't known to Niven at the time, who recorded her coughing excessively in her drafty Hollywood home. The Oliviers would divorce in 1960 and Leigh would die seven years later.
"I would rather live a short time with him (Laurence) than a long life without him." -- Vivien Leigh
Sources:
Kendra Bean, Viv & Larry, http://vivandlarry.com/the-oliviers/notley-abbey/ & http://vivandlarry.com/vivien/remembrances/david-niven/
Hugh Vickers, Vivien Leigh (1989)
David Niven, Bring on the Empty Horses (1977)
#vivienleigh #laurenceolivier #ladyolivier #notleyabbey #davidniven #bringontheemptyhorses #vivienleighbreakdown #vivienleighdocumentary #laurenceolivierdocumentary #vivienleigh1953 #gonewiththewind #thathamiltonwoman
-
LIVE
vivafrei
8 hours agoEp. 216: SCOTUS RULINGS GALORE! Kansas Sues Pfizer! Trump Gag Order! Recusal of Nipple Judge? & MORE
17,504 watching -
19:28
Stephen Gardner
3 days ago🔴BREAKING: Biden’s RECKLESS new scheme fails with the PEOPLE!!
62.6K132 -
LIVE
Vigilant News Network
6 hours agoMedia Blackout: 10 News Stories They Chose Not to Tell You - Episode 28
1,628 watching -
13:07
Evenout
6 hours agoStealing Jordan 1 OG Then Re-Appearing With a Different Shoes Twin Prank!
13.8K6 -
1:20:26
Winston Marshall
1 day agoUNCOVERED: Legal System Weaponised - Trump, Hunter, Bannon & Biden | The Winston Marshall Show #020
46.8K130 -
16:09
Chicks in the Office
8 hours agoOur Top 12 Songs On Repeat This Week - Music You Can't Miss
37.9K30 -
2:23:05
Gigi Young
1 day agoLecture: The Mystery of Death
31.9K4 -
1:01:15
The Dan Bongino Show
11 hours agoSUNDAY SPECIAL with Mike Benz, Scott Presler, Julie Kelly and Jim Verdi - 06/23/2024
174K422 -
31:41
Standpoint with Gabe Groisman
11 hours agoEp. 32. Libs of TikTok. Chaya Raichik
59.3K47 -
35:24
Squaring The Circle w/ Randall Carlson
1 day ago#009 Are Sea Levels REALLY Rising? Pt 2 - Squaring the Circle: A Randall Carlson Podcast
89.3K64