12 Must-see Vivien Leigh Locations in London

photo essay

12 Must-see Vivien Leigh Locations in London

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One of the most commonly asked questions that I receive on this site is from people who are travelling to London and want to do some unique sight-seeing. Where can they go to see places related to Vivien Leigh? As we know, Vivien spent the majority of her life in and around London. She worked here, played here, lived here, and died here, so there are quite a lot of locales that were graced with her presence.

Here are 12 locations that I’ve mapped out along a walking route. Most of them are quite close together, but it covers a good bit of ground, so make sure you bring comfortable footwear and carry a bottle of water. Of course, you can always hop on the tube or get a bus, but the best way to see London is definitely by foot. I usually start the journey at Waterloo as it’s closest to where I live.

*Best enjoyed imagining commentary in a posh British accent.

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the oliviers

The Oliviers: Britain’s most celebrated dynamic duo

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Oliviers Life

This post is for the Dynamic Duos blogathon currently being hosted by Once Upon a Screen and Classic Movie Hub and I’d highly encourage reading the entries from all the other fabulous bloggers. I apologize in advance if what I wrote below seems a bit disjointed. There is so much to say about the Oliviers that one could literally fill an entire book.

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On May 22, 1960, Vivien Leigh released a shocking statement to the press: “Lady Olivier wishes to say that Sir Laurence has asked for a divorce in order to marry Miss Joan Plowright. She will naturally do whatever he wishes.” The reasons behind Olivier’s request remained unknown to the general public until 1977 – ten years after Vivien’s death – when biographer Anne Edwards revealed Vivien’s long-fought battle with manic depression (better known today as bipolar disorder) and Olivier’s inability to cope with the strain of her illness. In 1960, however, it was only clear that one of the most celebrated and respected relationships in show business had come to what seemed like an abrupt end. Many fans were so bowled over by the news that they decided to take matters into their own hands. Olivier’s papers in the British Library contain a multitude of hand-written letters from people around the globe imploring him not to go through with the divorce; they simply couldn’t handle the disillusionment.

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book news

Vivien Leigh makes Publishers Weekly Top 10

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Last week I got a pleasant surprise in my email inbox. My editor, Cindy, had written to say congratulations – Vivien Leigh: An Intimate Portrait has been included in Publishers Weekly’s Top 10 Performing Arts

Vivien Leigh An Intimate Portrait

books for Fall 2013! It took me a while to track down a copy of the article, which was included in the June 24th issue. I don’t have a subscription so couldn’t view it online, but my US publicist saved her hard copy and kindly scanned it for me. My agent said it’s quite an honor for a first book to make a list such as this, and I believe her. I’m humbled to be included amongst what looks like a fantastic group of biographies, academic studies, and other non-fiction entertainment titles, including one by TCM’s own Robert Osborne:

In other exciting book news, things are really starting to fall into place as far as promotional events are concerned. TCM has chosen Vivien Leigh: An Intimate Portrait as their Book Corner Selection for the month of October! It will be featured in the Now Playing Guide, on the TCM website, and on air during the This Month on TCM segments. Be sure to program your DVRs! Also, the launch party has been scheduled. The good people at Daunt Books in Holland Park  have agreed to host the event in mid-October. I’m really excited about it and am looking forward to seeing friends, family, and fans!

Visiting Shaw’s Corner

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Visiting Shaw’s Corner

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In the spring of 1944, Vivien Leigh accompanied Hungarian director Gabriel Pascal to playwright George Bernard Shaw’s home in Ayot St. Lawrence, Hertfordshire. Producer J. Arthur Rank had secured her on a loan from David O. Selznick to star in the film adaptation of Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra – her first film since returning to England at the end of 1940. As the screenwriter, Shaw was given a heavy hand in the production process. He had never seen Vivien in person – despite her long run in The Doctor’s Dilemma at the the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London the previous year – and wanted to make sure she was suitable enough to play his kittenish queen. Studio photographer Wilfrid Newton accompanied Vivien and Pascal, documenting their visit for publicity purposes. They were photographed in Shaw’s study and in his famous revolvable writing hut at the bottom of the garden.

Shaw and his wife Charlotte moved into the house in 1906 and promptly nicknamed it “Shaw’s Corner.”  It was her that he wrote some of his most famous works. When he and Charlotte both passed away, the house was bequeathed to the National Trust with the stipulation that all of Shaw’s belongings stay exactly as he had left them. This is what my friend Andy and I found so unique about the house when we went to visit last week. It’s literally a time capsule of early 20th century country life; like one of those abandoned houses you see in urban exploration photography, minus the dust and decay.

I’ll let the photos below serve as a tour.

Shaw’s Corner can be reached by train from King’s Cross. It’s quite a trek from Welwyn Garden City, so we took a cab, and had drinks and a meal at the 13th century pub down the road afterward.

All photos © Kendra Bean

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gone with the wind interviews vivien leigh

Olivia de Havilland remembers Vivien Leigh

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Olivia de Havilland and Vivien Leigh

The divine Olivia de Havilland celebrates her 97th birthday today. She is one of our greatest living film legends. Her career was quite extraordinary. A two-time Academy Award winner, she starred opposite many of the most popular leading men in Hollywood history, worked with some of the most acclaimed directors, and, perhaps most impressively, served her studio, Warner Bros., with a lawsuit over contractual obligations. Passed in 1944, the de Havilland Law stipulated that studios could not add extra time onto the end of stars’ seven-year contracts.

Despite her two Oscars for The Heiress and To Each His Own, de Havilland is perhaps best-known today for playing Scarlett O’Hara’s angelic sister-in-law Melanie Wilkes in Gone With the Wind. She is the only surviving main player from the film, and as such, her memories are cherished by many fans. De Havilland has been very forthcoming over the years about her association with the film. While many, including Vivien Leigh, envisioned that the outcome of Selznick’s epic would be disastrous, de Havilland stipulates that she knew they were making something special.

I was lucky enough to interview Olivia de Havilland whilst writing Vivien Leigh: An Intimate Portrait. She kindly answered my questions in writing from her home in Paris, revealing her sharp mind and a knack for tactfulness. Her character really shines through here. Notice how she is never condescending or malicious in her assessments. One of the things I appreciated most was her honesty about how well she knew Vivien after GWTW. It’s easy to claim we know more about certain situations than we really do, and I think her admitting she wasn’t able to answer certain questions really adds to her credibility.

Below are the signed covering letter and answers to my questions. The sections that are blacked out were chosen to appear in the text of Vivien Leigh: An Intimate Portrait.

Olivia de Havilland cover letter

Olivia de Havilland interview

Olivia de Havilland interview 2

de havilland 3