She has at least 3 great granddaughters: Amy, Sophie and Ashua
She took her then husband's first name (Leigh) as her last name when she began acting professionally.
She was supposed to star in the Paramount film Elephant Walk (1954) with Peter Finch and Dana Andrews, but after appearing in a few scenes she was replaced by Elizabeth Taylor. The reasons for Leigh's dismissal were rumored to be her difficult nature, having just been diagnosed as a manic-depressive. Further complications may have erupted because of an affair she had with co-star Finch while she was still married to Laurence Olivier, and Leigh and Olivier were still married in 1954.
Son-in-law's name is Robin Farrington.
Suffered from manic depression.
The most frequently cited sketch on The Carol Burnett Show was the 1976 parody, "Went with the Wind", a send-up of Gone with the Wind. Burnett, as Starlett O'Hara, descends a long staircase wearing a dress made from a green window curtain -- complete with curtain rod! The outfit, designed by Bob Mackie, is on display at the Smithsonian Institution.
The nickname Vivling was given to her by her father. It's a combination of her name and the word darling.
The producer of the 1935 play "The Mask of Virtue" suggested to her that she change the 'a' in her first name to an 'e' from "Vivian" to "Vivien."
Vivian Hartley (Vivian Leigh) made her first stage appearance at the age of three, reciting "Little Bo Peep" for her mother's amateur theatre group. Gertrude Hartley tried to instill in her daughter an appreciation of literature and introduced her to the works of Hans Christian Andersen, Lewis Carroll, and Rudyard Kipling, as well as stories of Greek mythology and Indian folklore.
Vivien Leigh was the first ever actress to win two Best Actress Academy Awards, the first for a color film (Gone with the Wind) and the second for a black-and-white film (A Streetcar Named Desire).
Was close friends with Rachel Kempson, the mother of Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave.
Was named #16 Actress on The American Film Institutes 50 Greatest Screen Legends
Was obsessed with hiding her large hands. Gloves were a favorite cover-up, she owned more than 150 pairs.
Was offered the part of Alice Aisgill in Room at the Top (1959), but she turned the role down. Simone Signoret was cast instead and she went on to win a Best Actress Oscar for her performance.
Was offered the supporting role of Isabella in Wuthering Heights (1939), but decided to gamble and hold out for the lead role of Cathy. Director William Wyler thought she was crazy to pass up the opportunity, telling her, "You will never get a better part than Isabella for an American debut." Shortly after, she landed the plum role of Scarlett O'Hara.
Was the first British actress to win an Academy Award. She won the Best Actress Oscar for Gone with the Wind (1939) in February 1940.
When making Gone with the Wind (1939), super macho director Victor Fleming wanted Scarlett, for at least once in the film, to look like his hunting buddy Clark Gable's type of woman. So, when wearing the stunning low-cut burgundy velvet dress with rhinestones that Scarlett wears to Ashley Wilkes' birthday party in the second half of the film, to achieve the desired cleavage for Fleming, Walter Plunkett had to tape Vivien Leigh's breasts together.
Won Broadway's 1963 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "Tovarich."