Vivien Leigh’s Unconventional Desires: A Look into the Life of a Hollywood Icon

In the 1950s, being invited to the Oliviers' grand country home, Notley Abbey, was like receiving an invitation from royalty.

Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, both immensely talented and gorgeous, were the epitome of a power couple.

However, for one houseguest, their visit turned out to be far from what they expected.

Kenneth Tynan, a critic, and his wife Elaine Dundy eagerly accepted the invitation to Notley Abbey.

Little did they know that their stay would be filled with shocking encounters.

One afternoon, while taking a nap in their guest room, Tynan woke up to find Vivien Leigh, n^ked under her peignoir, attempting to seduce him.

Startled, he refused her advances, and she promptly made her way to Elaine's bed.

The passion between Vivien and Olivier was not the stuff of Hollywood movies or Victorian romances.

It was intense, overwhelming, and sometimes destructive.

Their love affair began in 1936 when they were both married to other people.

They couldn't resist each other and indulged in their forbidden romance every chance they got.

Despite Olivier's affairs with other actresses, including Greer Garson and Ann Todd, and Peggy Ashcroft (who wisely backed off when Jill, Olivier's wife, confronted her), nothing could break his bond with Vivien.

He even introduced her to his newborn son from his marriage with Jill.

Vivien's husband, Leigh Holman, a lawyer, never suspected that she was in love with Olivier, let alone that she would leave him and their daughter.

The passion between Vivien and Olivier continued to consume them, despite the consequences.

Their love affair was a well-kept secret, filled with lies and deceit.

They managed to keep it hidden for two years.

Olivier, tormented by guilt and desire, described himself as a “wormlike adulterer” sneaking into another man's bed.

Vivien, on the other hand, couldn't stop talking about Larry, as she fondly called him.

Jill, Olivier's wife, attempted to salvage her marriage by pleading with Vivien to have the affair but let her keep her husband.

However, Vivien deflected the conversation and asked about Larry's egg preferences.

It was then that Jill knew she had lost the battle.

The love between Vivien and Olivier continued to haunt them and the world even after their deaths.

They were the first married couple to achieve global celebrity status, but they despised the fame and the medium that brought them recognition.

Their love was not without its challenges.

Both of them struggled with undiagnosed mental illnesses that turned their relationship into a living nightmare.

In 1937, they ran off together, leaving their partners and children behind.

Olivier's wife was devastated, and her hair turned white overnight.

Holman, Vivien's husband, clung to hope, believing that she would return.

Living together in Chelsea, they juggled their love affair with their professional obligations.

Olivier was about to star in three major Shakespeare productions, while Vivien made her debut at the Old Vic.

Amidst their busy schedules, they managed to find time for friends, hosting dinner parties where everyone, including themselves, would be stark n^ked except for a tie.

While Olivier was filming in Los Angeles, he spent a fortune on daily phone calls to Vivien, pouring his love into countless letters.

It took another year and a half for their divorces to be finalized, finally allowing them to marry.

Tragedy struck when Vivien suffered a miscarriage during the filming of Caesar And Cleopatra.

Her behavior became erratic, swinging between moments of exaltation and depression.

Olivier had no idea of her underlying mental illness, which was later diagnosed as bipolar disorder.

Vivien's illness took a toll on their relationship.

She would have violent outbursts and bouts of extreme generosity.

Her moods fluctuated rapidly, leaving Olivier feeling powerless to help her.

Their life at Notley Abbey became challenging, with Vivien staying up all night surrounded by acquaintances.

Despite their struggles, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier left an indelible mark on the world.

They defied convention, but their love came at a cost.

Their story serves as a reminder that even the most glamorous lives can be plagued by unseen battles.