59 Years Ago Today: Legendary British Actress Died at 53
Very few actors can lay claim to having played a major role in an iconic film that transcends decades. Even fewer were lucky enough to star in two.
"Gone with the Wind" was released in 1939. Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel was adapted into a film by director Victor Fleming, resulting in an epic historical romance.
In 1951, "A Streetcar Named Desire" hit theaters. The renowned drama drew critical acclaim and won four Academy Awards.
Apart from being two iconic films from their respective eras, the one thing that also ties these two motion pictures together is Vivien Leigh.
The legendary British actress won an Academy Award for her role as Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind." She repeated the feat 15 years later after a riveting performance as Blanche DuBois in "A Streetcar Named Desire."
On July 8, 1967, exactly 59 years today, Leigh died at just 53 years of age.
Leigh was born on November 5, 1913, in Darjeeling, India. She studied in England, later enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
"Fire Over England" (1937) is widely considered Leigh's breakout film. However, she achieved worldwide fame two years later after beating out other renowned actresses for the leading role in "Gone With the Wind" opposite Clark Gable.
In 1951, she became the only British actress to win two Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role for "A Streetcar Named Desire," a title that she holds to this day.
Leigh, who primarily considered herself a stage actress despite her box office success, had her fair share of health issues. She battled recurrent mental illness, which some film historians trace to a 1944 on-set accident that led to a miscarriage.
Leigh also suffered from tuberculosis, but she continued working in spite of her condition. In 1967, while preparing for a stage production of "A Delicate Balance," she succumbed to her illness. She was found dead in her London apartment.
Leigh left behind one daughter, Suzanne, from her first marriage to Leigh Holman.
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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 8:58 AM.