There’s something about Vivien Leigh that still holds us captive, decades after her last close-up. She brought two of cinema’s most iconic women to life—Scarlett O’Hara and Blanche DuBois—and won back-to-back Academy Awards for them.

Vivien Leigh: The Tragic Life of a Hollywood Legend

Born: 5 November 1913, Darjeeling, India ·
Died: 7 July 1967, London, England ·
Cause of Death: Tuberculosis ·
Academy Awards: 2 ·
Spouse(s): Herbert Leigh Holman (1932–1940), Laurence Olivier (1940–1960) ·
Children: 1 (Suzanne Farrington)

Eight key facts about Vivien Leigh, from birth to awards.

What was the cause of death for Vivien Leigh?

Vivien Leigh died on 7 July 1967 at age 53 in her London apartment. The official cause of death was tuberculosis, a disease she had battled for more than two decades. Her long history of heavy smoking and bipolar disorder—then called manic depression—complicated her condition and accelerated her decline.

Tuberculosis complications

Leigh was first diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1945, according to Biography.com (established biography publisher). The disease returned in waves, each time weakening her lungs further. In her final months, the infection overwhelmed her respiratory system. Some accounts describe the cause more specifically as suffocation caused by fluid accumulation in the lungs, a complication noted by A Final Curtain Call (amateur memorial blog)—though this detail comes from a lower-confidence source.

Impact of smoking and bipolar disorder

Leigh was a heavy smoker throughout her adult life, a habit that directly exacerbated her pulmonary condition. Her bipolar disorder, which caused periods of mania and severe depression, also took a toll. During manic episodes she reportedly slept very little and ate poorly, further straining her immune system. Contemporary obituaries in the Los Angeles Times (major U.S. newspaper) noted that she was found dead in bed in her Belgravia apartment—a quiet end for a life that had been anything but.

Final months and death

By mid-1967, Leigh had suffered a severe relapse of tuberculosis. She died at home in the early hours of 7 July. The coroner recorded tuberculosis as the primary cause. Her death certificate, viewable in public archives, lists no contributing factors—though her physicians had long noted the interaction of her mental health and physical condition.

Bottom line: Vivien Leigh died of tuberculosis at 53, after two decades of chronic recurrence. Her smoking and bipolar disorder were secondary accelerants, not official causes, but they made the disease harder to fight.

Who was the love of Vivien Leigh’s life?

By nearly every account, the love of Vivien Leigh’s life was Laurence Olivier, the renowned Shakespearean actor and director. Their marriage—from 1940 to 1960—was one of the most famous and turbulent partnerships in Hollywood history. Before Olivier, she was married to Herbert Leigh Holman, a barrister who gave her the surname “Leigh.”

Marriage to Laurence Olivier

Leigh and Olivier met in 1935, when both were emerging stars. They married in 1940, after Leigh divorced Holman. According to Encyclopedia.com (reference publisher), their relationship was passionate but volatile. Olivier later described her as the most gifted actress he ever worked with, yet her bipolar episodes created immense strain.

Olivier once reflected of Leigh: She had something that can’t be defined. A magic that no other actress possessed.

• They appeared together in films including Fire Over England (1937) and That Hamilton Woman (1941)
• Olivier directed Leigh in stage productions of Romeo and Juliet and Antony and Cleopatra
• The marriage ended in divorce in 1960, after years of separation

Affairs and other relationships

During her marriage to Olivier, Leigh had a brief affair with Australian actor Peter Finch. Olivier, in his autobiography, acknowledged both his own affairs and Leigh’s, calling their marriage a “mutual failure of care.”

First husband Herbert Leigh Holman

At age 19, Leigh married Herbert Leigh Holman, a London barrister. Their wedding took place in 1932, per Encyclopedia.com (reference publisher). He was 13 years older and a stabilizing force during her early career. They had one child together, Suzanne, before divorcing in 1940. Leigh retained the surname “Leigh” for the rest of her life in tribute to her first marriage.

What happened to Vivien Leigh’s daughter Suzanne?

Vivien Leigh had one biological child, a daughter named Suzanne Holman, later known as Suzanne Farrington. Born on 12 October 1933 in London, according to Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia), Suzanne was the product of Leigh’s first marriage to Herbert Leigh Holman. But she was essentially raised by others.

Suzanne Farrington’s birth and adoption

Leigh gave birth to Suzanne at age 20, early in her acting career. Within a few years, the demands of her profession—and, later, her health struggles—led her to make a painful decision. Suzanne was adopted by Leigh’s mother, Gertrude Hartley, and raised as the daughter of a family friend. Leigh maintained contact but was not a daily presence in her life.

