Leigh and Olivier Bashny.Net

It was the end of 1934 at the Theatre Royal sold out went the next performance. On stage, she reigned a great Laurence Olivier, who was considered at that time the "king" on the English stage. And this was quite agree, sitting in an orchestra aspiring actress Vivien Leigh, although at the time she was better known as Mrs. Vivian Holman. She was married to a fine lawyer and their year-old daughter was growing up.
But at that moment when you look at the brave, handsome with a strong look, besides owning a superior technique of the game, Vivien had forgotten everything. In a burst of enthusiasm she told her friend: Here is this man I married! But you already have a husband. - He reminded her friend back. Yes, and Lawrence himself zhenat.No Vivienne even brow not led - she always knew how to achieve what he wants. And now she wanted Laurence Olivier as anyone in the world.





And since that evening she wanted to go to every performance with his participation. Once Vivienne even managed to get backstage and personally meet with Olivier. He was very flattered by the attention such a beautiful girl. So Lawrence as a sign of mutual sympathy, too, comes to see her on stage - in the play "The Mask of Virtue" and Lawrence was impressed with how Vivian can keep the audience the power of his charm. A little later, the contracts concluded with renowned producer Alexander Korda, pushes them into a single set of the film "Fire Over England". The film was about the wonderful love of honor of the queen and the brave naval officer. Of course, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh played the main role in it.



I must say that Olivier has always been sincerely convinced that the joint love scenes are only able to discourage the actors playing together all hunting even see each drugom.Skoree all, we will finish that damn it. - As he said before the start of filming. And it is very much mistaken. We Cupid they had other plans.
The passion between them broke out immediately and were not the "novel one movie." But love the actors were forced to maintain decorum and to show the strength of family ties. That even visited each other's homes with their spouses and periodically posed four outbreaks before reporters. But for a long time to restrain the strong feelings it was impossible, and after the joint performance of "Hamlet" in which they were Hamlet and Ophelia, Vivien Leigh and Laurence decided to leave their families.









Only they could not marry. Jill Esmond, wife of Olivier, she not only did not give him a divorce, but also to convince Holman, Vivien husband does not agree to it. Although in the end, he promised that he would, when my daughter grows up. Meanwhile, Olivier and Vivien Leigh played in six joint performances, and even invited him to star in America, where Larry and flew away, and Vivien left alone in their large mansion of London.











And then I decided to submit the voice of his Majesty the case, however, at first a little unfortunate: Olivier sprained foot on the set, and is also concerned that Vivian flew to America for his Larry.
America, then, lived only one - the search for an actress for the lead role in the movie "Gone with the Wind" was filmed on the novel, which became a cult hit in an instant. In this quest it has been two years and it has been heard more than 1,400 contenders.
Book read Margaret Mitchell Vivienne for two nights, and firmly decided that Scarlett will play it alone. To this he is convinced and David O. Selznick was only enough for one of his gaze on her. Before him stood a strong, incredible and indomitable Scarlett - he believed in it immediately.



Filming was heavy going from early morning until late at night. Soffits Scarlett pursued even in a dream, she began to hate Hollywood. But it was worth it. With the release of the film Vivien Leigh ascended into the pantheon kinobogin. After that you can do nothing else. It has remained for centuries. Even if you say that was a huge success and the giddy, still it would be an understatement.
Vivien receives "Oscar", but its popularity soars to fantastic heights.





As Lawrence? He was also impressed by her game. I did not expect that it is able to do so. - Olivier told her after the premiere. Until now, he considered himself a talented friend.
And her "Oscar" even jarred him, but while love is strong. Moreover, they are finally a divorce. Vivien and Lawrence could officially marry. However, the very modest - in Santa Barbara in the presence of just two witnesses: Garson Kanin and Katharine Hepburn.











And just a few months, the premiere of the famous film "Waterloo Bridge" with Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor, with the same incredible enthusiasm received by critics and the public.
At the same time, Alexander Korda offers newlyweds played a major role in the film "That Hamilton Woman". Once again, Vivien Leigh manages to give such a charm, strength, and innocently very prudent Lady Hamilton that Olivier in the form of bold sea "wolf" somewhat dims beside her. In the future, with each new film and the performance difference in the performance of both actors and approaches-spouses more and more evident as the growing rift in their relationship.









The joint production of "Romeo and Juliet" have invested all the family money, but it failed, despite the fact that the critics praised the game Vivian and Lawrence called "the worst in the history of Romeo." Olivia suddenly comes to the conclusion that the first actor in Britain he became a wife of the star, and Vivienne, which he has long been used to consider only his student, he has long been a superior in his acting, and the fame.
Joint film "Caesar and Cleopatra" still was a great success - but again, the critics praised it much more than him.











Only the incredible efforts of the Vivian, saved their marriage by creeping collapse: it is always and tirelessly praised Olivier refused lucrative offers, but would not leave "his Larry." And in the end on the performance as the wife of Olivier Vivienne was away much more energy than when it was engaged in a creative career. For example, the "Oscar" for his role received Blanche DuBois, she modestly propped up the bedroom door, so show her husband that these awards and thank for it does not mean anything.









It is not surprising that soon her name again got into his shadow. Moreover, the "Richard III», which played a set and Lawrence was able to return it back to the top of the pedestal of the cast, and the "Oscar" for the film "Henry V» Olivier finally approved a reputation as the best British actor. In 1947, Laurence Olivier was knighted. Vivienne became Lady Olivier (and even after divorce retained the title).







Yet relations between spouses more ports. They were never able to have children together in 20 years of marriage. And they dreamed about Olivier. Two attempts have ended in miscarriage. And in 1944 the family came another problem - active and cheerful Vivienne contracted tuberculosis. The doctors prescribed her treatment in hospital and bed rest, but it was torn to the stage and asked Lawrence to take her home. For me, work is life.






The drugs that were prescribed, are detrimental to Vivienne and she begins to fall into frequent depressions, between spouses increasingly arise scandals. It receives its second "Oscar" for the brilliant game of "Tram-wish ', but at the same time, this role even more exacerbated her mental state.
In 1953, during the filming of Ceylon Vivienne hallucinations and put it in a better mental hospital in England, where it is used, even shock therapy.
As a result, the clinic returns a different woman - depressed and frightened.
And Lawrence, meanwhile, meets a young actress Joan Plowright, and really enjoys it, although Vivien about anything not guess.









On the day of the 45th anniversary of Vivien Olivier gives her a Rolls Royce and asked about divorce: he wants to marry Joan. Vivian is very difficult to go through divorce - in the end it came out loud and scandalous. But to the very end she sincerely believed that Olivier would return to her, took care of his title, and not to remove the photo from your Lawrence dresser. By a lot I had to get used to this life, but the most difficult to get used to the absence of Lawrence. And yet she was able to successfully continue to work on stage and in film.
Vivien Leigh died as a result of serious illness July 7, 1967 - she was only 53 years. On that day, all of London's theaters dimmed the lights for an hour.



Laurence Olivier after her death happily lived for 30 years with Joan and her three children, who appeared in this marriage.
The only thing all these years, he often revised in the evenings movies with Vivien Leigh. Very often - "Waterloo Bridge» ...