Vivien Leigh

© Estate of Fred Daniels / National Portrait Gallery, London

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Vivien Leigh

by Fred Daniels
cream-toned vintage bromide print, 1941
10 7/8in. x 8 3/8in. (275 mm x 212 mm)
Purchased, 1989
Photographs Collection
NPG x32907

Sitterback to top

  • Vivien Leigh (1913-1967), Actress. Sitter associated with 147 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Fred Daniels (1892-1959), Film stills photographer. Artist or producer of 88 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Shown here as Jennifer Dubedat in George Bernard Shaw’s ,'The Doctor's Dilemma', Leigh’s many later successes included stage and screen portrayals of Blanche du Bois in Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1941back to top

Current affairs

The Blitz continues with sustained Luftwaffe attacks on British cities. As the bombing went on the urban population got used to the black out, the air raid sirens and nights spent in shelter. The idea emerged (to some extent a myth) of the 'spirit of the Blitz' where people pulled together united, disregarding traditional class and social divisions.

Art and science

Frank Whittle demonstrates the first test-flight of a plane powered by jet propulsion. Although the German, Hans von Ohain, built the first jet plane, Whittle was the first to patent a design for the jet engine (in 1930), and his subsequent work helped to advance the technology and made Britain leaders in the field.

International

The Soviet Union and America join the Allies. The Soviet Union was forced to switch sides after Hitler attacked in June 1941, reneging the Soviet-Nazi pact. Six months later the US Navy was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbour. The following day the USA declared war on Japan, and three days later Germany and Italy declared war on America.

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Juliana

24 March 2017, 05:54

This is a promotional photo for George Bernard Shaw's "The Doctor's Dilemma," which Vivien Leigh appeared in from 1941 to 1942. Miss Leigh never appeared in nor was scheduled to appear in "Heartbreak House." One of the images from this sitting was used for the cover of The Tatler, dated September 24, 1941.