Vivien Leigh Family Tree: The Story Behind Scarlett O'Hara

Vivian Mary Hartley (1913–1967), known as Vivien Leigh, born 5 November 1913 in Darjeeling, Bengal Presidency, British India, and died 7 July 1967 in London, was British Hollywood's most-decorated leading lady — 2 Academy Awards Best Actress (Gone with the Wind 1939 as Scarlett O'Hara; A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 as Blanche DuBois); married Laurence Olivier 1940-1960.

The Family's Roots: A British-Indian Family

Father was British colonial officer in India; mother had Irish and Parsi ancestry.

Her Parents

Father: Ernest Richard Hartley (1882–1958) — Yorkshire; broker in India.

Mother: Gertrude Mary Frances Yackjee (Yack-jean) Hartley (1888–1972) — half-Irish, quarter-Armenian, quarter-Parsi.

Her Husbands

Herbert Leigh Holman (m. 20 December 1932, div. 30 August 1940) — British barrister.

Sir Laurence Olivier (m. 31 August 1940, div. 2 December 1960) — legendary British actor.

Her Daughter

Suzanne Farrington (née Holman), born 12 October 1933 — daughter with Herbert Leigh Holman.

Her Long-Term Partner

Jack Merivale (1917–1990) — British actor; partner from 1960 until Vivien's death 1967.

The Leigh Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Ernest Richard Hartley (1882–1958) — India broker.

Mother: Gertrude Yackjee Hartley (1888–1972) — half-Irish, quarter-Armenian, quarter-Parsi.

Husbands: Herbert Leigh Holman (1932-40); Laurence Olivier (1940-60).

Partner: Jack Merivale (1960-death).

Daughter: Suzanne Farrington (b. 12 October 1933).

Vivien Leigh:

  • Born 5 November 1913, Darjeeling
  • Attended Convent of the Sacred Heart, Roehampton, from age 6
  • Royal Academy of Dramatic Art 1932
  • Gone with the Wind (1939) — Academy Award at 26 (talent search cast her as Scarlett)
  • A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) — 2nd Academy Award as Blanche DuBois
  • Long battle with bipolar disorder and tuberculosis
  • Died: 7 July 1967, London — tuberculosis at 53

What the Leigh Family Story Teaches Us

A British-India-broker father. A mother of Irish-Armenian-Parsi heritage. Two marriages, the second to Laurence Olivier for 20 years. A daughter. A long-term partner from divorce to death. A career of 2 Best Actress Oscars — both from iconic literary roles.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Vivien story carries the same lesson. Some careers reach 2 Oscars while fighting bipolar disorder.

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