Where madness lies

Event information

Vivien Leigh was one of the greatest film and theatrical stars of the twentieth century. Her meteoric rise to fame launched her into the gaze of fellow rising star Laurence Olivier. A tempestuous relationship ensued that would last for twenty years and captured the imagination of people around the world.
Behind the scenes, however, Leigh’s personal life was marred by bipolar disorder, which remained undiagnosed until 1953. Largely misunderstood and subjected to barbaric mistreatment at the hands of her doctors, she also suffered the heartbreak of Olivier’s infidelity. Contributing to her image as a tragic heroine, she died at the age of 53.

Best-selling author Lyndsy Spence reveals the woman behind the legendary image: a woman who remained strong in the face of adversity.