The Truth Behind Marlon Brando’s Connection with Vivien Leigh

Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh created an unforgettable on-screen duo that captivated audiences.

Their collaboration in the 1951 film “A Streetcar Named Desire,” adapted from Tennessee Williams' play, showcased Leigh as Blanche Du Bois, a troubled teacher who seeks refuge with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley, portrayed by Brando.

Du Bois's arrival further complicates Stella and Stanley's already strained relationship.

The film received an impressive twelve Academy Award nominations, winning five of them.

Both Brando and Leigh were nominated for Best Actor and Actress, respectively.

However, only Leigh emerged victorious.

Additionally, the movie secured wins in the Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories, nearly dominating the acting awards (via IMDb).

While Leigh's character, Blanche Du Bois, faced numerous challenges on screen, there was much happening behind the scenes as well.

Interestingly, Brando's involvement in Leigh's tumultuous personal life contradicted his reputation as a womanizer.

MARLON BRANDO'S ADMIRATION FOR VIVIEN LEIGH'S BEAUTY
In his memoir “Songs My Mother Taught Me,” Marlon Brando explained why he believed Vivien Leigh was the perfect choice for the tormented Blanche Du Bois.

He described Leigh as beautiful yet vulnerable.

Brando likened her life to “that of Tennessee's wounded butterfly” in the storyline of the play (via Cheatsheet).

Leigh grappled with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and tuberculosis in her personal life, as Harper's Bazaar reveals.

These illnesses plagued her during the 1940s.

By the time she took on the role in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” she had already experienced numerous mental breakdowns and a miscarriage.

Her health issues eventually took a toll on her marriage to Laurence Olivier, with whom she frequently acted in plays.

Despite their evident love for each other, as evidenced by their extensive correspondence, they divorced in 1960.

MARLON BRANDO'S DECISION NOT TO PURSUE A RELATIONSHIP WITH VIVIEN LEIGH
Vivien Leigh's extramarital affairs were another factor that strained her relationship with Olivier.

Even her connection with Laurence Olivier began as an affair for both of them.

In 1953, she engaged in a romantic relationship with Peter Finch, her co-star in “Elephant Walk,” before being replaced due to her mental health struggles, according to The Guardian.

Marlon Brando, known for his involvement with various Hollywood elites, surprisingly did not engage in a romantic affair with Leigh.

Both Brando and Leigh had a history of infidelity, making their restraint unexpected.

Brando sympathized with Olivier and believed that Leigh's marriage to him prevented any pursuit of a relationship.

Brando was aware of Leigh's involvement with other men and assumed Olivier knew as well.

He remarked, “like a lot of husbands I've known, he [Olivier] pretended not to see it, and I liked him too much to invade his chicken coop” (via Cheatsheet).

THE IMPACT OF THE ROLE OF BLANCHE ON VIVIEN LEIGH'S MENTAL HEALTH
Perhaps Marlon Brando also considered Vivien Leigh's mental well-being when deciding against pursuing a romantic involvement.

When they crossed paths during the filming of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Leigh was already grappling with her symptoms.

Portraying the troubled character of Blanche Du Bois pushed Leigh to the “edge of insanity,” despite her initial enthusiasm for the role, first showcased in a London theater production in 1949 and later on the big screen in the United States.

While Brando earned a reputation as a Hollywood playboy, he displayed respect for Leigh.

In an era with limited understanding of mental health, Brando's behavior may have been ahead of its time.

Alternatively, he might have recognized a potentially volatile situation.

His kind words about Leigh in “Songs My Mother Taught Me” suggest that he did care for her, albeit in a different manner than the women he pursued romantically.