Winner of the Society for Theatre Research Book Prize 2020 Vivien Leigh was perhaps the most
iconic actress of the twentieth century. As Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche Du Bois she took on
some of the most pivotal roles in cinema history. Yet she was also a talented theatre actress
with West End and Broadway plaudits to her name. In this ground-breaking new biography Alan
Strachan provides a completely new full-life portrait of Leigh covering both her professional
and personal life. Using previously unseen sources from her archive recently acquired by the
V&A he sheds new light on her fractious relationship with Laurence Olivier based on their
letters and diaries as well as on the bipolar disorder which so affected her later life and
work. Revealing new aspects of her early life as well as providing glimpses behind-the-scenes
of the filming of Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire this book provides the
essential and comprehensive life-story of one of the twentieth century's greatest actresses. 'A
gripping new biography' - The Daily Mail '[Vivien Leigh's] life lived to the full at every
second will never be better told than it is in these pages' - The Sunday Times 'One of the
most revealing showbiz biographies ever' - Sir Ian McKellen 'Enthralling' - Michael Codron 'A
wonderful tribute' - Dame Penelope Keith DBE DL
