Dark Star cover art

Dark Star

A Biography of Vivien Leigh

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

Dark Star

By: Alan Strachan
Narrated by: Alasdair Buchan
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £16.64

Buy Now for £16.64

Bloomsbury presents Dark Star by Alan Strachan, read by Alasdair Buchan.

Winner of the Society for Theatre Research Book Prize 2020

Vivien Leigh was perhaps the most iconic actress of the twentieth century. As Scarlett O’Hara and Blanche Du Bois she took on some of the most pivotal roles in cinema history. Yet she was also a talented theatre actress with West End and Broadway plaudits to her name. In this ground-breaking new biography, Alan Strachan provides a completely new full-life portrait of Leigh, covering both her professional and personal life. Using previously unseen
sources from her archive, recently acquired by the V&A, he sheds new light on her fractious relationship with Laurence Olivier, based on their letters and diaries, as well as on the bipolar disorder which so affected her later life and work. Revealing new aspects of her early life as well as providing glimpses behind-the-scenes of the filming of Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire, this book provides the essential and comprehensive life-story of one of the twentieth century’s greatest actresses.©2020 Alan Strachan (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Acting & Auditioning Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Europe Film & TV Great Britain Women Celebrity Entertainment Biography Theatre
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c

Critic reviews

What makes this account of a familiar story outstanding is that Strachan wins the reader’s trust ... As an experienced man of the theatre, he suggests, qualifies and adds interesting views of his own.
[Vivien Leigh’s] life, lived to the full at every second, will never be better told than it is in these pages.
A gripping new biography.
Strachan’s meticulously researched, elegantly written volume is an eye-opener. Strachan’s attention to detail is striking ... a valuable, authoritative record that supports [Leigh's] status as a great stage and screen actress.
An immensely readable biography ... [Strachan] argues convincingly that there was far more to Leigh than her mesmerizing beauty, which could blind critics to the power behind her performances.
This is a well-written biography of a much-loved star. Strachan achieves that rare thing of exposing his subject whilst maintaining their integrity. Leigh, who was fiercely private, would have been proud of this book.
Alan Strachan does a fine job in reasserting [Vivien Leigh’s] status, not merely re-examining her stage work, but also becoming the first biographer to give due attention to the underrated films she made.
Offers an effective defence not only of Leigh’s artistry across different media but also of Leigh herself as (in the words of one associate) ‘a most charming, able, intelligent woman afflicted by a manic depressive illness who with courage and marked strength of character has taken a heavy and continuous emotional strain in her stride’.
A welcome appraisal of a remarkable artist.
'Reading this book is like meeting Vivien Leigh in her glory and her despair. One of the most revealing showbiz biographies ever.' (Sir Ian McKellen)
'This is an enthralling book. It enthrals you by its meticulous research, its lucid language and its depiction of a Legend and a World that do not exist anymore. Alas.' (Michael Codron)
This is a fine insightful biography that captures the vigour and life-enhancing qualities of its subject, her acting husband, and their high-achieving circle of friends.
'A wonderful tribute to a great actress and a fascinating insight into her troubled life and the machinations of the West End theatre during the middle of the twentieth century. Unputdownable.' (Dame Penelope Keith DBE, DL)
'Impeccable research into this fascinating actress make Dark Star a page turner. The reader is as desperate to see past her ravishing beauty to the tender, tortured woman beneath as is the author.' (Maureen Lipman)
'Three cheers for this. Alan Strachan’s long overdue perceptive insight into one of the most fascinating, complex, troubled and talented actors of her time.' (Alan Ayckbourn)
All stars
Most relevant
Loved it.fabulously narrated.full of detail without being boring .A respectful yet balanced account unlike others.

wonderful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’ve long been a big fan of Vivien Leigh, this audiobook has been an absolute delight to listen to

A well research biography of Vivien

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
big English words through out was boring in places as long-winded narrative not bad. Her life was intriguing

nice story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is the best biography I have read on Vivien Leigh, a fantastic actress and fascinating woman. You can tell that the author has gone through length to research her life and to dig into her many remaining correspondence between Olivier and herself providing a real inside of their relationship. The only thing I can criticise is that the author does not seem too keen on Olivier and often describes him as a highly selfish and dramatic person. This is exasperated by the performance and the partly mocking tone when reading Olivier’s love letters. However, overall a fantastic read!

Best biography on Vivien Leigh

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book would be the perfect read if shorter. I lost interest two thirds of the way through...

Too long...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.