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Gone with the Wind is back in theaters.  After her role in the film, Vivien Leigh had a nervous breakdown

Gone with the Wind is back in theaters. After her role in the film, Vivien Leigh had a nervous breakdown

For Vivien Leigh, the role in “Gone with the Wind” was both a great opportunity and a curse. The actress was noticed in the world of cinema, receiving an Oscar, but during the production she lost her health. The many hours of shooting days led her to a nervous breakdown and depression.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros., the cult classic from 1939 will return to cinema screens. The film directed by Victor Fleming was an unprecedented success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films in the history of cinema. For Vivien Leigh, who plays Scarlett O’Hara, it became a ticket to a great career. Although the Oscar-winning actress gained fame and recognition, working on the production set cost her a lot.

The biggest stars strove for this role. A young actress from England was awarded

As many as 1,400 candidates applied for the role of Scarlett O’Harry. In this crowd of female artists, often big Hollywood stars, the director noticed Vivien Leigh, then 25, and invited her to participate in the production. A scandal broke out because the actress came from Great Britain, and there were many more pretenders to play this character. After numerous problems related to the change of director twice, and a delay lasting almost 2 years, the creators finally got on the set.

For the young actress, working on it was extremely exhausting. She spent a total of 125 days on the set, working 6 days a week, 16 hours a day. Few knew that her alternating bouts of depression and mania were related to undiagnosed bipolar disorder, which, combined with exhaustion, often drove her into hysterics. In addition, she had numerous allergies and skin problems, which were caused by the red earth that was part of the set design. Despite everything, Leigh professionally carried out her task, she was labeled capricious and difficult to work with.

Her lover told her the movie was going to flop. After her role in Gone with the Wind, she had a breakdown

Just before filming began, the actress had a fiery affair with a colleague, Laurence Olivier, for whom she left her husband and daughter. Beloved in numerous letters insisted that she quit production, suggesting that it would ruin not only her career, but also her relationship.

Success in this movie is essential to your self-respect and our ultimate happiness. And if you don’t, you can just get boring

– man. Contrary to these suggestions, it turned out to be a success, and Leigh gained a chance to develop an international career, which was crowned with an award from the American Film Academy.

Participation in the production worsened Vivien Leigh’s mental health. In 1953, the actress suffered a nervous breakdown, after which she took her own life for the first time, but she was helped in time. With another depressive episode, specialists decided to hospitalize her. During her hospital stay, the artist underwent electroconvulsive therapy, but it did not bring any positive results. On the contrary. She began to hate people close to her, became irritable and avoided establishing any relationships. Vivien Leigh died on July 8, 1967. She was 53 at the time of her death.

If your life is at risk due to suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide, for immediate crisis intervention, call the police on 112 or go to the A&E department of your local psychiatric hospital.

If you need to talk to a psychologist, you can use the number 116 123. On the website you will also find a list of organizations that run telephone services for mental health specialists, help for children and youth or victims of violence.

Source: Gazeta

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