Fame Over Night

Southland Times, Issue 25361, 13 August 1935, Page 5

Fame Over Night

Miss Vivian Leigh, the 19-year-old actress who won fame in a night in ‘The Mask of Virtue,” signed a £50,000 film contract with Alexander Korda.

The contract is the largest ever given to an English girl of her age. It was secured by Mr Korda in spite of the fact that three major Hollywood companies were negotiating for her. The contract is for ten pictures in five years. The form is unusual. Miss Leigh is to have six consecutive months free each year for stage work, and one of the pictures is to be made in Hollywood. Mr Korda’s attention was drawn to Miss Leigh by Mr Sydney Carroll. He said he had never seen her before but a single performance was enough to convince him that he was watching one of the most promising young actresses he had ever seen.

Miss Leigh has already had some screen experience, having played in two films, “The Country Squire” and “Gentleman’s Agreement.” Her last, film, “Look up and Laugh,” in which she supports Grace Fields, has not yet been released.

She is married to a London barrister, and has a daughter, Suzanne, aged 18 months.