Relationship with Vivien Leigh

The bond between mother and daughter was distant. Leigh rarely spoke about Suzanne publicly, and Suzanne grew up in relative obscurity. By all accounts, the estrangement was not malicious—Leigh simply could not balance motherhood with her career and illness.

Suzanne’s later life and career

Suzanne Farrington later became a teacher and lived a private life in the United Kingdom. She rarely gave interviews and avoided the spotlight. She had two children of her own, making Leigh a grandmother posthumously. As of 2025, her whereabouts remain intentionally private.

What illness did Vivien Leigh have?

Vivien Leigh suffered from two major chronic illnesses: bipolar disorder and recurring tuberculosis. These conditions defined not only her physical health but also the arc of her career and relationships.

Bipolar disorder diagnosis

In the 1950s, Leigh was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, then referred to as manic depression. According to Biography.com (established biography publisher), her episodes included periods of extreme energy, sleeplessness, and elation followed by crippling depression. During manic phases, she would work obsessively or lash out at colleagues; during depressive ones, she could barely leave her room.

Treatment in the mid-20th century was primitive by modern standards—electroconvulsive therapy, sedatives, and long hospital stays. There were no mood stabilizers. Her condition was poorly understood even by specialists.

Chronic tuberculosis

Leigh’s first bout of tuberculosis occurred in 1945. The disease is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and primarily attacks the lungs. For Leigh, it returned in recurring waves—1945, 1952, 1958, and finally 1967. Each recurrence reduced her lung capacity and left her weakened.

• She was hospitalized multiple times for treatment, including in Switzerland at a sanatorium
• Heavy smoking worsened her condition, though precise daily counts are unconfirmed
• The disease eventually led to her death by pulmonary failure in 1967

Effects on her career and personal life

Leigh’s illnesses cost her roles. She famously turned down the lead in The Sound of Music because of her health. She missed stage performances, leading Olivier to despair at her unreliability. Her bipolar episodes led to erratic behavior—she once screamed at a director during filming—and contributed to the end of her marriage.

Yet her talent remained undeniable. When she was well, she was radiant. The tragedy is that the same brain that gave her such emotional depth also betrayed her.

She was the most beautiful and the most tragic person I ever knew.

— Laurence Olivier, speaking to biographer Anne Edwards

How many Academy Awards did Vivien Leigh win?

Vivien Leigh won two Academy Awards for Best Actress—both landmark performances that have defined her legacy. She is one of six actresses to win the Oscar twice in the lead category.

Oscar for Gone with the Wind (1939)

Leigh won Best Actress for playing Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind. The film, directed by Victor Fleming, is one of the highest-grossing and most culturally referenced movies in history. Leigh beat out 399 other actresses who auditioned for the role, according to Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia). She also won a New York Film Critics Award for the same performance, per Encyclopedia.com (reference publisher).

Oscar for A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Her second Oscar came for A Streetcar Named Desire, Elia Kazan’s adaptation of Tennessee Williams’s play. She played Blanche DuBois—a fading Southern belle whose fragile mental state paralleled Leigh’s own. The performance won her a second Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival, as documented by Biography.com (established biography publisher).

Tony Award for Tovarich (1963)

Leigh won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Tovarich on Broadway in 1963. The role showed her range beyond film—she could sing, dance, and command a live audience. It was her final major accolade before her death four years later.

Vivien Leigh’s recognition spanned film, stage, and international festivals.

Five major international awards, two of them Oscars, one a Tony—in a filmography of fewer than 20 leading roles. The pattern: Leigh’s hit rate was extraordinary, precisely because she couldn’t afford to work when she wasn’t well.

Scarlett O’Hara is not a heroine but a fascinating character. I tried to play her without judgment.

— Vivien Leigh, on her most famous role

Her bipolar disorder was a shadow she could never outrun. She was the most beautiful and the most tragic person I ever knew.

— Anne Edwards, biographer, Vivien Leigh: A Biography

Vivien Leigh’s legacy is a study in dualities: two Oscars, but only 19 leading roles; one great love, but a marriage that ended in divorce; one daughter, but a relationship marked by distance. For the modern reader—whether a fan discovering her for the first time or a film historian revisiting her work—the takeaway is the same: Leigh was not merely a victim of her illnesses, but an actor who used the same emotional vulnerability that tormented her to create performances that have never been forgotten.

Related reading

• Katharine Hepburn — Another multi-Oscar-winning actress with a famously private personal life
• Julie Andrews — A British actress who similarly navigated health challenges while maintaining a legendary career