What is Biopolar Disorder? It is a serious brain disease  that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. It affects about 1% of the US adults. Typically, it is inherited and does not flare up until early adulthood. This disease continues throughout one's life, affecting work, family, and social life.  Now it can be treated, but during Vivien's time, sufferers of this disease had no option except to endure its symptoms.

First Signs of Mental Illness . . . "Vivien became acutely depressed at the end of filming on Caesar and Cleopatra. Then one night [Vivien and Larry] were dining alone at home, chatting quite pleasantly, when her mood suddenly and terrifyingly shifted. She began to pace like a caged lioness who had just had her cub taken from her. Her voice changed, becoming strident and harsh; and when he tried to calm her she turned on him, first verbally and then physically. After a time that felt like an eternity but was actually no more than an hour, she crumpled into a heap  and sobbed hysterically on the floor letting no one come near her. When her attack of hysteria was over she could not recall what she had done or said."     Breakdown on the Set of Elephant Walk . . . "Larry set out for Hollywood as soon as he was notified. Vivien, confined to bed, remained there until Olivier's arrival. Plans had been made fo her stretcher to be used to carry her aboard the BOAC plane that was to fly them home. The sedation did not last, and at the airport Vivien belligerently refused to be moved from the car to the plane on the stretcher. She was pulled from the car screaming. Flashbulbs exploded on all sides, and Vivien sobbed and wildly shook her fists at the photographers."     Treatment at Netherine Hospital . . . "Vivien was placed in the care of a top psychiatrist, who immediately barred any visitors, including Olivier; and all messages, gifts, and flowers were forbidden. For three days and three nights Vivien was kept sedated with round-the-clock nurses in attendance. She was packed in ice to lower her body temperative as far as it could safely be lowered. From time to time the ice packs would be removed and she would be fed raw eggs for nourishment. She would scream out whenever the eggs were to be fed to her, the smell helping her associate 'feeding times'; as her only conscious chance to rebel."

Vivien on the set of Elephant Walk. After her breakdown on the set, Elizabeth Taylor took over Vivien's role. Vivien's long shots, however, were still used in the film.

Vivien being loaded onto a plane after being sedated and strapped down onto a stretcher. Notice that her face is covered and is not visible. Despite efforts to keep the event hush- hush, reporters still found out and snapped photographs.

Vivien Fears Her Attacks . . . "For most of 1954 and 1955 Vivien remained at Notley under the care of doctors, fighting desperately what she feared might become the permanent loss of sanity. She was beginning to recognize the signs of an approaching attack and would send for [her mother] Gertrude when they occurred. During her well periods she was the same grand and gracious hostess, the same thoughtful, the same sensitive and caring companion. For Larry and Gertrude it was like living with two different women. Vivien did everything she could to fight the manic attacks and seemed much more terrified than ever of an attack coming on."     The Attacks Continue Throughout Her Remaining Years . . . "She had managed to get through [Ship of Fools], but she was hallucinating much more frequently than she had, and Jack was fearful she might not be able to get the insurance companies to cover her for another film.[However,] though Vivien wrote letters of apology for her behavior during a manic phase, and though she confessed to Jack her fear of madness, she otherwise never discussed her illness, nor did she speculate on how her behavior during the illness might have been too much for Olivier to live with.

Candid photo of Vivien Leigh in her later years.

Informational Links:

Manic-Depressive and Depressive Association (MDDA) Depression & Related Affected Disorders Association (DRADA) How to Beat Depression and Manic Depression Learn about Manic Depression Living as Manic Depressive

~Quoted text was taken from Anne Edwards Vivien Leigh, A Biography~